Away Day Review #7 - Trattoria 4 Leoni, Florence
CUISINE
4 Leoni is located in central Florence between Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti in the lovely Piazza della Passera. This family-run, Fiorentine eatery boasts its high-quality fresh produce and vegetables whilst shaping its traditionally Tuscan food offerings on the appropriate season. The menu provides a wide variety of options, all with a classic Italian focus, but done to the highest of standards.
MY SCRAN CHOICE
At the time, I was already quite satiated after a heavy breakfast, so I just opted for a main course, and this filled me with regret! I went for 4 Leoni’s specialty dish, the Pear Pasta.
MAIN COURSE
Pear Fiocchetti with a Taleggio & Asparagus Sauce
This was truly one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had to the pleasure of tasting. Florence is notorious for its world-class pears so executing a dish with pear at the heart of the creation is an accessible idea, but one which is difficult to deliver to such a high standard. The crunchy asparagus matched perfectly with the soft pear parcels and the taleggio sauce provided a great balance too. If you visit 4 Leoni, there is no other choice for a main, you simply have to try the pear fiocchetti.
REFRESHMENTS
- The House White Wine -
I enjoyed a delicious glass of the house white, which paired nicely with the pear pasta.
After visiting 4 Leoni, I visited the iconic Uffizi Gallery, with this Caravaggio oil canvas painting catching my eye. The ripe pear dominated the piece and Caravaggio juxtaposed a glass of wine being raised with the brightly coloured fruits. Whilst the wine represents conviviality and the temporary, fleeting nature of life, the fruit represents the bright side of life, enforcing Horace’s aphorism, carpe diem.
I went from one pear masterpiece at 4 Leoni to another at The Uffizi.
My Outing to The Uffizi Gallery
My trip to The Uffizi was an enriching one. It was a great, almost overwhelming experience being surrounded by so many iconic paintings across a range of centuries. Not only is the Italian art special, but also the architecture of its buildings, most notably here at The Uffizi. The impressive ceilings and corridors made these historic pieces feel right at home. Botticelli’s Birth of Venus painting captured the attention of visitors most greatly, but some of the less-noticeable paintings caught my eye. Below is a gallery of my favourites from my outing:
THE FEE
4 Leoni’s specialty Pear Fiocchetti came to €14,00, which is a very reasonable price for such an incredible dish in a central Fiorentine location.
THE REVIEW
The whole day out in Florence was memorable, from the cultural perspective in regard to The Uffizi, to the mouthwatering Pear Pasta. 4 Leoni’s location preserves the authentic character of Florence, tucked away from the intense tourism. You will find yourself surrounded in the folksy hidden corner of Florence, where craftsmen’s workshops are scattered around your eye-sight. This is a must-visit if you take a trip to Florence if you desire a restaurant which is cozy, rustic and full of character.
Room for Improvement?
The food leaves little room for the improvement whilst the waitstaff were very friendly too. For what it is, a classic Italian restaurant, it is truly difficult to find ways to ask for more, especially in light of the appealing price-point. However, I feel they could do slightly more with the courtyard area, to make the overall experience more atmospheric.
THE EYE TEST
THE TASTE TEST
SERVICE
ATMOSPHERE
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
- PEAR FIOCCHETTI -
FINAL MATCH RATING
LOCATION
Address: Trattoria 4 Leoni, Via dei Vellutini, 1r, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Website: https://www.4leoni.it/?lang=en