Paoli Restaurant
Paoli Restaurant is just a short walk from the Uffizi Gallery. The authentic antique décor is most noticeable when you enter Paoli. It has beautiful frescoes painted on the walls. The vaulted stone ceilings adorned with large arches remind you of an old church. There is also a small outdoor dining area located in the back that is quite stunning. We ate at Paoli Restaurant on the recommendation of our hotel. They told us that we can expect typical Florentine style food at reasonable prices. Having said that the food was delicious and the service was impeccable.
The staff handed menus in Italian and English. Our waiter was happy to speak to us in English and occasionally throw in some Italian words.
We started with a bottle of their house wine and a couple appetizers. We chose bruschetta and duck carpaccio appetizer. The baguette slices were toasted perfectly. The sweet tomatoes and chopped red onions mixed in their olive oil were amazing. The duck carpaccio was the best I ever had; it was so buttery and flavorful. My family shared several pastas and other dishes. The ricotta-stuffed tortelloni in a truffle cream sauce was absolutely savory. The tortellini with cream and ham also hit the spot. The scallopini in a light lemon sauce with peas and bacon was superb. The veal chop (melted in your mouth) was excellent as were all the side dishes. The portions were generous and our dish selections were all memorable. We also enjoyed the house wine.
The flavor of the desserts was divine. The chocolate pastry ball I was so rich and awesome. The homemade lemon tart with almonds was delicious. Absolutely perfect combination of sweet and tangy.
I definitely recommend Paoli Restaurant and will eat there again the next time we go to Florence.
Phone number: +39 055 216215
Address: Via dei Tavolini, 12r, 50122 Florence, Italy
Hours: Monday through Sunday 12:00 to 3:00 pm, 7:00 to 11:00 pm