What makes good Italian food and a great Italian restaurant? This just what I think.
Italy has a wonderful tradition of fine nutrients. Italian food’s importance to Italian culture is not to be overstated. It is among the central elements, and why shouldn’t it be? Think about Italy’s geography for a second:
It runs a long shot from north to south. Therefore, offers wide array of accelerating seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning is 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 Mediterranean. All Mediterranean cultures have excellent food traditions from North Africa to Lebanon and Israel, France, Greece, Spain and, of course, England.
When you think of noodles and pasta, you probably imagine Italy, but those wonderful inventions came to Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It reveals a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic became along with Italy even although it did not originate there.
Anyway, food is a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, the food is regarded as important part from the restaurant. Of course, a great Italian restaurant will have a great wine list, a clean and stylish decor, and wonderful service, but a first rate Italian restaurant can have by on great food alone, regardless if they have a crummy wine list, poor service, and a dingy decoration scheme.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s in no way authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do not a great bistro make. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that impose $400 for a morsel that forces you to 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 involving a great Italian restaurant is the service. The service will be warm and professional, however, not overly friendly. Since the orders are taken and the meal gets rolling, 200 dollars per month should be nearly invisible. Run — don’t walk — from any Italian restaurant where the waitperson address the table like this:
“How all of you doin’ at some point?” when ladies are seated while dining. This is most un-Italian . An Italian would never call ladies “guy.” Even in spaghetti-and-meatballs-type places, the waiter might say, “How is everyone for dinner?” The won’t tarry with small talk in the white-tablecloth places, not the good ones, in the wild. It is all about the meal and your comfort.
The third aspect connected with a great Italian restaurant could be the ambiance. I am not sure what it is, but Italians are able to create wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in the suburban areas of Denver — as un-romantic an environment as there is — that come close to great. An actually outstanding Italian restaurant will just possess a certain feeling from when 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 can recommend a great Italian small business.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444