Trattoria Sabatino

The Buccioni family has been serving good, honest home cooking to a mix of blue-collar workers, local residents, students and clued-up tourists in their simple San Frediano trattoria since 1956, and in spite of a move to just outside the old city gate somewhere along the line, it essentially hasn’t changed much. The short, daily, no-frills menu is typed on a vintage Olivetti and features the likes of tagliatelle with either meaty ‘sugo’ or tomato sauce, ‘rosbif’ (sic) with roast potatoes, roast pork, baccalà (salt cod) and pears poached in red wine. It’s all homemade and prices are ridiculously low; pastas come in at around €5, mains at €6.50 or so; the rough and ready house wines cost €1.50 for a 250 ml carafe.

The constant queue winding around the corner says it all: the Florentine fare cooked up by the Buccioni family at this staunchly traditional trattoria in San Frediano is worth the wait. A dying breed in the city today, Trattoria Sabatino has scarcely changed since it opened in 1956. The daily menu invariably includes classic ravioli al sugo (pasta cushions with a meat sauce), stracotto (Tuscan pot roast) and a perfectly blue bistecche alla fiorentina (T-bone steak) served with a choice of sides (roast potatoes, white beans, seasonal fennel or chicory).

Sabatino is a bit like your grandpa who still insists on writing checks—they simply refuse to change how they do things (and of course, this is why we love them). The Buccioni family has been running this San Frediano timewarp since 1956 with terracotta floors, a daily typewritten menu, and rusty Tuscan agriculture tools hanging on the walls. If it feels like everyone in the neighborhood knows them, that’s because they probably do.

Doing a bit more internet sleuthing and comparing photos helped me identify another spot that we know Anthony Bourdain ate in Florence: Trattoria Sabatino. The confirmation comes by way of a Tripadvisor review ( source) and two of Georgette’s photos that match those left by reviewers. The most we can be sure that Tony had here is a nice Italian wine (on the table in the photo); the menu at Trattoria Sabatino changes daily according to their website, so you’ll likely enjoy something different than Tony did, even if we ever find out what he ate.

Though they have only lived at this odd site on the outskirts of the city center by Porta San Frediano for a short while, the Buccione family founded this beautiful trattoria more than 50 years ago. It must be said, however, that the location has an old-fashioned appearance with its white-tiled bar, blackened beams, and red-checked tablecloths. On the other hand, there aren’t many places in town with better prices, and the menu frequently changes to feature items like roast guinea fowl, osso buco, and tortellini with a hearty sauce.

The Buccione family founded this wonderful trattoria more than 50 years ago, though this out-of-the-way address, at the edge of the city centre by Porta San Frediano, has been their home for just a few years. Mind you, with a white-tiled bar, blackened beams and red-checked tablecloths, the place looks as if it opened a century ago. It's difficult to find lower prices anywhere in town, and the menu changes daily to include dishes such as roast guinea fowl, osso buco (veal shank) and tortellini with a rich ragù sauce.

Sabatino is caught in a bit of a time warp: the Buccioni family has been serving good, honest home cooking at rock-bottom prices to locals (and latterly budget-conscious tourists) here in the western reaches of the Oltrarno since 1956, and little seems to have changed since then. Expect white walls, rustic beamed ceilings, checked table cloths, and a marble-topped counter at the entrance, where the desserts are served and bills are prepared. The menu is typed out daily on a vintage Corona — that says it all.

Finding local eats for a good price can take some time and some research, but not when you head on over to the other side of the Arno River and to Trattoria Sabatino. It's a family-run restaurant guaranteeing that you will leave full and satisfied after a large meal here. This restaurant is extremely local--you'll find almost everyone speaks Italian, so feel free to ask questions if you are unsure about some of the menu items or you want to try something and you don't know what is in it.

For greasy spoon sit-down eats with loads of charm & character while being able to get away with spending 10-15eu per person for lunch, head to Trattoria da Rocco inside mercato di Sant’Ambrogio (dirt cheap and quality home-style Florentine fare- top pick) La Ghiotta near Piazza Sant’Ambrogio, Trattoria Sabatino in San Frediano for truly simple, non-fussy food which I think should be an alternative to Trattoria Sostanza.

Trattoria Sabatino — On a sunny day, newspaper in hand, we love to soak in the sun and enjoy a homemade meal seated at one of the pea green tables of this long-lasting neighborhood spot. Temper your expectations: it might not blow your mind culinarily, but it’s a standby for simple, homemade dishes. Skip the primi and go for a selection of secondi with contorni (especially the patate al forno!)

A wonderful restaurant, the trattoria has been in the same family since its inception in 1956. The menu changes every day, but you’re guaranteed typically Florentine and Tuscan food. A favourite of mine is the pancetta di maiale con fagioli, which roughly translates as pancetta with beans — delicious.Details Meals cost from £21 (00 39 55 225955, trattoriasabatino.it; Via Pisana, 2/r)

We are big foodies, so we were in heaven in Florence, which is one of the best places to eat in the world. While there are seemingly endless options for a good meal in the city, one of our favorites was the traditional “grandma-style” cooking at Trattoria Sabatino. This is a popular restaurant in the Oltrarno district located right next to the city wall.

Trattoria Sabatino – Cafeteria-style dining with shared communal tables, this spot is a favorite for affordable, home-cooking. Arrive at least 30 minutes before opening, as they don’t take reservations and there’s always a line. The family-style menu features hearty dishes at unbeatable prices—a plate of pasta is just €5, and a meat dish is around €7.

When it’s time to get off work, the Italians head to Trattoria Sabatino, a family-run eatery in Santo Spirito which seems to serve a locals-only crowd. You can hardly spot hordes of tourists in Sabatino, but instead find hungry Italians engaged in conversations over simple Tuscan fare. Food is dished out in small portions and prices start from €2.

This family-run spot on Via Pisana has been serving easy-on-the-wallet pasta dishes since 1956. The atmospheric, whitewashed interior, complete with arches and a terracotta-tiled floor, is as traditional as they come. For a few euros you can sample simple, homestyle cooking like sausage with beans and pasta dishes perfect for sharing.

Trattoria Sabatino is my top choice for affordable Tuscan cuisine in Florence if you are eating out with kids. Although not exactly central, this no-frills family run trattoria is located just outside the Porta di San Frediano Oltrarno. The restaurant is very welcoming and intimate, as if you are stepping into a friend’s home.

Trattoria Sabatino: This family-run restaurant right outside the San Frediano gate serves home-cooked food that is so low-priced it makes me wonder how they do it. The low prices don’t mean low flavor though. The last time we dined there Anthony Bourdain was filming an episode of Parts Unknown.

With pasta dishes starting from €4, this traditional Florentine trattoria delivers unpretentious charm. You will find it just outside the city walls with a tiny door tucked into the side of a building. But inside, a large dining hall filled with long tables covered in simple chequered cloths.

Trattoria Sabatino in Florence is an institution in San Frediano. It's the perfect place for those seeking a truly authentic, simple, and relaxed Tuscan culinary experience. Located in a former refectory of an 18th-century convent, this trattoria has been run by the Buccini family since 1956.

Trattoria Sabatino is the kind of place locals eat at three times a week—and for good reason. It’s a family-run trattoria with a small menu, no frills, and very reasonable prices. You won’t find tourists lining up for photos here.