Dining at Johnny Bruschetta

Diced tomatoes piled high onto toasted bread, rubbed with garlic and drizzled with olive oil—bruschetta is the quintessentially iconic Tuscan appetizer. But as the times change, so do the traditions. New restaurant Johnny Bruschetta focuses on serving up hearty lunches based on the traditional appetizer.

Located close to Sant’Ambrogio, guests are first greeted by the bar, backed by shelves of wine bottles, glasses, a cappuccino machine and a chalkboard. Just about every dish is assembled with zero mile ingredients, all chopped and served straight from Tuscan farms. Each bruschetta can be served in 40, 80, 120, 200 (and up – just ask) centimeter increments, and similar to gelato, the number of flavors they can hold increases accordingly. One can eat a full meal, complete with beer and table service, for under €13.

The walls are deep purple and light green, representing the wine they serve and the Chianti olive oil that soaks into the bread. Theirs is of a secret recipe: blending three grains, including durum wheat, results in a lighter loaf, toasted to just the right shade of gold that remains sturdy enough to hold the endless variety of toppings.

Owner Daniele Martini chose to focus solely on bruschetta for the versatility that it offers: boasting over 30 varieties, the menu he created contains seemingly endless combinations for those looking for an alternative to pizza. All are named for towns in Tuscany: building on the toast, olive oil, and garlic base, Bolgheri is a tasty combo of porcini mushrooms and prosciutto under a blanket of melted cheese, while Gaiole stacks speck, squacquerone cheese and mushrooms.

Montalcino is a colorful and savory combination of squacquerone cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, fresh basil and red chicory. Pietrasanta is as photogenic as the elegant seaside resort for which it is named: select smoked salmon drizzled with balsamic vinegar sits on a bed of lettuce and a hint of creamy cheese. Besides the wine from Barberino Val d’Elsa, a special Tuscan feature to the drink menu is a selection of artisanal beers from the Garfagnana and Casentino mountain regions.  Johnny’s is open for lunch starting at 12 noon, Monday through Saturday at via dei Macci 77/r, Florence, tel. 055/247 83 326.  (bianca cockerell & kate magovern)