This was my first meal in Florence, and it was a beautiful welcome to a beautiful city. It felt like a lively party in someone's home. The room was packed, and the owner was walking around and holding court, sitting with people, moving chairs, dropping plates. Our friend who lives around the corner took charge (she may or may not have a slight crush on the owner), and she ordered it all. We started with finocchiona and head cheese and prosciutto with melon and continued with the rigatoni alla condatina and riso ai funghi porcini, and more pasta I don't remember. We were already full at this point, and then the secondi started arriving. Lombatina di vitello, braciole, beef carpaccio...I ate till I hurt, and drank entirely too much of the house wine encased in the straw baskets known as fiascos. It was a fiasco in every way, and it kicked off a great week. read more

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I was shocked how many people were there before opening. We got there about 15 minutes before and there were a bunch of people waiting to get seated. Thank goodness we made reservations beforehand. I highly recommend. We ordered the prosciutto with melons, penne alla bettola, pappardelle alla rottanculo, crocchetteal limone, and tiramisu. The food was SO GOOD and tasty. The flavors were remarkable. I highly recommend coming here if you are in Florence. read more

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Here now. First thing...their famous pasta is NOTHING to write home about. It's a community table and the women next to us were also under satisfied. Very disappointing. My mom's is better. The house wine was also not for me, a lot of acid as I am 98% sure it's homemade. However five dollars for a glass, you can't beat it. The line outside started before this place opened. I got here an hour before and asked for a reservation and was accommodated! We did come couple days before at 8:30 and could not get in. We also got the rigatoni and the boar pasta they were both very nice. The stuffed zucchini was also very nice. All in all in expensive to eat here and honestly this wasn't worth it. I would pass. Oh inside and outside seating. It's beautiful in here! All the staff were just lovely! All very handsome! But the restaurant across the street is cheaper, Michelin star winner, and three times is good. Starts with "al" I'll post a review about it. Good luck- try at Your own risk. read more

This was the best meal we had in Italy. The pasta Alla Vecchia Bettola is unreal, we also ordered house red wine which was in a jug on the table, fried zucchini flowers and chicken and prosciutto melone. Amazing experience - such a fun atmosphere but word to the wise - there's no English menu and they really only speak Italian so brush up on your Italian before you go! read more

My favorite dinner in Italy! Impeccable service in a joyful environment, with delicioso pizzas!

PENNE ALLA BETOLLA STAND UP! This place was absolutely the most authentic restaurant I have been to in Firenze. I think I was the only one who didn't speak Italian in the place lol. I was brought here by fellow American who has been living in Florence for the past 4 years, so I knew it was going to be phenomenal. This was head and shoulders the best Penne Alla Vodka (Penne All Bettola) I have ever had in my life, and I've some great PAV in my day. Coining that acronym haha. I don't even have words to describe how good that PAV was. It was delightful. We also got the Rosbiffe di categoria, which was a thin slice of beef cooked rare. It too, was delightful. But not life changing like the PAV. I didn't get a picture of the meat as I was pretty deep into the 1.5L bottle of house red that they provided so that's on me y'all. It is communal dining so we were sitting at a table with 3 strangers, but as I've said in prior reviews I find this kind of fun. You have the option to engage or not with some randoms. You should talk to strangers though you can learn a lot. It was filled to the brim in there, so make a res if you can. We walked in at 9:15 ish and had about a 20 minute wait. read more

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"We saw this place on one of Giada De Laurentiis' shows and took her recommendation. It was worthwhile for sure as the experience (paired with good company) made it memorable. It's small-medium inside, but packed with happy customers, and I'm intentionally using the key word 'packed'. The food was good (i had the pappardelle with ragu & fungi/mushrooms. We also got the pears & cheese appetizer, but I wouldn't recommend ... it was an overly simple peeled pear with two basic cheeses. We got the house wine, which was fine, but next time I'd try one of their other options. We later dove into 3 desserts which were terrific. Service was friendly & efficient. In summary, 4 stars is earned for the atmosphere & experience, and excellent desserts. read more

