cibreo caffe - florence, italy

Rating:  9 / 10

Here's a little tip I've found useful on many occasions: If you eat at a restaurant that has great food, and the server is knowledgable, ask him/her to recommend other spots in town to try. This is exactly what I did after eating at Cibleo opposite, and the Japanese lady told me to go across the road to Cibreo, and eat the butter and cheese tagliolino. Nuff said.

My waiter showed me to a table outside, the sun still peeking from behind the market roof. I ordered exactly what I had been told to, he smiled and said "That is our best dish, personal opinion". I was served bread with a lovely almond butter to take the heat off the hunger furnace: good chew, good bread, good spread.

Then came the pièce de résistance, a fantastically simple looking plate of food that sparkled with mystery.

They had me at bite 1. Gorgeously cooked pasta, coated in honesty and truth with a rich sauce. Small gems of cheese and black pepper layering the crown with regal jewels. I sat, astonished at how such a simple meal could feel like it was Michelin level. This was one of the best bowls of pasta I had ever eaten, anywhere, anytime.

As I paid the bill to a different waitress she asked me where I heard about their restaurant. "Oh, the Japanese lady at Cibleo told me to come here and try the butter and cheese pasta".

"Ah! Yes, she orders that dish once a week".

Ask someone who knows, and you'll more often than not have a memorable meal.

These recommendations are just personal opinions based on my palate, things change, chefs get fired or replaced, places open-close, relocate, so take it all with a pinch of MSG  and discover your own gems too. But please do try a few of these, they have been researched exhaustively.