What makes good Italian food and a great Italian restaurant? This precisely what I think.
Italy has a wonderful tradition of fine culinary. Italian food’s importance to Italian culture can not overstated. It is one of several central elements, and why shouldn’t it be? Think about Italy’s geography for a second:
It runs some distance from north to south. Therefore, it possesses a great wide array of accelerating seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning can nearly surrounded in the sea but also connected to fantastic Eurasian land mass. There is an abundance of fresh seafood and foreign ingredients from neighboring lands.
It sits between Europe and Africa in the Mediterranean and beyond. 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 involving Italy, but those wonderful inventions came to Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It tells you a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic became connected with Italy even though it did not originate there.
Anyway, food is a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, the food is easily important part within 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 maybe by on great food alone, whether or not they have a crummy wine list, poor service, including a dingy decoration option.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s rarely authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do not really a huge great bistro ensure. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that charge a fee $400 for a morsel that makes you want to stop for a slice of pizza en route home. A great Italian ristorante will leave you full, not stuffed, but full.
The second aspect of a great Italian restaurant is each month. The service will be warm and professional, but is not overly friendly. Recognized orders are taken and the meal gets rolling, this service membership 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 with them. An Italian would never call like a “guy.” In spaghetti-and-meatballs-type places, the waiter might say, “How is everyone this evening?” The won’t tarry with small talk in the white-tablecloth places, not numerous ones, however. It is all about the meal at the same time comfort.
The third aspect of one great Italian restaurant is the ambiance. I don’t know what it is, but Italians appear like able to create wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I have eaten at places in strip malls in the suburban areas of Denver — as un-romantic an environment as there is — arrive close to great. A completely outstanding Italian restaurant will just have a certain feeling from as soon as you walk in the door, a warmth and maybe a glow that can’t actually be described.
So the priorities are food first, service second, and a ambiance third. If all three are met, you are recommending a great Italian small business.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444