What makes good Italian food and a great Italian restaurant? This is what I think.
Italy has a wonderful tradition of fine things you eat. Italian food’s importance to Italian culture cannot be overstated. It is among the central elements, and why don’t it be? Think about Italy’s geography for a second:
It runs the 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 it is nearly surrounded by the sea but also connected to the great 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. All Mediterranean cultures have excellent food traditions from North Africa to Lebanon and Israel, France, Greece, Spain and, of course, Toscana.
When you regarding noodles and pasta, you probably involving Italy, but those wonderful inventions began to Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It tells 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 probably the most important part of the restaurant. Of course, a great Italian restaurant will possess a great wine list, a clean and stylish decor, and wonderful service, but a suitable Italian restaurant are certain to get by on great food alone, whether or not they have a crummy wine list, poor service, also dingy decoration pattern.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s not always authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do as opposed to a great bistro ensure. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that charge $400 for a morsel that allows want to stop for a slice of pizza during your studies home. A great Italian ristorante will leave you full, not stuffed, but full.
The second aspect of a great Italian restaurant is there isn’t a. The service will be warm and professional, but not overly friendly. Wedding ceremony orders are taken and the meal gets rolling, the service should be nearly invisible. Run — don’t walk — from any Italian restaurant where the waitperson address the table like this:
“How everyone doin’ tonight?” when ladies are seated at the table. This is most un-Italian . An Italian would never call a woman “guy.” There is 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 you’ll be able to ones, however. It is all about the meal and the comfort.
The third aspect of a great Italian restaurant will be the ambiance. I’m not sure what it is, but Italians seem to be able to build a wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in the suburbs of Denver — as un-romantic a setting as there is — arrive close to great. An absolutely 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 often be described.
So the priorities are food first, service second, and a ambiance final. If all three are met, you say that a great Italian restaurant.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444