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Good not great I was really excited to try this place because it was highly recommended by a friend, but it just didnt blow my mind. We tried the melon prosciutto, penne alla bettola and the roastbeef, they were all good but not necessarily special. This place is not in a tourist area and is by all means more of a locals spot, but I just didnt feel it was worth it to go out of our way to try it. The staff was super busy and it was hard to get their attention, outside seating was really uncomfortable. read more

Good value, service and food. The menu had about what you'd expect. The in expensive wines were well curated.

Food is awesome! Get reservations because it can get so busy. Staff is fast. You may be seated with other guests in the same table. The theme is family so expect to share. I highly recommend. read more

Picture it. You've been walking ALL day. I mean ALL DAY. Your iPhone says you've walked nearly 10 miles. So, of course, you're famished. It was packed when we arrived. It was after 9:00, & we were told the wait would be at least 20 minutes. Given the later hour, & the crowd, that actually sounded reasonable. The overall vibe is BUSY. This is family style & casual. Perfect for a low-key night. A trusted foodie friend back home recommended this spot, & glowingly so. Perhaps this set my expectations too high. Or, maybe it's because I really just don't care for tripe. But, in my defense, even the pasta w vodka sauce was surprisingly mediocre. Our server was helpful; equal parts amused & unaffected by our tourist status. But the experience was more fun & lively than it was great food. They definitely get bonus points for location; this is not a touristy area. But, alas, this is not the stuff of which my pasta dreams are made of. Sigh 3 stars read more

Alla Vecchia Bettola - Always packed! Waited 20 minutes for a table late night. - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Given everyone else's reviews maybe this was just an off night but the vodka sauce was the most disgusting thing I've ever consumed in my entire life. It tasted like chocolate cake which was very surprising and disturbing. I really did enjoy the atmosphere and our waiter was super sweet and playful. Overall the experience was great but the food was nasty. read more

Amazing! The pasta was to die for. Super rich in flavor cooked perfectly. The serving sizes are great and prices are very reasonable. I believe we got a vodka pasta and it was truly my favorite. read more

Alla Vecchia Bettola - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

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This place was recommended to us by our waitress from the night before! It was absolutely amazing and such a great experience! We got the penne vodka and the filet and veal. Highly recommend!!! read more

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Very cute and homey feel. Feels like you are eating in someone's house (in a good way). The food is very good and flavorful. The penne alla Bettola is one of the best I have ever had and very good bread. Very nice staff. Food comes out fast. read more

The best of Florence. We ate here because it was close to our apartment and realized we were staying next to one of the best restaurants in town. read more

Excellent food in a non touristy area. Rustic feel. Authentic flavors. Loved the egg plant side dish. Husband loved penne with vodka and lemon meatball ( great combo of flavors- who would have thought?) Service was friendly. read more

-Thank goodness we decided to step out of our comfort zone and ask a local for his recommendations on where to eat. We found a gem! Every single thing we got was divine. -The Florentine Steak is definitely something to rave about. Every bite was full of juicy flavor and the meat was premium quality. I devoured a 750g steak all by myself. -The fried zucchini flowers that came with it was crunchy and delicious. -My friend got a pasta dish and I helped her eat that too! I think I had a legitimate food baby after my visit to this restaurant but I wouldn't think twice about going again! I want to try everything there! read more

Alla Vecchia Bettola - Florentine Steak - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Our best meal yet! We had squid pasta, penne with vodka sauce, tortellacci sulle noci and a delicious white wine and a veal stuffed with artichoke. Everything was delicious read more

