Trattoria Da Leo In Lucca

11/03/2026: CASALE TUSCANO Tuscany trip. For our dinner, we've booked at Vecchio Casale ai Pioppi, a typical Tuscan trattoria nestled in the heart of the Viareggio countryside. The atmosphere is traditional and elegant, and the waiter is enterprising, sometimes over-the-top, but friendly. First, a bottle of still water and a bottle of red wine. We're going for the classic, a 2022 Chianti DOCG from Azienda L'Erta in Radda - Radda in Chianti (SI). It's delicious. Our dinner can begin with a mixed house antipasto. A series of dishes served in quick (but not too quick) succession. A platter of mixed cold cuts (prosciutto crudo, finocchiona, salami, and coppa), condiglione, a small bowl of flavored olives, crostini with chicken liver pâté, and some melon boats, followed by other hot dishes: zucchini quiche, squares of polenta with mushrooms, another leek quiche, and potato and cheese croquettes. The appetizers were generous, but could be improved. The crostini with pâté and the cold cuts were excellent, paired with an excellent basket of bread and focaccia, but the other dishes were less intriguing, perhaps too vintage. We continued the dinner by sharing a Tagliata served bone-in on a wooden cutting board with a side of baked potatoes. The meat was rare, as we requested, and again, a generous portion; I'd say it was a good dish. We ordered two coffees and the bill. The total cost was €100. Overall, a decent dinner, the abundance was appreciable, but the quality/price ratio was unconvincing.

23/02/2026: Coming back from Piombino, a very convenient location near the motorway exit. The friendly owner, who has some valuable bicycles in his car, let us park near the entrance to keep an eye on them. Fast service, typical Tuscan dishes, and a great atmosphere.