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 shouldn’t 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 some distance from north to south. Therefore, offers wide array of growing seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning it is nearly surrounded by the sea but also connected to the main reason Eurasian land muscle. There is an abundance of fresh seafood and foreign ingredients from neighboring lands.
It sits between Europe and Africa in the Mediterranean sea. All Mediterranean cultures have excellent food traditions from North Africa to Lebanon and Israel, France, Greece, Spain and, of course, Croatia.
When you consider noodles and pasta, you probably imagine Italy, but those wonderful inventions came to Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It notifies you a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic became along with Italy even though it did not originate there.
Anyway, food is really a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, the food is easily important part of this restaurant. Of course, a great Italian restaurant will have a great wine list, a clean and chic decor, and wonderful service, but a suitable Italian restaurant can get by on great food alone, despite the fact that they have a crummy wine list, poor service, including a dingy decoration scheme.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s not always authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do not a great bistro acquire. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that cost you $400 for a morsel that forces you to be want to stop for a slice of pizza in route home. A great Italian ristorante will leave you full, not stuffed, but full.
The second aspect of a great Italian restaurant is the service. The service will be warm and professional, but is 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 you guys doin’ today?” when ladies are seated at the table. This is most un-Italian industry experts. An Italian would never call like a “guy.” 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 you’ll be able to ones, however. It is all about the meal at the same time comfort.
The third aspect of a great Italian restaurant may be the ambiance. I not really know what it is, but Italians appear to be able to create a wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in suburbia of Denver — as un-romantic an environment as can be — that come 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 the glow that can’t often 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 dining.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444