Osteria Vecchio Cancello
Review by Olivia Hewitt, Catherine Heath, Marcus Hoskins, Alina Harestad, Sara Hudock
The first thing we noticed about the restaurant was the atmosphere. It was a subtle mix of vintage antique shop and your cozy eclectic grandmother’s house – and somehow it all worked. It provided a great background for a great meal. Because this osteria is a little “farther” away from the historic center, there were few tourists, which made for a pleasantly different experience while dining out. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, being able to seat approximately 40 people comfortably.
We first split the mixed crostini – Tuscan chicken liver paté, sautéed cavolo nero, tomato and basil, and cannellini beans topped with a slice of lard. it was the first time we had tried it in Italy and I don’t know why we put it off for so long. It tasted fresh and each one offered a new flavor – my personal favorite was the chicken liver paté (which I have had before, but not nearly as good at other places). The white beans was a pleasant surprise because the heated lard on top added a hint of saltiness to the creamy, yet somewhat plain beans. The house wine was excellent, and even for someone who doesn’t usually like red wine, it was good enough to change my mind for an evening.
One of the dishes sampled was the “Pici de’ Colli Senesi al Profumo de Anise Stellato.” The pork was seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the best part of the dish. We also sampled was the ravioli with spinach and ricotta, which really stood out at this restaurant. It was extremely fresh and a big enough portion to be a full dinner. The last pasta dish was Maltagliati Carciofo e Gambero. “Maltagliati”, means “poorly cut”, and originates from the irregularly cut scraps of pasta dough; the dish was a nice change from the tagliatelle or penne that are typical in many restaurants. The shrimp were whole, yet the tails were already peeled, making it easier to eat, and the artichokes were fresh and cooked perfectly.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience going to this restaurant; it was affordable, the food was fresh (they even have their own garden) and cooked exceptionally well. The friendly staff and a good atmosphere enhanced the experience and the restaurant as a whole had an authentic Italian feel. I would recommend this restaurant to friends.
Osteria Vecchio Cancello
Via Guelfa, 138/R, 50123 Firenze
Tel. 055 494234
Hours: Monday-Friday Lunch 12:00pm-2:30pm; Dinner 7:30pm-11:00pm. Saturdays Dinner 7:30pm-11:00pm. Closed Sundays