Okay, the weather isn't really the best to think about eating out, but the restaurant “A mangià fora” in Prato it is perfect in any season. As the name suggests, the strong points of the restaurant are two: the large outdoor environment and the food linked to the Tuscan tradition. The location is unique, because it remains a bit outside the city center; immersed in the countryside, among plowed fields, here is the building of the restaurant which is a beautiful renovated farmhouse. In the summer it becomes even more beautiful, because it is surrounded by very tall sunflowers. If you are not familiar with the area, arm yourself with patience and an updated satellite navigator, but the roads are easily passable and the Prato Ovest motorway exit is about 5 minutes away by car. The interior rooms remain faithful to rustic style, but they are enlivened by unusual paintings and a huge blackboard with the menu written on it: nothing is left to chance!
Obviously the dishes offered are all Tuscan doc, with an eye to the old Prato cuisine: tomato soup, crostini with livers, tortelli with sauce, pici and then ...meat, meat, meat! The grills are really tasty: from the classic Florentine to the rosticciana. The strong point, however, remains the fried barnyard: a plate of fried chicken and vegetables. I didn't try the desserts, but peeking into the neighboring tables, they didn't exactly look bad. The house wine is a very respectable Chianti, but for the refined palates there is always the possibility to bring it from home. It is an informal place, where numerous dinners can also be organized, requesting personalized menus. The availability of the staff is in fact another point in favor of the place: the owner came several times to make sure that our dinner was going well and an eye is reserved for children.
The waiting times were quite short and the bill really surprised us: although the portions were generous, the average for a full meal is about 25 € each. This is why the place is always full, for this reason booking is a must. Even if the rooms are very large, when they are crowded, the "noise" could be poorly tolerated by those seeking tranquility and therefore I do not recommend it to anyone who wants to spend a romantic or simply relaxing evening. But after all, you know, the people of Prato have the reputation of having a high tone of voice, given the habit of shouting things from one loom to another, and A mangià fora is a place that has roots in the traditions of its land, which transmits to its customers with simplicity, joy and… low cost
