- Acquaviva di Montepulciano:
Ristorante l'Angolo, classic Tuscan cooking, go for lunch while touring the Vino Nobile vineyards. Closed Mondays. Via Galileo Galilei 20, behind the main church, 3 blocks from the main street, center of town. Tel: 0578-767-216. ($$)*

 - Amiata mountain, village of Pescina:
Ristorante Silene, fine dining at Mt Amiata, well worth a detour to this famous restaurant and country Inn. Refined cooking and local specialties (truffles, mushrooms, game), also vegetarian selection. Enjoy delicious hand-made pasta and the baked chocolate desert. Extensive wine list, professional staff, well furnished dining room. Closed Mondays & during November. At cross-roads, center of village, short drive from Seggiano. 0564-950-805. ($$)*

- Asciano:
Rosticceria La Brace, dine in or take out the best home style cooking in the area.  Daily specials for lunch and dinner, good service and affordable. Last visit in May 2011. Closed Tuesdays. Via Mameli 9, around the corner from the main piazza with town hall and bakery. Tel: 0577-718-056. ($)

- Bagno Vignoni:
La Terrazza, offers the most enjoyable dining experience in Bagni Vignoni, with large terrace overlooking the central pool, inside attractive dining room is a part of the spa-hotel. Menu has local specials and also good pizza in the evenings. Open every day. Last visit May 2007. Located at the hotel, center of town. 0577-887-157.  www.albergoleterme.it  ($$).

- Bagno Vignoni:
Osteria del Leone, has improved and is now an enjoyable restaurant with very interesting seasonal menu at reasonable prices, newly refurbished interiors, and attentive service. Last vist in 2006. Open every day, center of village. 0577-887-300. http://osteria.illeone.com  ($$)

- Bagno Vignoni:
Osteria La Parata, nice setting but disappointing food, last visit in 2007.

- Barberino Val d'Elsa (Fi) north of Siena:
Ristorante Pizzeria La Bustecca, original country cooking, good food and friendly service at this simple place catering to the locals. No tourist menus. Inside and outside dining in summer. Closed (?). Just north of town, follow signs 300 meters up from the main road.  Tel: 055-807-5562. ($)

- Bettolle, 1 km from the Val di Chiana A1 exit:
Betulia, classic Tuscan cooking, standard pastas and grilled meats. Closed Saturdays. Established small restaurant with constantly good meals, last visits in 2007. Via Vittorio Veneto 21, just inside the town from the main road and intersection to Sinalunga. Tel: 0577-624-131.($)

- Buonconvento:
I Poggioli, fresh seasonal dishes, home-made pasta, excellent seafood, big salads, also pizza in the evenings. Delicious food, try the seafood antipasto. Large outdoor area. Closed Mondays and also Tuesdays for lunch. English spoken. Last visit in October 2011. Via Tassi 6. Hidden in the new town area, one block in front of the train station, small street with a pub in the corner. Tel: 0577-806-546. ($$)

- Buonconvento:
La Via di Mezzo, excellent lunch and dinner in center of old town, very good local seasonal fare including home-made pasta, daily specials, big salads. Inside lots of room for even big groups, outside a few tables. Closed Tuesdays. Last visit in September 2011. Friendly service and English spoken. Via Soccini 53. On the main street, center of old town. Tel: 0577-806-320. ($$) www.osterialviadimezzo.com

- Castelmuzio:
Camarlegno, good trattoria on the central piazza of the village. Serves standard Tuscan specials at reasonable prices, nice dining room upstairs, walk past the bar to get there. Outside seating during summer. Last visit in July 2011. Closed Tuesdays and during the winter. 0577-665-373. ($)

- Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Sant'Antimo monastery:
Antica Osteria del Bassomondo, excellent local food, best home made pastas, try the tagliatelle with mushroom sauce. Closed Mondays. Last visit April 2007. Best place for lunch when visiting the monastery. 0577-835-750. ($) Look up www.antimo.it for schedule of religious services with Gregorian Chant

- Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Sant'Antimo monastery:
Locanda Sant'Antimo: good home style cooking. Closed Wednesdays. The other trattoria near Sant'Antimo, large outdoor terrace. Tel: 0577-835-546. ($)

- Castiglion d'Orcia,  8 km up from town, and well worth the drive!:
Ristorante I Lecci:  currently (August 2011) we think this is the best value (quality/price) restaurant anywhere in southern Tuscany. It’s all very good, but they reach sublime heights with the home-made pasta, pappardelle and maltagliati superb thin fresh melt-in-your-mouth pasta with delicious sauce of truffle-walnut cream or porcini mushrooms, to-die-for! Also other pasta types, including tortelli can be had with the best ragu. In warm weather we had leisurely lunches under shade on the wide panoramic terrace with platters of antipasti, and in the late fall dinners by the fireplace inside the well furnished large restaurant. Game is also on the menu, and their tender steaks of Chianina beef are cooked over hot coals, but leave some room for dessert too (sharing is okay). Your charming host, Andrea, takes good care of you while the ladies in the kitchen create culinary miracles.

