Dalla Lola

Budget dining it might be, but there's nothing scant or stuffy about this upcycled neighborhood eatery – old-school vintage in look, mischievously new-gen in vibe. Spirited young owner Matilde Pettini practically grew up in the kitchen at her family's veteran Trattoria Cammillo, and the cheeky spin she casts on trippa finta ("fake tripe," which is actually eggs), gluten-free desserts and forgotten Tuscan dishes like frogs legs and chicken hearts in her own trattoria is simply brilliant.

In September of 2019 she took over restaurant Dalla Lola in Via della Chiesa 16/r from a failing management, after graduating from the Cordon Bleu School of CulinaryArts in Florence and after working with her mother, Maria Chiara Masiero, at their family’srestaurant Trattoria Cammillo–one ofFlorence’s most beloved restaurants for decades, also featured in the abovementioned 20th century guidebook back whenl’uomo was Pettini’s grandfather Bruno Masiero. “He was a great entrepreneur,” says Pettini, “but we can thank my grandmother Diva for the foods and flavors. I’m very protective of the culinary culture I inherited from my mother and grandparents, and I hold and respect tradition more than it may seem: this allows me to change it as I wish, and to create always new and stimulating dishes.

Just around the corner from Santo Spirito in an unassuming stone building that blends into the rest of the street, but Matilde Pettini’s Dalla Lola is one of the best restaurants in Florence. With her menu on a piano stand, Pettini practically dances around the tight dining room unloading arms full of dishes rooted in Florentine classics. As the fourth generation of the family behind Trattoria Cammillo, Pettini’s flavors at Dalla Lola are inspired by the history of the region, but rebel against the confines of the cuisine.

Dalla Lola is the new spot in town (or should I say revamp of historic location) that showcases Tuscan options that aren’t simply what everyone thinks (ie: STEAK) on Via della Chiesa, 16r. Matilde Pettini took over the space and has added really interesting menu options like fried brain, gnocchi, francesina di lingua, stewed chopped beef tongue with thinly sliced caramelized onions. Many of my friends have been and love it so this is high on my list of places to try when we come back to visit this April.

Dalla Lola – A refreshing twist on traditional Tuscan cuisine, this restaurant is led by Matilde Pettini, part of the Trattoria Cammillo family. The daily-changing menu is handwritten on large piece of brown paper and brought to your table, where the waiter explains each dish in detail. We started with a beetroot appetizer, followed by miso gnocchi and pumpkin sausage tagliatelle for our first courses.