After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we hit the road…just as the sun popped up on the horizon. The weather was clear and the air crisp.
We hit heavy traffic on the way to our meeting. An accident near Cattolica slowed us down tremendously. The driver appeared unhurt.
Thank goodness the Autostrades (highways) have frequent roadside stations. We stopped for a cappuccino and glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. Amazing. 4,60EUR with a croissant.
Our first meeting went quite well, taking about two hours and leaving us three hours until our next meeting across town.
A Lunch to Remember
I asked for a lunch recommendation on the way our of our meeting and a place called Osteria del Grano was recommended. The restaurant was not in a particularly beautiful area of town, but turned out to be a superb choice for lunch.
My Italian friend Bruno in LA had advised me to try chiannina, a special steak in the Florence region. That’s exactly what we ordered and the restaurant owner himself brought out a beautiful piece of beef for our approval.
We began lunch lasagna, which was fabulous but not even necessary because every table received complimentary pizza-like focaccia bread. Delicous, delicious, delicious.
The main course arrived and all I could say was, WOW. It was carved at our table, tender, and full of flavor. Rather than another starch, I just had a mixed salad on the side. The salad was salad, but the olive oil and balsamic vinegar were exquisite.
After finishing, I was pleasantly filled but not stuffed. To avoid that stuffed feeling, I skipped dessert and just ordered an espresso. That was an impressive too.
This was an incredible meal, and at 100EUR for two people including cover charge, a steal.
If you’re in the Florence area, I highly recommend this restaurant for lunch or dinner.
We headed to our next two meetings, both of which went very well.
Where to Sleep?
It was now 6pm and we faced the same dilemma as the day before: continue north to the Milano area or stop for the night. Still feeling satisfied from lunch and wired from several cups of coffee, we hit the Autostrade once again and traveled north from Florence to the outskirts of Milan.
I noticed an Eataly across the highway from one gas station we stopped at. These retusrnats are in the USA as well: a couple in New York and one in LA. I love the LA location: it’s a mix of restaurant and high-end Italian grocery store in the Westfield Century City.
We still weren’t sure where we were going to stay, but because all three meetings the following day were north of Milan, we stopped in a little town called Legnano for the night at a hotel called the Palace Hotel.
I tried to negotiate here to no avail, but the 85EUR price was fair…I guess. The hotel’s website advertised a fairly nice looking spa, but when I asked how late that was open I was told it was closed for maintenance. Whatever…
The bathroom also appeared like a cruise ship, so I’d just avoid this place in the future. Breakfast was also particularly bad in the morning. When coffee is bad in Italy, you know something is wrong.
Anyway, I wanted to get to bed but was still hungry. Small problem: it was now approaching 11p and everything was closed. Well, almost everything…
“The McDonald’s is still open.”
Alrighty then…
I’m not going to lie, it was fine. But such a shame to eat McDonald’s in Italy and I had probably had enough meat/cholesterol from lunch earlier in the day to last the whole week.
Back at the hotel, I passed out: tomorrow would be another big day.
> Read More of My Italy Road Trip:
Introduction: Road Trip Though Italy
Italy Road Trip Day 1: Roaming Around Rome
You hit the bottom if you have to eat McDonalds in Italy..my condolence!
It was either that or Chinese sushi.
You would be amazed to know that a few years ago, the top three McDonald’s by revenue in Europe were in Italy. 1 and 3 in Milan and 2 in Rome. Anyway, McDonald’s in Italy is different than in other countries. You should try the salads there, they’re quite good.
With respect, McDonalds in Italy is the same as everywhere else: deceitful, manipulative, gross and repulsive. The food is designed to be addictive, they target children with the aim of establishing a lifetime of unhealthy eating ; in the overload of sugar, starchy carbs and vile fats consumers fail to notice that the stuff tastes like crap.
The Italian outlets might have a few variations in taste but the parent body is just another American merchant of death and disease.
As for Matthew, truly amazing that he frequents these burger joints. What next? Dunkin Donut?
I would not say I “frequent” these joints. I enjoy IN-N-OUT or Steak Shack once in a while in LA, but not to McDonald’s. Honestly, it was either sushi or McD’s or go to bed hungry, so…
You’re right. The cruise ship I was on in November called the Palace Hotel, and wants its stateroom back. 🙂
Too bad about having to slum it at Mickey D’s for dinner, but that lunch looks absolutely incredible.
Hey Matthew, the next time you’re in the area – north of Milan – let me know. I’m from there and can recommend some places. By the way, if you made it to Legnano, then I would have tried the Moxy hotel in front of MXP. I was there soon after they opened and it was a nice experience.
Thanks! Will do.
That lunch was amazing!!! That is what Italy is known for. Bravo!!! I skipped the part you talked about McDonald’s. I will pretend I did not read that. I prefer to be hungry than eat at a McDonald’s in Italy.
Don’t let one of those poppy seeds fall on your shoe and then head to Dubai… 😉
When I was in Italy a few years ago, my wife and I enjoyed a cappuccino that was really quite good. Very surprised. Too bad that level of quality doesn’t travel well back to North America.
I think the best “learning” from this post — the one that will improve our travels — is one I discovered a few years ago — that gas station food stops by the side of Spanish or Italian expressways are *totally* different from the filthy things we have in the U.S. — fresh squeezed oj, a decent coffee and a pastry/croissant that is “recent” — when’s the last time you saw that at your interstate highway BP station? I was served from by a man in coat and tie in Spain.
Yes, the quality of food is so much higher in Spain, Italy, and France than the USA that even the simplest places — convenience stores and gas stations — have the kinds of sandwiches you pay $12 for at a “gourmet market” or “cafe” in Manhattan or San Francisco.