Pane e Olio

We had a nice lunch at this little café in Oltrarno today. It is just off the main shopping street, and we stopped there mainly because I needed a respite. Lucky us, the service was very good and our lunches fresh and tasty. I had a crostino with tomatoes, arugula, and mozzarella, all very fresh tasting, and my husband had a Tuscan sausage pizza that was a hearty luncheon size and delicious. Very inexpensive house wine was ok but not great, ok for the price. The whole meal for 2 was 18 euros and well worth it for this pleasant meal. We stopped with no expectations and were happily surprised.

Este sitio es una cafetería chiquitita en una plaza de Oltrarno en la que refugiarse cuando el calor del verano aprieta demasiado y el cuerpo te pide líquidos. Aunque mucho refugio contra el calor no da, cuando entramos no tenían el aire puesto y lo único que nos dieron fue el ventilador rotatorio típico de cualquier película de los años 70. Estaba bien, pero podía haber estado mejor.
Los baños estaban bastante cochinos, la oferta era simple y escasa, y lo único que lo salvaba es que los dueños eran muy majetes y entendieron perfectamente que, siendo bárbaros extranjeros, no quisiéramos comer a las 12:30.

The meat plate contained a good selection of meat and cheeses. The porchetta was the best of the selection in my opinion, the seasoning was perfect and included fresh rosemary. The man working the counter was friendly and gave us free cantucci (cookies). The seating is located off to the side of the majority of foot traffic coming and going to the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Wife: «I think these are the best marinated olives I’ve ever had!»
Chun P: «Um…look to your right…»
(An employee opens a giant Costco size tin can of olives, dumps them into a large dish, and puts it into the display.)
Regardless, this little family run (I think) hole-​in-​the-​wall café charges only 8 euros for an entire bottle of proseco. Sit down and enjoy, without a service charge! The nice lady also let me taste a free, tasty slice of meat (proscuitto?) before I ordered a small plate of it.
Its in a tourist area, but how can one say no to a bottle of proseco for only 8 euro? :)