What are the best restaurants in Italy that are NOT popular on TripAdvisor?

In Florence in the Piazza Spirito, there is a place around the corner called Gusta Pizza! It is the most absolute, amazing, fresh, stone oven-ed pizza! Right by a church and on some days, there is an open market. 

Hey Mo,

Here are a few of my favorites for Milan (didn't cross-check vs TripAdvisor):

- Ceresio7 (rooftop restaurant) - Via Ceresio 7 20154 Milano

- N'Ombra de Vin (winebar) - Via San Marco, Brera, MIlano

- Temakinho Navigli- (mix of japanese and brazilian food) - Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 37, Milan

- Al Pont de Ferr (Osteria, authentic food) - Ripa di Porta Ticinese 55
Navigli - Porta Genova

- Circle

- Ristorante Giapponese Finger's Milano(Japanese) - Via S. Gerolamo Emiliani 2
Porta Romana/Corso Lodi
Milan

- Il Verdi (traditional Italian) - Piazza Mirabello 5
Brera
Milan 

- El Brellin (Neo-trattoria) - Alzaia Naviglio Grande 14
Milan 

- Torsa S.r.l. - Via Forcella 2/A
Milan

- Ristorante Rugantino (Roman Italian) - Via Fabbri 1
Milan 

- Trattoria Amici Miei (great lunch) - Viale Bligny 42
Milan 

- Cascina Corba - Via dei Gigli, 14
Milan

Hope this helps

Rome:

Great pizza at Pizza Forum, right by the Colosseum. My husband grew up in Rome, and ate there as far back as 25 years ago. New ownership, but they are still from Naples and their wood oven pizza is insanely good. We just ate there over Christmas again while visiting his family. I know it's a touristy area, but it is top notch.

Roman style pizza I Gerani da Peppe is awesome! We visit every time we go. It's a bit out of the touristy area, but really good...thin..and 18 inches. I posted about it on my blog just recently.

If you love seafood like l do, you will love Papetto Srl. It is a fixed price €35 per person, and you get like 12 courses, from seafood ravioli, to calamari, to fish, shrimp, mussels marinara etc, and all the white or red house wine you can drink. You won't hear any English here. It's outside the touristy area too, but worth it.

Have fun!

1. Florence: I second Gusta Pizza! It's out of this world. And actually, the 'Gusta' brothers own three restaurants in the same piazza (Piazza Santo Spirito). Gusta Osteria has an incredible lasagna, and Gusta Panino is all about meaty sandwiches. Try them all! Next door is Volume for a drink and some live music!
2. Milan: For pizza, go to I Capatosta. Dinner at Giulio Pane e Ojo (they also have a huge lunch + wine on weekdays for 10 euros). And a real gem, U Barba! A really local place with a fantastic atmosphere and baci ball court outside. 
   

Enjoy!

Spent a few weeks in Rome & Florence over the holidays. Top Roma restaurants for me were Berzitello Ristorante, and Ristorante Meridionale. Also, for real local food, you have to check out the Testaccio area. Volpetti deli is unbelievably good. Also, much fewer tourists to deal with around there.

For Firenze, grab ALL the sandwiches at 'Ino. Loved that place, and didn't have to deal with tourists there either, despite how close it is to Ponte Vecchio. Upstairs of the Mercato Centrale Market is a good spot to chill out for a few, over wine and polpettes. If you want something other than Italian one night, there's a decent Dim Sum joint at Dim Sum Restaurant, but save coffee for Ditta Artigianale opposite.