Il Latini has been a Florence mainstay for years. Its reputation speaks for itself, and is usually packed every night. Tables are close together, and you can feel the buzz inside the restaurant when dining. The menu is a bit pricey, so keep that in mind as you are ordering. I went to Il Latini twice with different objectives. The first time I wanted to stick to pasta and keep it lighter, while the second time I wanted to try their steak because it is what they’re known for.
I’ll start by saying that both times I got in without a reservation, but I was pushing my luck. To be safe, make a reservation a few days in advance. The first time eating at Il Latini, it was a Wednesday night and it was late. This wasn’t going to be a big, crazy meal. We started off with the cheese plate. As I’ve stated before cheese plates can be very hit or miss, but this one was very good. It came with honey in the middle to go with the assortment of pecorino and parmesan. I’d recommend it for 2 people. With the cheese plate, we got a glass of the house red. As usual, it was fantastic.
After the cheese plate I got the wild boar pasta. This one was a little different than others because it was not a pappardelle pasta. However, I really liked the dish. I’d say that the wild boar ragu was not as prevalent in this as it was in other restaurants with the pasta being the main focal point. The ratio worked though, and the ragu was really tasty. The wild boar was thinly sliced, and was tender. The pasta was also fresh and went well with the ragu. I would 100% order this again if I went back to Il Latini.
The next visit I made to Il Latini, I knew I was getting a steak. This is what they are known for, and I couldn’t go there twice without trying it. I didn’t get the traditional Florentine steak, but I got a steak with shaved parmesan and salt on top served over a bed of spinach. The steak was rare, as it usually is, and was delicious. I had never ordered a steak like this before because I had always gotten the traditional Florentine steak prepared with just salt. The salt and parmesan were a great finishing touch to the steak, and added a bit of tang to it. I also recommend putting olive oil on top, as it adds even more flavor. Adding olive oil is also the way Anthony Bourdain ate his Florentine steak, and he knew a thing or two about food.
Takeaways: Il Latini is one of the more well known restaurants in Florence. It is pricey, but they can charge higher because it’s a recognized name. Both times I went I had a good dining experience. I never walked away saying “wow”, but was happy I went. As I mentioned before, it can get really busy, and the service will reflect this. Take advantage of when your server is at your table, and get your order in!! If you have extended time in the city, this place is worth the visit, but if you only have a few days, there are other places I would recommend.
Score: 7.5/10
a dude eats abroad 