Ristorante Alle Murate: "Cutting Edge Italian" Florence Restaurant Tip by Sonador3

'm having a hard time trying to describe this place. Modern? Innovative? Cutting edge? Probably all of those labels apply. Out of all of the restaurants in Italy, this one inspired me more than any other when I finally got to write my own menu for my first restaurant. The food they make is cutting edge -- even more so than Cibreo, which rarely changes it's menu.

The dining room is warm and friendly. When you sit down, you are greeted with a complimentary glass of spumante. And the best part of the service was the timing and what I like to call "invisable man" service. Meaning you never have to ask for anything. The best restaurants seem to have an uncanny knack for knowing exactly what you want without needing to ask for it. They'll never take a plate away too early, or let you linger forever between courses, nor will they try to rush you.

As for the food, Everything here is extremely fresh here, from the sauces made from scratch to the pasta made fresh daily.

All in all, I felt like I was in the dining room of someplace really special. Though it's pretty expensive, I would recommend you try this place at least once a trip -- you'll never look at Italian food the same way again. The wine list is very impressive as well.

Favorite Dish: First Course: Tuscan White Bean Soup w/ Chopped Shrimp

Second Course: Large Tortellini stuffed with Aubergine Purée, Parmesan, Thyme and Butter

Third Course: Leek Souflee with Duck Sauce

Fourth Course: Pot Roast wirh a Garlic Potato Puree

Fifth Course: Apple Tart with Almond and Fruit Sauce AND Lemon Sorbet

Address: Via Ghibellina 52r
Comparison: most expensive
Directions: Located inside of the fourteenth-century Palazzo Salviati
Phone: 055 - 29 10 82
Price: US$41 and up
Rating: 5
Theme: Italian
Website: http://www.caffeitaliano.it/inglese/locali_caffe_italiano/murate.asp