Alla Vecchia Bettola

"Alla Vecchia Bettola is a neighborhood trattoria that feels like a party, and it’s worth going beyond the historical center to have dinner here. We’d like to write an ode to their namesake pasta: al dente penne soaked in a creamy vodka tomato sauce with a spicy kick to it. The crowd is made up of local best friends slapping each other on the back, retirees catching up after summer break, and, naturally, tourists. It’s a fun, chaotic place where it’s easy to linger at the communal tables covered in straw bottles of Chianti. This is also a good spot to get Florentine’s signature bistecca, served rare with just salt, pepper, and a nice crust, and so tender you can cut it with a butter knife." - coral sisk, georgette jupe

"Alla Vecchia Bettola is a neighborhood trattoria that feels like a party, and it’s worth going beyond the historical center to have dinner here. We’d like to write an ode to their namesake pasta: al dente penne soaked in a creamy vodka tomato sauce with a spicy kick to it. The crowd is made up of local best friends slapping each other on the back, retirees catching up after summer break, and, naturally, tourists. It’s a fun, chaotic place where it’s easy to linger at the communal tables covered in straw bottles of Chianti. This is also a good spot to get Florentine’s signature bistecca, served rare with just salt, pepper, and a nice crust, and so tender you can cut it with a butter knife." - Georgette Jupe

"A rustic restaurant offering a cozy setting and a menu featuring Florentine cuisine such as penne alla Bettola and apple cake."

"This unfussy Florentine trattoria lives up to its name (which translates as “old tavern”) with a kitschy, classico Italian dining atmosphere: hanging prosciutto, wood and marble decor, hollering waitstaff, and straw-wrapped chianti bottles. The honestly priced homestyle food and down-to-earth service match the surroundings perfectly. Dishes are true to the Tuscan repertoire, including local cured meats, fried rabbit, roast pork arista, and Tuscan bread-based pappa al pomodoro soup. Locals come for the bistecca alla fiorentina, vodka sauce penne, chicken liver crostini, and fried artichokes." - Coral Sisk