From Pienza and Orcia valley take the route SS2, the Via Cassia, just south of Bango Vignoni, drive up to Castiglion d’Orcia and keeping to the main road, drive past town and continue another 4 km along route SS323, at fork turn left toward Vivo d’Orcia (route SP18). Take this road driving thru the forest and in 4 km you see on your right a 2-story roadhouse with a large parking area. Tel: 0577-887-287, reservations not needed during the week. ($$)

- Celle sul Rigo:
il Poggio: has two restaurants, one serves excellent Tuscan cuisine ($$), the other restaurant serves pizzas and hamburgers! ($) Open every day. On hilltop next to town. Tel: 0578-53748.

- Celle sul Rigo:
Trattoria La Pace, good home-style cooking (mamma in the kitchen), enjoy excellent hand-made pici at this friendly family restaurant. Open every day during summer, closed Thursdays rest of the year. Covered terrace in summer is very pleasant, last visit June 2008. Center of old town, Via Teatro 5. Tel: 0578-53716. ($)

- Cetona:
Mondo X, Ristorante La Frateria, at Convento di St. Francesco, supreme culinary feast in one of the most elegant and historical settings, pris fix tasting menus and a'la carte, near 100 euro per person. Best for intimate fine dining. Closed Tuesdays. Beautiful setting in historical convent, outside terrace too. www.lafrateria.it   Located just north of Cetona. Tel: 0578-238-261. ($$$)* 

- Cetona:
Osteria Vecchia, excellent Tuscan cooking and beloved local favorite. Menu features fresh seasonal and regional dishes, superb homemade pastas, great value for money, delicious food. Closed Tuesdays in low season only. Via Cherubini 11, along a small alley from center of main square. Last visit in 2009. Tel: 0578-239-040. ($$)*

- Cetona:
Ristorante Sobborgo, second best in Cetona after Nilo's Osteria Vecchia (see above) and more geared for the tourist trade, sometimes good, sometimes not. Beware of expensive wines. Closed Mondays. Via Sobborgo 6, one block from south end of main square. Tel: 0578-239-191. ($$)*

- Chiusi:
Osteria La Solita Zuppa, excellent Tuscan cooking with a creative variety of soups and pastas, very small portions. Closed Tuesdays. Friendly service, cozy restaurant. Via Porcenna 21, in the middle of old town. Short walk to the famous Etruscan museum. Tel: 0578-21-006. www.lasolitazuppa.it ($$)*

- Colle Val d'Elsa:
Ristorante Arnolfo, the very best cuisine in Siena Province, with Michelin stars. Fabulous tasting menus of 6 or more small courses, expect to pay over 100 euro per person, and you can also order a' la carte. Excellent wine list. Have a memorable lunch or dinner when driving by to San Gimignano or Volterra. Food is elevated to a fine art, service is professional, dining room is comfortable and smart casual dressing would be appropriate. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday. Via XX Settembre 50, in the center of the upper old town. Tel: 0577-920-549. www.arnolfo.com  ($$$)*

- La Foce:
Ristorante Oasi La Foce,  is unfortunately now closed (2011).

- Lucignano, in Val di Chiana (Ar):
Ristorante La Tavernetta,  good local cooking, specialty is mushrooms and truffles, with outdoor dining. Closed on Mondays. Via Roma 15,  in center of town.  Tel: 0575-836-568 ($)

- Lucignano d'Arbia
Ristorante Pizzeria La Valserena,  this is the real thing, country cooking for the locals, excellent pizza, pasta, grilled meats. Converted rustic barn, nothing elegant or refined, just good food. Closed on (?). Via Cassia Sud 2858, about 10 km north of Buonconvento, just south of Lucignano d'Arbia, sharp turn off the main road, drive up the hill.  Tel: 0577-374-545 ($)

- Montalcino:
Taverna del Grappolo Blu, our last visit in 2008 was a pleasure, enjoyed the rich and tasty home made pastas served on pretty plates, excellent meats, especially the guinea foul, half-bottles of wines, the house label is great value. Warm and cozy interior in rustic building, attentive and friendly service, English spoken. Located right off the main street (Via Mazzini) near town-hall piazza, a few steps down the side alley Scala di Moglio, look for the signs. Open every day. 0577-847-150 ($$)*

- Montalcino:
Boccon di Vino and Taverna dei Barbi, their fame has resulted in overpriced food and disappointed customers who expected far better for all the money they forked over.

