Trattoria I'cchè c'è c'è
Via de' Magalotti 11/r - Firenze
Intro: A friend from business school recommended that we try this place out, so on our last night in Florence (Sunday June 23) we glammed up and went out. (Obviously this is GrubGirl talking, GrubDaddy doesn't "glam.") The restaurant is located in the historical center of Florence, but on a quiet unassuming street which was a nice escape. Prices are mid range - primi piatti (pastas and appetizers) are €10-12 and secondi piatti (main dishes) are €16-20.
To start, GrubDaddy and I shared the Ribollita (tuscan bread soup).
For the main dish, I ordered the Spaghetti alle vongole veraci e pomodori "datterino" (spagetti with fresh clams and "datterino" tomatoes).
GrubDaddy got the Ravioli ripeni di ricotta e spinaci in salsa rosé (ravioli with spinach and ricotta in a rosé sauce).
As a side, we shared the Ceci cotti al forno (chickpeas cooked in the oven).
Taste (10)
GrubDaddy (GD) - 8
GrubGirl (GG) - 9
Thoughts:
(GD) the ravioli was delicious, but the serving was a bit small. Or maybe I just have a big appetite.
(GG) I loved the soup - it was as if they ripped off hunks of Italian bread and soaked it in vegetable broth (which I do with soup anyway). The spagetti was cooked perfectly and the clam sauce was very flavorful. I didn't like the chickpeas - I thought they would be roasted and crunchy - but they just tasted like they were quickly sautéed in garlic and oil. Try a different side dish if you go.
Presentation (5)
GD - 3
GG - 4
Thoughts:
(GD) nothing special, but plating was clean.
Service (5)
GD - 5
GG - 5
Thoughts:
(GG) service was exceptional - our waitress was very friendly, responsive, and never left us waiting (a huge plus especially in Italy where we have waited over 30 min for the conto (check)). The owner (and head chef) also came out at the end of our meal to ask how everything tasted which was a very nice gesture.
Atmosphere (5)
GD - 4
GG - 3
Thoughts:
(GG) It was kind of small inside (you could see right into the kitchen) which made it intimate, but a little too much so. The bathroom was also a little dirty (easily fixed with a little cleaning, but not up to snuff just yet).
Grubpoints (5)
GD - 4
GG - 5
Thoughts:
(GD) Similar to other restaurants in Italy, the pasta was made daily and produce was very fresh. The owner came out to see if the meal met our expectations and even the house wine was one of the better wines we've had.
(GG) Similar to other places in Italy, there was a "cover charge" for the table (pane e coperto). At I'cchè, the cover charge was €2 but you got not only bread, but also a glass of champagne and some delicious fried dough. I'm giving this place full Grubpoints because they exceeded coperto expectations (which I normally just find annoying).
GD - 24
GG - 26
At an average of 25/30, we would definitely recommend Trattoria I'cchè c'è c'è to readers. It's a solid northern Italian meal in a place that doesn't make you feel like a super tourist, in a city full of tourists.
