Ristorante Paoli
Via dei Tavolini 12/r (off Via Calzaiuoli, between the Piazza delle Signoria and Piazza del Duomo)
Tel: 055-216215 Closed on Tuesdays Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: hours: 12–3pm; 7pm–12pm
The building dates back to the 14th century and the restaurant was opened in 1824. Many Italian notables in the arts, music and literature have dined here (GiacomoPuccini; Ruggerio Leoncavallo, composer of Pagliacci;F.T.Marinetti, founder of Italian Futurism, to name a few). The dining room is located under lovely 18th-century frescoed arches, and the lunettes below are by Carlo Coppede. Painted tiles lie above the wood wainscoting. When the restaurant was restored in the 1900s, touches of contemporary art were added by Annigoni and Guarnieri. We have dined here often, but we have lunch here every Sunday after Mass—always at the same table, always with Ottavio, who has been our waiter for years. Almost always, we order soup and salad!
Menu suggestions: Insalata mista—a mixture of fresh salad ingredients, brought to the table, on a cart: you select what you want in your salad. All the ingredients are cut into bite-sized pieces and drizzled with a wonderful dressing of dark green olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Soups—minestrone di riso (rice), or crema di pomodoro. For desert, the profiteroles (cream puffs covered in thick, dark chocolate icing) are delicious!