A nice little restaurant with good food, great ambiance and friendly service. My rating is for the food only, which is simple and tasty. Here is what we had: - Grilled pork chop - great. Cooked to perfection and it melts in your mouth. They serve it with a wedge of lemon which is all this dish needed - a dash of lemon and a pinch of salt. - Fusili pasta with eggplant sauce - very good, hearty dish. - Rigatoni with meat sauce - just like the above mentioned dish, the pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente and tasted great. - Boiled potatoes - good although a little underseasoned. They serve it drizzled with olive oil and tuscan herbs. It was a welcome addition to the pork chop, albeit the EUR 5 price tag was excessive for this sort of dish. The service was friendly and the waiters spoke English. read more

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Alla Vecchia Bettola was among the best meals we had during our stay in Florence! It's classic Tuscan, loud boisterous and full of life! The Penne alla Bettola is not to be missed. We also ordered a side of beans that were simple, yet amazing! The cover charge include water which is really nice, and the house wine is €4 and fantastic. Make the trek out here and you won't be disappointed. Forget Giostra, this is the best of Firenze! read more

The BEST, neighborhood traditional Tuscan restaurant in Florence Italy. This is the place to try a Florentine steak, perfect pasta and trust the local house wine. We went twice in 5 days. read more

Very good food all around. The house penne Bettola was very good. Right balance of cream and flavor. Also got the rigatoni bolognese with mushroom. Both pasta dishes were served al dente of course. Our first meal in Florence would not be complete with Florentine steak, which was a solid 32 once t bone served rare. Very good as well except the steak was chewier than I expected. Despite the $$$ price tag, I thought the price was very reasonable for the quality of food. read more

Came here for dinner alone around 7:30 when the restaurant was relatively empty. Ordered prosciutto and melon, a fresh pasta with a ragu made with meat and mushrooms which were both delicious and the portions were decent. Finished with cheesecake for dinner and was satisfied. The service was friendly and efficient. read more

Alla Vecchia Bettola - Cheesecake - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Loud, busy & fun filled dining experience w/everything on the menu in Italian. Everything is fast pace especially the interpretation of each menu item, yikes. read more

Quite possibly one of the best Italian meals I've ever had. We had a penne alla Bettola (vodka), pappardelle ragu, eggplant parmigiana, and a spinach and beef dish. Every single one was a knockout. Note that we were stuffed from eating at Osteria Franchescana earlier in the day (also amazing!), but the food was so good we cleaned our plates. Must go! read more

With almost two weeks exploring Firenze, Sienna, and then off to Rome... this was without a doubt the best meal of our trip, and one of the top 5 in my life. We didn't have a reservation (you really should book one... otherwise, you'll probably end up walking away without a table... especially on a weekend), but managed to convince them that we'd eat quickly and wouldn't be in the way of a 9pm reservation (we showed up as soon as the door was opening for dinner service at 7pm). If your Italian isn't very good... there will be some struggles, but it's doable. My Italian is almost non-existent, but my restaurant/food Italian is pretty good. :) We decided that we should go all out and order a full Italian meal... (minus appy's). The wife and I ordered the same primi... a penne in a vodka cream sauce... OMG!!! Was so good I needlessly ate bread just to get all the sauce off the plate.... secondi... she went for a pork chop... the thing was almost the size of my wife's head! I had the steak... again... super huge... but both were SOOOoooo good. Her pork could have been a little less cooked (almost to the point of being dry... but not), but my steak was perfection. At the end... the wife ordered tiramisu (her fav desert...) and it didn't disappoint either. It was a very rustic serving of it, but was so tasty (I was almost loosening a notch at this point)... The house wine was served as a bottle on the table with a per person charge, and if that bottle had emptied, they would have brought another. So... I've suggested any of my friends that happen to be in Firenze to go here... and I'd highly suggest ANYONE to do the same. For the meal, the prize was a great deal I thought... yes it was a little more than most of our other meals, but the quality, the service... the atmosphere... priceless! read more

Plan to spend an evening here. Wonderful, feels more like a local crowd and you can't beat the giant wine jug on the table! Our meal was extraordinary just as many meals in Florence but coupled with the warm evening, the sidewalk table and the local feel, this was one of our favorite stops. Highly recommended. read more

