Vecchio Mercato

Had an excellent meal here! Expertly prepared, generous portions with reasonable prices. As an extra attraction, one person in our group has celiac. Luigi, the owner, went out of his way to accommodate us beyond the norm by having the kitchen prepare a gluten-​free version of a dish, away from all wheat flour. Even the glassware for this person was washed and dried separately just before use. Will definitely return!

It’s a restaurant it is A market and believe it or not it’s a cooking school also it’s one fantastic adventure in food outside is a market up and down the street to buy any type of leather goods your heart desires the food is fantastic you can easily buy a lunch for under $ 10 the meat, the fish The cheeses are displayed like a work of art you can bring back to United States all the cheeses candy cakes your heart desires but all that beautiful meat even vacuum pack forget it it will be taken away from you once you reach the American Shores

This was my first time to Gigi’s, it is already signed as the best experience ever in Florence. Tipical design, close to the center, excellent wine selection and the wonderful culinary delights of his Tuscan cuisine make this place the perfect stop!

Known for its florentine steak and truffle (which Firenze restaurant isn’t!?) this restaurant serves very tasty food. Not the absolute best, but very good. We had two pasta dishes — seafood and truffle cream. The truffle sauce pasta was my first in Florence, so hard for me to compare but it was very nice and very flavoursome! The pasta is homemade, which makes every pasta dish taste fresh. Waiters are friendly and prompt. They also promote a jazz /​tango entertainer on selected night. Definitely one of the better places to eat in the piazza central mercato area

One of the things I love about Italy is their love of patios, even in the rain. It has rained just before we got there, but the patio was bone dry due to being completely closed in with a plastic cover. It’s a great spot for people watching in the market.
Our server was very friendly and funny. He really made the meal an experience for us. We ordered the wild boar pappardelle, a Florentine steak (for one) and a side of spinach, all to share.
This was one of the meals that made me very angry. Why doesn’t all food taste like this?! Everything was cooked and flavoured to perfection. Our conversation became all about the meal and how good it was. With a great deal of effort, we finished the half kilo of steak meant for one person. The spinach was garlicky and creamy soft. The meal and service were perfection. I would return in a minute.
This is one of our top three meals during our visit to Italy, which is saying a lot, since we went out for nearly every meal in two weeks.

THIS PLACE WAS AMAZING!!! If you are ever in Florence you should definitely should check this place out! Everything that was ordered was super delicious and reasonably priced. The service was great and super nice. I would definitely go back!

Very disappointing experience at this restaurant. First, the seafood risotto was bland and flavorless. My sister ordered fettuccine and really disliked the flavor. We hardly ever send things back to the kitchen but the flavor was not tasty and so we asked to send it back. The owner talked to us and got a little upset about why she didn’t like the food. They brought her something new, but charged us for both meals even though she has one bite of the mushroom fettuccine.
All three of our meals were decent at best. The restaurant was full of tourists, so don’t come here for the decent food and touristy atmosphere.

Absolute Heaven on earth! Loved this place so much we came here two times in our three day stay in Firenze, and good thing we did because the second time we came (on a monday) we got dinner and a show! Amazing piano player and a few of his closest opera singing pals put on an amazing performance! The food is divine, basically everything you’ve ever dreamed Tuscan food to be, the service is fantastic, and the wine is well its Florence so do the math! We had everything from steaks to veal to pasta to dessert, everything was flawless and the prices are some of the best in Italy (or anywhere for that matter)! I cant say enough about this place, please dont think twice, in fact dont think at all just go here (if u can go on a monday for the free music) and I promise you wont be disappointed!

We found this place when walking around and decided to try it. I would definitely recommend this place. The service was good and the staff were very friendly. Everything we tried was good. I recommend the tomato soup and the ravioli. The chicken liver bruschetta was delicious.

