Restaurants: the hard choice

Hi Guys,

this post is difficult. I'm going to write about restaurants; and in a land like Tuscany, where enogastronomy is one of the biggest cultural heritage that We have , it's an argument to treat with respect.
Here I simply collected the nearest restaurants to Borgo La Casaccia. Trying to speak about them in an objective way.
We have to remember the personal taste, and the fact that , generally speaking, the quality is medium high almost everywhere. It's very rare to have a very bad experience in the countryside; in Florence? pay attention, in Siena? Pay attention , but here the risk is low ; Remember also that restaurants in Montaione and surroundings are both for locals and turists. There are no "traps for tourists".
And for the moment, prices are ok , pay attention with the wine that could be very expensive

All restaurants are really close to us; sometimes my clients ask me: "why don't you create a restaurant inside the Borgo?"  But the nearest restaurant is 60 seconds far by car ... So I prefer to maintain the core business and let restaurateurs do their job, probably much more better than me.

RISTORANTE IL CAMINETTO

Via Mura 19 

Montaione 

Tel: 0039 0571 677 130 

Outside the dirt Road, you have to enter in the main road with asphalt and turn left.

After 2 Km on the right (pass an orange speed trap camera)  you find the restaurant. Typical Tuscany dishes (no fish no pizza).  Very good quality, good prices, typical atmosphere. (price 20/25 euro per person)

RISTORANTE I CIAMPA

Via Chiarenti 46 

Montaione 

Tel: 0039 0571 69552 

Outside the dirt Road, you have to enter in the main road with asphalt and turn right, direction historical center.

Follow the road , you pass a "Stop"  signal and go ahed. You find the sign of the restaurant  on the walls at your right. You have to park the car (I suggest you to park in the main square, near Bar Aione) and enter in the historical center by foot.

You find meat, fish and also pizza.  Good quality place with "large areas"  useful for children.

For me it's the best choice for the first "dinner outside". Because it's inside the historical center (so You see also the town) and it has a nice panoramic terrace. (price 18/30 euro per person)

RISTORANTE OSTERIA DEL PESCE ROSSO

Via Chiarenti 14 

Montaione

Tel: 0039 0571 69 010

Same direction as   I CIAMPA. You find the restaurant in the historical center.

it's quite small and the reservation is a must. Very good fish specialities, they have also some meat-dishes but the choice is small. (The seaside is only 1 hr far from us, so it's not a surprise that they have fresh fish). (price around 30/35 Euro per person)

RISTORANTE CARPE DIEM

Viale Vincenzo da Filicaja 65

Montaione

Tel: 0039 0571 69 7888

Outside the dirt Road, you have to enter in the main road with asphalt and turn right. You follow the road and as the road began to go down you find the restaurant at your left. You find both meat and fish and the quality is very good. The atmosphere is a little bit more "old style" than the other. Excellent list of wines. (Price around 30 euro per person) 

RISTORANTE OSTERIA DI SAN VIVALDO

Via San Vivaldo 21

Montaione

Tel: 0039 0571 69264

For this restaurant You have to drive a little bit more (15/20 minutes).Outside the dirt Road, you have to enter in the main road with asphalt and turn right. You follow the road  and you will see that at a certain point  the road go down. At the and of this road   you find a sign "San Vivaldo" . Turn Right. You follow the road and after some Kilometers you see at your left a chapel. At that point you have to turn right and you will find the restaurant after 300 meters on your left.   Typical Tuscany Dishes, Good quality, Country atmosphere.   Need reservation  because it's very busy. This is really a "Trattoria", simple location. (price around 20/25 per person)

RISTORANTE LA TERRAZZA

Via Leonardo da Vinci 73

Montaione

Tel: 0039 0571 697941

 Outside the dirt Road, you have to enter in the main road with asphalt and turn right. You follow the road  and you will see that at a certain point  the road go down. You have to go ahead, direction Gamabssi Terme. Follow the road again and , after the curve, You will see an oil station. The restaurant is there. Yes, inside an oil station and I can imagine your thoughts. But believe me the experience is good. The restaurant is sophisticated, modern and dishes are accurate. (Price 35/40 euro per person)

RISTORANTE L'ERASMUS da IUPPA

Via John Fitzgerald Kennedy 

Montaione

Tel:0039 0571 697866

 Outside the dirt Road, you have to enter in the main road with asphalt and turn right. You follow the road and as You will see that at a certain point  the road starts to go down. Turn left in the first road You see (it's a very small one) and then find parking. The Restaurant is in front of You. Here You find pizza , pizza and more pizza. The owner is expert in Vegetarian,Vegan,Gluten free diet. The location is very simple, they have a big choice of pizzas. (price 20/22 euro per person).

Then You can imagine there are hundreds of restaurants simply driving 10 minutes more, I haven't experienced every place and consider that part of the holiday could be also to try new and different solutions. (...well..it depends from childrens, probably..) 

Finally Remember: if You find some nice and good places...let me know!!!!   

Francesco Pellegrini 

Owner of Borgo La Casaccia