Florence Restaurant Recommendations

On our Italy Travel Facebook page, Melissa posted a few restaurants she liked during her recent stay in Florence. She and her family stayed in a vacation rental apartment (through VRBO) in San Frediano neighborhood, across the Arno from the historic center and she says she highly recommends staying in a vacation rental, especially if you're traveling with children. Melissa's recommendations:

• Alla Vecchia Bettola, the fried zucchini flowers were a miracle but the place, in keeping with the spirit of historic foods, doesn't take credit cards.
• Trattoria del Carmine was a favorite for the affable service, traditional food, and the fact that my kids could melt down and they were very kind.
• Enoteca La Barrique on Via Leone was fantastic - brand new, modern food vision of a non-Italian chef, has a small, intimate garden in the back, love it. The food was superlative.
• Trattoria Sabatino is a hoot, a real neighborhood place. Hard to get in (in July) but a delightful place to dine.
• One restaurant outside of Florence we return to year after year is Da Ventura in Sansepulcro, a lovely family has been running this restaurant for 3 generations. They have wonderful fresh pasta and the antipasto cart is not to be believed.
• Gelato: Gelateria Artigianale Sorbettiera is an extraordinary artisanal gelato maker on Piazza Tasso. My husband still loves Perche No! near Piazza Signoria off Via Calzaioli.