Fantastic setting and food, accommodated us for a 15-person party! Great crostini, salumi, vegetarian beans and cheese, spicy pasta, and I had the rosticciano (roasted ribs) as a main course. Very small and private. Only thing is the house wine gave me the worst hangover later. Maybe I didn't eat enough to balance out the wine? Hm. read more

Alla Vecchia Bettola - Rosticciana, a bit hard to eat. I'd recommend slow roasting rather than just grilling. - Tuscan Near Me - Florence, FI

Noisy and fun, couples are seated with other parties at tables for six. Clean restroom with a well-appointed stall for each gender and a wide hand washing area. Ask for Vino Rosso Della Casa, and get your own 1.5 liter bottle for 4 euros/person. Actually the prices are very reasonable when you consider how large the portions are. Our friendly server understood that some couples like to split their entreés. He suggested that our order should come out in a specific sequence. You must not miss the meatballs! They are garlicky awesome and so tender, lying in a pool of yummy tomato sauce. The lasagna al forno was pillowy soft, almost frothy with cheese, but very little tomato sauce. We also enjoyed the cooked beans (fagioli al'uccelletto). read more

Lovely food and lovely company! The traditional menu that changes daily enjoyed by locals and lucky in the know insiders on family style tables made our Florence trip. We sat outside and enjoyed the traffic table side. read more

Very typical Florentine restaurant, you are likely to eat with other people at the same table. You can find all the specialties from Florence, such as Ribollita or Lampredotto (a very rare dish to find in restaurants). They buy meat from one of the famous butchers at Mercato Centrale (Nerbone). Great quality and nice wine list, a bit on the expensive side. read more

Are you looking for presentation, or quality of food?? If you seek the latter, this is certainly where you should be! So far the BEST Bistecca alle Fiorentina I have had. Not the prettiest, they don't go out of their way to make it a spectacle. But if you want an excellent quality of meat at a great price, along with an extremely friendly staff, this is where you need to make your reservation! And the table wine comes in 1.5l bottles and is very good! Also I had the ribollita to start and it was amazing! read more

Fantastic pasta, friendly staff, and a sense that this is the place that locals frequent. Try the prosciutto and melon for an appetizer, then the penne and maybe the Florentine steak if you're a carnivore (brace yourself though, it's huge). read more

The steak. You must try the steak. The place is out of the city center which lends to its charm. I will forever have dreams about the steak. read more

We ate here on April 5th upon a couple of local's recommendation for Bistecca Alla Fiorentina. The place was packed with locals--it was noisy, but had a warm atmosphere. The bistecca was the best steak we have ever had--it was cooked and seasoned to perfection. Our son had the spaghetti pomodoro and that was so simple, but delicious as well. We have since tried to replicate the bistecca, but so have have been unsuccessful. read more

Didn't have reservations so I had to wait for a table, but, the wait was totally worth it. The food was delicious and the energy in there was great! I would definitely go there again. read more

Best place we ate in Florence! Quite a hike from town but worth it. The servers were great and took their time to explain the menu in English (every dish!). The penne pasta dish was the best pasta dish we had in Italy - tomatoes, chili and cream. Yum! We shared the florentine steak and it was cooked perfectly, wish we could replicate that at home. A mix of tourists and locals but given the location mostly locals and expats. read more

Best meal in Florence! Most definitely worth leaving the busy tourist areas and dining at this local gem, my boyfriend and I were the only tourists in sight. The service is warm and welcoming and the food made us come back a second night. Be sure to order the penne pasta dish, its finger licking good! Check this place out, you will not regret it :) read more

Loved this place! Just because we had the best waiters ever! They were super friendly and recommended fantastic dishes! The gnocchi was perfectly cooked and you could tell it was freshly made! Everyone was happy with their dishes! read more