I lived in Italy for 4-years, from 2009-2013 and haven't made it back for a visit since moving…read morehome. (I have a trip back planned in August though!!) So, it's been about 3-years since I've been to Il Fornaretto. And, you guys... 3-years later, I STILL dream about this place and their amazing pizza. I compare all pizzas to Il Fornaretto's and none have topped them, yet. This place is in Tuscany but off the beaten path -- about half way between Florence and Pisa. If you find yourself anywhere within 50-miles of Ponsacco, trust me and make a detour for this wood fired pizza! I suggest the margherita, add salsicca and rucola but you won't go wrong with any order!

While our trip to Tuscany had most restaurants planned well in advance, this one was not. We drove…read morepast Da Carlo dozens of times as it was en route to our resort. We finally stopped in towards the end of our trip and were so happy with our experience. The gnocchi was so soft and delicate and the portion was quite large. The grilled tuna steak was the highlight of the meal. It was so simple with a drizzle of balsamic glaze that I can't stop thinking about it. We also had a crab pasta in rose sauce that was fabulous. When you drive by a local restaurant that appears packed every night with locals, stop in to check it out. We are glad we experienced Da Carlo and the amazing seafood dishes offered here.

The mussels to start are a must! The seafood salad was so…read moretender it melted in your mouth. The fresh variety of fish you can choose from is beyond. I ordered the paccheri pasta with pistachios and shrimp. I believe this would be hands down one of the best dishes I ever had. The service is spot on. No need to have to speak their language. They are so accommodating. And it's beautiful inside with outdoor seating in a garden. The most amazing place we go to in Tuscany. We have been here many times over the years. It's consistent and better every time we come.

Found this spot online after wanting some pizza while we were near the tower of Pisa. It was a…read morepretty small and surprisingly not too crowded when we arrived, and were able to get seated immediately. Between the three of us we shared two pizzas - the margherita, and the proscuitto e funghi. Both were delicious, but I tend to like more toppings on my pizzas so I enjoyed the proscuitto e funghi one more. The crust was really light and chewy, but also thin enough to hold all the sauce and toppings. They were also quite giant! We also tried the limoncello spritz, but that wasn't our favorite. Overall, a great spot!

Found this pizza place after visiting the leaning tower of Pisa. Very friendly business run by only…read moretwo people at the time of arrival. We ended up trying the two pizza listed as "popular/suggested". These are my thoughts. Rivistato - What a unique pizza. There is a lot going on and it's folded in half. I thought it was good but they put in this veggie that was bitter which was a tad offsetting for my taste. It's unique, I prob wouldn't get it again but it was different! (3.5/5) Margherita Al Contrario - Went for a simple classic and this was delicious. It's different than the pizza in America and overall enjoyed it. (4.5/5) Overall an enjoyable spot for pizza. Note... the pizza are pretty big and we got two pizza for two people. Tons of leftover for us. We ended up spending 35 euro for two pizza. They gave us a small discount for paying in cash!

Great pizza! Informal setting with an outdoor patio for dining. The porcini mushroom pizzas are…read morefantastic. Came here several times while in the area.

Great salami pizza!! Highly recommended and only €5 euros / only down side 1/4 white wine also €5…read morewhich i thought was a little high

Service was friendly and the pizza was amazing so light, crispy and flavorful. We got the buffalo…read moremozzarella and tomato sauce. Definitely worth the stop!

Stopped in Lucca on our way from the beach back to Florence. Just happened upon Pizzeria Itaco…read morewhile roaming around the area. Perfect pizza and salad. Such a quaint town. Wish we could have spent more time there.

Just great ! They speak English, nice atmosphere and such good food. We had the truffle ravioli and…read morethe lasagna and the best part of it was the great prosecco. Would come here again !

Came here for the highly recommended pear pasta. I got the pear appetizer which comes with a…read moredrizzle of honey and fried pecorino. It was a party in my mouth. Who knew fried pecorino could be so delicious. The pear pasta was outstanding an well! It stole the show. It was so good I googled a recipe to try and make it at home. The Livorno fish stew, steamed mussels, and bruschetta were hits as well. The owner was amazing and I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the area!

Really great wood fired pizzas and calzones (any many other dishes). We picked up and the staff was…read morefriendly

I got pizza to go here, lots of people were there doing the same thing. The pizza margherita was…read morevery good!

This is a great place to have a few beers. The bartender…read morespoke English and was very patient. They carry several of their own beers which are solid and a must try, as well as guest beers. 16 in total including a beer engine which you don't see everywhere. They also offer a flight of 4 beers, but it is not posted. It was a narrow bar that went deeper and dark, just what I like in a bar. I walked in at 6 as well as a dad with 2 toddlers, in need of a beer No one even turned an eye, in fact they seemed to like the kids there. They open everyday at 6pm

In typical fashion, I had to find a brewery in Italy and had heard great things about Archea…read moreBrewery. After a long day of museums and pizza at Gustapizza (which I will post about separately!) we made a stop for a couple of beers from a craft brewery in Florence. Located in a city surrounded by wine makers, Archea Brewery is knocking it out of the park. They are an independent craft brew pub founded in 2012. They have a combination of house made beers and other artisanal beers focused on Italian producers, but do have others from across the region. We had two of their beers, which were extremely flavorful, and two beers from other craft breweries. Beers: Archea Melissa | Honey Ale Archea Salniette | Blanche Con Salvia Cantina Errante Saison Du Coupage 2021 | Lambic Blend / Saison Barrel Aged BFM 225 Saison | Sour Saison Oak Aged We loved both their own beers and the other local breweries with Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (BFM) being a small, artisanal brewery in Saignelégier, Jura, Switzerland winning global acclaim with their unique offerings, and Cantina Errante located in Florence, Italy focused on exploring their surroundings through their beers. Highly recommend a stop here if in Florence and needing a craft brew!