With so many students preparing to go abroad, I thought it would be beneficial to provide them with a few restaurant/dining reviews to make life so much easier. During my first year of college, I lived in Florence, Italy and was such a penny-pincher. So if I am telling you that you should eat somewhere, definitely listen to me!

My #1 recommendation is to get penne alla vodka at Osteria del Gatto e la Volpe because it is literally to die for. I am Italian, born and raised, so growing up I ate a lot of pasta. Penne alla vodka is my favorite and, sorry mom, I have never tasted a version as delicious since I visited this restaurant. It was heaven sent. Literally.

You may think I am a little biased, perhaps because the first time I tried this dish at the restaurant, I was on a date and it was free. But that was not the last time I popped my head into the lovely Osteria, and they offer so much more than just my plate.

When I was introduced to the restaurant, it was because they have the most delicious bread. After you place your order with the waiter, they bring out a plate of bread and dippings for you. Obviously, since this is Italy, you get a delicious balsamic made locally and an exquisite olive oil. Mix the two together and get to plunging that slice of bread in for an experience out of this world.

Over the two semesters I was in Florence, I visited the restaurant about four times and I loved each experience. The inside is so quaint and the staff is very nice. You really know that this restaurant is worth a visit because it was a 20-minute walk from my apartment. 20 minutes. For a plate of pasta. I am a very lazy person.

I have sampled a few dishes from the restaurant such as the penne alla vodka, pesto gnocchi, and their 44 euro steak. Honestly, everything was amazing. All of the food in Italy is made fresh with the best ingredients, which definitely makes a difference when you dive into a dish. Plus, even though everything is all natural, it is not that expensive. Unless you order a steak. That is going to run you a large bill.

One of my friends said that when she spent a semester in Florence, the restaurant always gave her free limoncello for dessert, but I think you only get that when you order dessert and it accompanies it. I never ordered a dessert because I was always stuffed to the brim after my delightful dish.

As a side note, the menu is completely in Italian. I can read Italian and I also recognize a lot of the dishes by name because my family makes them. Definitely ask a waiter for help if you struggle with reading the menu, ask for their recommendation on what the best dish is, or tell them what you are in the mood for/like. Or, if you want some penne alla vodka like me, just say, "Vorrei penne alla vodka per favore!"

Be on the look out for more eatery recommendations for your time abroad!

For location help, click here.