Rating: 64/100 pts
While Pisa certainly has no shortage of leaning towers, good food may be harder to find, as most of its restaurants tend to be either fast food (catering to its large student population), or, unsurprisingly, overpriced tourist traps--which offer great views but substandard food--in this most easily trappable town. I say it's best to have your stunning view, and then walk a bit for a better meal.
Though not likely to blow you away, Da Michele offers solid, sit-down food for fair prices in the otherwise culinarily deprived Pisa.
Their menu consists of pasta, pizzas, meat dishes, and some Tuscan specialties. Having had mostly carbs and cheese on my trip at this point, my better judgement went for the Ravioli with Seasonal Vegetables in a desperate attempt to get at least some nutrition in.
The pasta wasn't too shabby at all. The vegetables included chopped asparagus and diced tomatoes (even though the waiter had assured me there were "no pomodori"--argh), but personally, I could have used slightly more (non-tomato) vegetables.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it till the end, and moved onto dessert. I initially asked for the "dolci misti", but I was told they didn't have it, so I ended up with their tiramisu (...which was good, but I had just come from Venice and experienced even better.)
Still, my meal in Pisa turned out a lot better than I was expecting, so thank you, Da Michele.
3.25 stars. read more