- Montalcino:
Ristorante il Moro, good home-style cooking, popular with the locals. Closed Thursdays. Via Mazzini 44, down the street from city hall, center of town. Tel: 0577-849-384 ($)

- Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey:
We recommend going to the hill-town of Chiusure for lunch, just 2km up from the Abbey, to il Paradiso, on the small village square with covered outside tables, excellent little place serving simple good food. Last visit in August 2011. Closed on Tuesdays. ($)

- Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey:
Ristorante La Torre at the Abbey has good food but is often busy with tour groups. Closed Tuesdays. Enjoy lunch on the terrace when visiting the famous abbey 0577-707-022. ($$)* 

- Montefollonico:
il Botteghino, excellent cooking, very popular with locals, one of our favorite “truck-stops”. Try the house spaghetti, pici, grills, even fish. Closed Thursdays. Large covered outdoor dining. Last visit 2009. Located on the main road at the intersection north of town. 0577-668-031. ($)

- Montefollonico:
La Chiusa, another famous restaurant we find overpriced. Go instead to La Grotta or Locanda dell'Amorosa or Mondo X La Frateria for the best fine dining in this region.

- Montepulciano:
Trattoria Diva e Maceo, good Tuscan food with all the local dishes. Closed Wednesdays. Via di Gracciano nel Corso 90, just inside the northern gate. Tel: 0578-716-951. ($)* 

- Montepulciano:
Osteria Acquacheta, excellent value in touristy Montepulciano and the favorite of the locals. Simple rustic place with good atmosphere, great selection of vegetables and daily specials. Service can be a bit rough at times. Down from Piazza Grande, past Teatro Poliziano. Via del Teatro 22. 0578-758-443. ($)*

- Montepulciano:
La Grotta, highly recommended classic restaurant with refined cuisine and the perfect place to enjoy the Vino Nobile wines. Seasonal specialties include truffles, porcini mushrooms, game, fresh pasta. Outside dining too. Last visit in 2010. Closed on Wednesdays. Next to the San Biagio church, below the town on the west side. Tel: 0578-757-607. ($$$)*

- Montepulciano - Nottola:
Osteria di Nottola, delicious food at this roadside Osteria, stop here on the way to the vineyards. Last time I had excellent ravioli and grilled salmon from the daily lunch menu, inexpensive. Favorite place of the locals. About 5 minute drive northeast from Montepulciano, near the new regional hospital. Walk thru the bar, restaurant is in the back. Open every day. Tel: 0578-707-114. ($)* (may be closed or under a renovation, winter of 2010)

- Monticchiello:
Osteria La Porta, excellent restaurant and wine bar, very popular with Italians, with a fresh and creative interpretation of local specials. Ask for a table on the terrace with panoramic views. Last visit in 2009. Closed on Thursdays. Small restaurant, best to make a reservations. English spoken. Located at the town gate, Via del Piano 3. 0578-755-163. www.osterialaporta.it   ($$)*

- Palazzone:
Ristorante il Pozzo, has been a good local restaurant, but it’s not open during the winter. Outside terrace in the back. On the main piazza of the village. If closed, go to the pizzeria down the road.

- Piazze:
La Bottega delle Nane, excellent cooking, highly recommended. Some of the best food in the area, lots of daily and seasonal specials. Two problems are (1) no written menu - they tell you what's available, and the waiter speaks enough English. (2) No house wines by the glass, only full bottles – but the local Monte Cetona area wines are not expensive. Last visit in 2009. Closed Thursdays. Via Provinciale 187, center of town. Tel: 0578-244-295. ($)*

- Piazze:
Ristorante - Pizzeria La Vigna, good local cooking, outdoor seating in the back. Owned and run by a charming elderly couple, a traditional place where you'll eat very well. Also fresh fish on Thursdays and Fridays. Closed Wednesdays. Via Provinciale 163, center of town. Tel: 0578-244-007. ($)