Let’s be real here, if you’re reading this review in English then you’re probably a tourist as well. But that’s okay! Florence is a wonderful city that really needs a bigger Unilocal presence.
Had dinner at Vecchio Mercato twice, and in a place with so many great restaurants, that’s a testament to how much we liked it. Especially:
–Bistecca alla Fiorentina (aka Florentine steak, aka porterhouse cut): as a Californian I’ve often heard the commercial that ends with «…and Happy cows come from California.» But the real cow center of international fame is Florence, and that’s obvious from their legendary leather markets to the gigantic slab of delicious steak landing on your table. Florentine steaks are almost always served large enough for two people, but oh my god Vecchio Mercato’s is a beast, dripping with juices and olive oil with that perfect wood-​fired crust holding in yet more juiciness. Oh geez there’s just no doing it justice so I won’t even say more.
–Wine: knowing nothing about Tuscan wine regions or local winery reputations, I just picked at random. That worked well enough
–Truffle pasta with mushrooms: excellent, a strong tasting side
–Carbonara: mmmmmmm. Pretty amazing
–Various side dishes like sauteed spinach and Tuscan beans were pleasant
Service was friendly and efficient, with a touch of showmanship. Ambiance was nice, nothing over the top and in keeping with the feel of the surrounding neighborhood.

Trattoria al Vecchio Mercato was recommended by our hotel. We spent only two nights in Florence and loved Vecchio Mercato so much that we had dinner there both nights.
The food was reasonably priced and absolutely DELICIOUS! The waiter was very friendly in helping make a great selection. The atmosphere was great and if I were ever in Florence again I would definitely drop by Vecchio Mercato.
A very highly recommended place for any travelers in Florence!

My favorite in Florence and excellent services!

Excellent atmosphere, service, and food. This is definitely not a tourist trap restaurant even though it is right next to the public market. It is mixed in with a bunch a kabap stalls so it isn’t expected and your typical tourist will walk right by it.
Having sad that, 80% of the tables were English speakers. There must be a guide book somewhere that they used to find it.

Hotel recommended this place, and it’s decent & reasonable price!
lasagna and fried pork chop lunch — decent size and came with a glass of wine and water
floretine steak lunch — yummy
One of their waiter spoke English and he is very helpful and nice

Italy is renown for good food and wine.
More has been written on the subject than I can can contribute with authority.
But I can tell you this. It is easy to get your fill of good, wholesome food without EVEN trying.
I chose this place as a tourist, without my friendly Unilocal app.
My traveling companion and I had been recommended to a nearby restaurant that took up half of a city block, by our inn keeper.
Now, as a seasoned traveler, I told my starving hungry traveling companion that we should look around. The place our innkeeper had chosen was a bit suspect. It had photos of the food posted on several tent posts, with people standing at several entrances, like carnival hawkers trying to draw hapless, starving, wandering tourists in, those who were too hungry to make lucid decisions anymore. The desperate. I told my friend that I don’t eat anywhere that has photos of the food on the menu. Plus, one sniff of the air told me to move on. Nothing but putrid, stale oil.
Now on to Vecchio Mercato.
Right down the block within eye shot of the tourist trap restaurant, sits Vecchio Mercato.
Just a hop skip and a leap from the aforementioned TT. I looked around, beginning to be more comfortable about not speaking a bit of Italian. And felt immediately comfortable, even though the menu was in Italian. We chose simply.
Sauteed Spinach
Tuscan beans and sage.
Wow.
If I could have moved upstairs above the restaurant, I would never cook.
Sauteed spinach had more flavor and was cooked to perfection.
A nice balance of flavors including garlic and olive oil.
The Tuscan beans and sage were simmered to the point that the beans had broken down and offered a little substance to the jus, kissed with tomato and garlic. the sage providing that little something special. The trick to these simple ingredients is the portion and sultry simmering. Not rushed in the preparation, paired with whatever the house wine… divine.
Let me tell you about house wine in Italy.
You don’t have to be a snob.
It is impossible, impossible to get a bad glass of wine in Italy.
You see, I am not a red wine gal. Always thought the tannins in reds were like drinking liquid rust, leaving your tongue gasping for a smoother coating.
Let me tell you. after a week of eating almost every meal out, I could not find a bad glass of house wine ANYWHERE. I’m a convert. The Italians know how to feed you.
AMBIANCE
Nice inside and out. Sort of quiet inside. Sit outdoors to soak up the ambiance while you’re supping on your second bottle.
WAIT STAFF
Efficient, cordial to staff.
There was one man who was exceptionally happy, who made me smile.
FOOD
Simple, reasonably priced and Divine.