Pane e Olio, Florence

Our first night in Florence, and for that matter Italy, was spent at Pane e Olio..We made the mistake of asking for a menu but were told there was no menu...to relax and we'd be taken care of..Roberto, the owner served us our six courses with smiles, friendly chat .. an experience to remember...We asked for the vino de casa and we were presented with the local best (like there is anything else in Italy?) Each course was unmistakably local and absolutely fantastic...we chose to eat outside with the faint stir of Florence in the background and the friendly chatter of locals who'd come to eat and celebrate..It truely was an experience, it was obvious we were not in a resturant but in Roberto's home along with his family who helped serve and cook..we ended our night with a grappa alongside Roberto and then again the next night...Pane e Olio is not just a resturant...it is an experience, an Italian experience..if you just want food, eat in a tourist trap downtown...but if you want to meet the locals, eat their food and experience all that makes Italy the best vacation on earth..then choose Roberto's house, also known as Pane e Olio and you will be filled with good food, wine, and a memory to last a lifetime..
We call Roberto friend and Pane e Olio home...