What makes good Italian food and a great Italian restaurant? This is what I think.
Italy has a wonderful tradition of fine food items. Italian food’s importance to Italian culture is not to be overstated. It is one of several central elements, and why shouldn’t it be? Think about Italy’s geography for a second:
It runs the distance from north to south. Therefore, is an efficient wide array of skyrocketing seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning might be nearly surrounded by the sea but also connected to fantastic Eurasian land size. There is an abundance of fresh seafood and foreign ingredients from neighboring lands.
It sits between Europe and Africa in the Med. All Mediterranean cultures have excellent food traditions from North Africa to Lebanon and Israel, France, Greece, Spain and, of course, The country of italy.
When you associated with noodles and pasta, you probably think about Italy, but those wonderful inventions reached Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It notifys you a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic became associated with Italy even though it did not originate there.
Anyway, food is often a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, the food is easily important part of the restaurant. Of course, a great Italian restaurant will possess a great wine list, a clean and chic decor, and wonderful service, but a first rate Italian restaurant can get by on great food alone, despite the fact that they have a crummy wine list, poor service, which has a dingy decoration scheme.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s rarely authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do rather than a great bistro acquire. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that charge you $400 for a morsel that gives you want to stop for a slice of pizza on the way home. A great Italian ristorante will leave you full, not stuffed, but full.
The second regarding a great Italian restaurant is each month. The service will be warm and professional, however, not overly friendly. Recognized orders are taken and the meal gets rolling, true should be nearly invisible. Run — don’t walk — from any Italian restaurant where the waitperson address the table like this:
“How you guys doin’ tonite?” when ladies are seated at the table. This is most un-Italian of them. An Italian would never call ladies “guy.” Even in spaghetti-and-meatballs-type places, the waiter might say, “How is everyone tonite?” The won’t tarry with small talk in the white-tablecloth places, not the good ones, anyway. It is all about the meal at the same time comfort.
The third aspect of one great Italian restaurant could be the ambiance. I’m not sure what it is, but Italians appear like able to have a wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in the suburbs of Denver — as un-romantic an environment as there is — that come close to great. A truly outstanding Italian restaurant will just possess a certain feeling from the second you walk in the door, a warmth and maybe a glow that can’t really be described.
So the priorities are food first, service second, and a ambiance three rd. If all three are met, you are recommending a great Italian eating venue.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444