Fabio Picchi's Cibrèo complex on Via del Verrocchio has been central to Florence's restaurant scene since 1979. The main Ristorante Cibrèo is expensive and requires booking well in advance; but the adjacent Trattoria Cibreino serves virtually the same food — roast chicken livers, yellow pepper soup, polpette di pollo — at roughly half the price, with no reservations taken. Arrive early or be prepared to wait.
The Cibrèo Caffè across the road is a more relaxed option, serving drinks, light meals, and pastries throughout the day. The whole enterprise reflects Picchi's strong views about Florentine food: no pasta (considered too north Italian), no bread with the meal, cooking from the full range of the Tuscan larder including offal, tripe, and forgotten cuts. The location in the Sant'Ambrogio market district — a five-minute walk from the covered market — reinforces the kitchen's connection to its ingredients. A very good choice for lunch after visiting the market.