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A treat by the Arno

4 Posted on 05 / 20 / 2012

A delightful eating experience. This is an intimate little place in the city centre (just over the Ponte Santa Trinita near to Santo Spirito). We're happy to report that there are now more than five tables, not counting the two outside. though be warned that when it fills up it's all very, well, cosy! Not having made a reservation we were pleased to get in on a Sunday evening and were immediately put at ease by the proprietor, who pulled up a chair and talked us in English through the menu. We had two very interesting and tasty breads as starters - one a delicious flat bread with a liquid cheese (a house special, apparently), the other a sweet one made from (we think) chick pea flour. My main was chickpea croquettes on a bed of warm, crispy vegetable salad - mouth watering. My wife had an asparagus risotto - she said it was the best of its kind she's ever had with a nice 'bite' to the rice. There was a lovely relaxed atmosphere and with many other tempting things on the menu we would certainly have returned had we been longer in the city. PS: It was interesting to see that the Italians on an adjacent table were savouring the delights of one of the guest beers - Sam Smith's organic ale, all the way from Yorkshire! Had we been allowed I'd have given 5 e Cinque five cows: We were assured that, although they sold meat products from the counter, the kitchen is exclusively vegetarian.

Pros: Warm welcome, English speaking, Great food
Cons: Tables very close together

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Orinel dishes to try/Wonderful experice

4 Posted on 11 / 17 / 2011

This is one of teh best retaurant wehre we had our Vegatarian food. SOups are wonderful. They have prepared special herbal tea for us which was not in the menu. The food is quite orinel and you woudl not find it anywhere else in Florence.
We have took 2 meals . Very helping staff. we woudl defintely recommend everyoen hwould would like to teste their special dishes.

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A Gem on the Oltrarno

4 Posted on 10 / 29 / 2011

A classic tiny Italian trattoria complete with only 5 tables, 5 e Cinque specialized in seasonal, organic, high-quality vegetarian cuisine. The menu is exactly the right size--not overwhelming but with a big enough selection to keep both vegetarians and vegans alike quite happy. The menu also changes often, if not daily, which is the sure sign of a top-notch eatery, in my opinion.

5 e Cinque specializes in chickpea pancakes called "cecina," which are 100% vegan (made with chickpea flour, olive oil, and salt), unless you order them with a slab of highest-quality sheep's milk cheese on top. Other than cheese, they also come plain or topped with grilled vegetables that vary with the season. For my main course, I ordered a pilaf-like dish of barley and swiss chard with caramelized onions and roasted potatoes on the side. Absolutely mouthwatering and completely unexpected. My aunt introduced me to the restaurant with no pretense other than that it was organic and vegetarian, but I had no idea that I could find an incredibly wholesome, healthy meal there complete with whole grains, leafy greens, and protein (in the form of my favorite bean of all: the chickpea). The salads on the menu also looked quite good. Unfortunately, the restaurant only featured non-vegan desserts, but there is a gelateria right across the piazza with delicious vegan sorbets to satisfy your sweet tooth.

I plan to patronize 5 e Cinque quite often during my next few visits to Florence. It is truly an organic, vegetarian gem in the city.

See pictures and more restaurant reviews at my blog: http://farmersmarketvegan.wordpress.com/

Pros: Delicious food., All organic., English-speaking staff.
Cons: No vegan desserts., Size makes it hard to get a table.

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Not vegetarian anymore

3 Posted on 09 / 26 / 2011

While the restaurant was perfectly willing to accomodate us and did have some options available, it should be noted that they are not a vegetarian establishment anymore. Regardless, the meal we had was good. A bit off the beaten path, but if you're in a pinch it's a worthwhile venture. Might need reservations.

Pros: Decent Food, Nice Atmosphere
Cons: Small, Not Vegetarian Anymore