Best Homemade Restaurant Pasta

Amy Winehouse’s Valerie resonates throughout the eclectic old car shop now known as Tamerò, which serves the best pasta dishes in Florence. Guests wait to be seated along the sidewalk of the residential Santo Spirito area. This trendy Florence pasta bar opened in December 2012 by two owners, coincidentally both named Massimo. The owners decided to make this restaurant anything but traditional.

Tamerò, meaning “I will love you” in Italian, still houses the original concrete floors and walls from the 1930s car repair shop that previously resided there. The owners explained the importance of the space as they talk about the spirit of the those who formerly occupied the premises of the restaurant. Just as the mechanics worked with their hands, the restaurant continues on with this artisan element, featuring their handmade pasta.

Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, Tamerò offers plates ranging from pasta and seafood to grilled vegetables. Two of their signature pasta dishes include southern Tuscan pasta, thick strands of pici, served either with alfredo or shrimp sauce. Their second signature dish is sure to turn heads as the black ink homemade pasta is more than unique. This black ravioli, colored with cuttlefish ink, is filled with potato and lemon and topped with a sauce of polpo (octopus) and a touch of spice.

Other offerings include egg-rich tagliatelle ribbon noodles accompanied by fresh tuna and zucchini blossoms, or sliced cherry tomatoes and a walnut-basil pesto, as well as short Sardinian pasta with crab ragout.

Tamerò attracts many locals, as it is the first restaurant to offer take-out pasta. Florentines order their pasta and pick it up at the window. Another unique feature of the restaurant is the fine wine. The owners travel around Italy and choose their wines from local wine producers.

Tamerò offers appetizers and cocktails starting at 7 daily. During the winter, the restaurant features a DJ on Thursday and live music on Friday. The restaurant provides authentic taste for affordable prices. Just as the name suggests, once you enjoy a meal here you will love it forever. Piazza Santo Spirito 11/r, Florence.