Za-Za: Located near the Mercado Centrale, everything here is fresh. I like the pastas and the appetizers of salami and cheeses. If the weather is warm, stop by early to make a reservation to be seated outside. This is a standard stop on our small group tours to Florence.
Enoteca Natalino: We've been going here for years on my small group tours to Florence when we want a night off from the big Italian meals. Open after 5 pm, an enoteca will serve up food when you purchase a glass of wine. What I like about Natalino is that the food is provided by the high-quality restaurant right across the street. So, the procedure here is to purchase the first glass of wine at double the price (about 6-8 euros). That gives you the privilege to pick at the fine array of foods like meatballs, zucchini, pasta, panini, rice balls, and more. The subsequent glasses of wine are at the regular price. So, you can chow down on great food with wine for about 12-15 euros. It's a great deal and a great break from the restaurant scene.
Trattoria Zio Gigi: The appetizers are the superstars here. Amazingly cheap, but good. When I take my small group tours to Italy here, they prefer the seafood. Go on any night but Sunday, and you'll be treated to the opera-singing server. The theater is better than the food, but whenever I have taken my small group tours to Florence here, they enjoy it.
Il Latini: If you are hungry, and I mean really hungry, this is the place to go. We went with a small group of travelers and we had a blast. Everything is served family style. We once counted 27 different courses! The regular price is about 45 euros per person and is only for very hungry travelers.
Mercado Centrale: By day, it passes for the local market for Florentines to purchase their fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, wine and desserts for home cooking. At night, the upstairs morphs into a cavernous and hip spot to eat and meet new friends. Grab a spot at one of the long tables then shop around at one of the 20 or so self serve vendors for pasta, pizza, burgers of the vegan and non-vegan kind. Steaks and seafood are served up with a great variety of wines and beers. For about 25 euro anyone and everyone can find something like like and make new friends too.