PizzAudace in Florence, review: a genuine neighborhood pizzeria where the focus is on the essentials

Here, the redevelopment of a previously run-down area has given rise to a cheerful and colorful venue, quickly becoming a true community center for the area. It caters to young people, couples, families, and all other types of clientele.

The environment

With its bright, conservatory-style dining room, PizzAudace is an excellent choice for enjoying the spring and summer seasons to the fullest. In winter, the windows remain closed and the space is heated. The restaurant also features a courtyard in front, where children can play.

Inside these decidedly informal, working-class establishments, a young, smiling staff serves a good selection of Neapolitan-style pizzas without too many frills. Service (including table service) is fast and not particularly brilliant, but still efficient, punctual, and polite.

The PizzAudace menu

"Abundance" is undoubtedly the key word to describe PizzAudace's menu. With over 30 pizza varieties, including platters for multiple people, this restaurant-pizzeria boasts a wide selection that doesn't compromise the quality of the food served. Starting with the appetizers, where the fried cod meatballs with chickpea hummus, carrots, and caramelized onions are a prime example of the cuisine's potential. A simple and balanced dish, it focuses on deliciousness without being overly heavy or difficult to digest. In fact, there's no criticism of the fried ingredients.

While the 30-plus pizzas truly cater to all tastes, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, the beverage menu could be improved, which, especially when it comes to beers, focuses primarily on major commercial brands. The same goes for the wine list, which features more well-known labels rather than small producers. This is entirely conceivable, however, given that this isn't PizzAudace's target market, and its appeal lies (also) in its authentic identity.

The PizzAudace of Florence

While it's complemented by equally excellent seafood (especially the Linguine allo Scoglio and the Ricotta and Bottarga Gnocchi with Seafood), pizza—whether by its name alone—is undoubtedly the focus of PizzAudace's offerings. A wood-fired oven, naturally leavened dough, and the addition of semolina flour are the three cornerstones of the leavened products offered here. The result? A pizza with a pronounced crust, slightly thicker than what's commonly found in Tuscany, topped with authentic Neapolitan tomato and mozzarella. A naturally leavened whole-wheat dough is also available.

I opted for both the classic and the contemporary, first trying the "Margherita" (slightly charred crust) and then the "Gold" with yellow tomato sauce, prosciutto, basil, and stracciatella after baking. Despite the dough and the, as mentioned, very pronounced crust, the pizza was light and digestible in both cases, respecting the cooking times. The ingredients were carefully chosen, although the yellow tomato sauce in the "Gold" wasn't very abundant, making the pizza base a bit drier than it should have been. I also found the house pizzas delicious, such as the eponymous "PizzAudace" with tomato, mozzarella, spicy salami, porcini mushrooms, and gorgonzola, or the "Eccellenza" with mozzarella, shaved truffle, stracciatella, truffle oil, and prosciutto. I'll be back to try them.

Sweet and sour

The dessert selection is also extensive, all rigorously freshly prepared in the kitchen. I opted for a crispy basket with yogurt mousse and berries: pleasant, fresh, and light, an interesting alternative to the usual gelato, sorbet, or panna cotta. Again, the presentation wasn't overly elaborate, but the fruits were fresh and the flavor compelling. Which is exactly what matters most around here. Other options include sweet calzone, trifle, tiramisu, cheesecake, and cocoa shortcrust tart. All for the modest price of less than €25 per person.

Opinion

PizzAudace is a neighborhood pizzeria where the focus is on the essentials and the authenticity of its offerings are respected. The pizza—Neapolitan, thick, with a pronounced crust—is well-made, and that's the only thing that matters. This explains the decidedly informal, unpretentious interior and service, as well as the entirely average beverage menu. The price, however, is fair, perhaps even a little low for the quality of the food.

PRO

• The pizza
• The true identity of the place