What makes good Italian food and a great Italian restaurant? This is what I think.
Italy has a wonderful tradition of fine food. Italian food’s importance to Italian culture cannot be overstated. It is one of the central elements, and why don’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 skyrocketing seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning might be nearly surrounded using the sea but also connected to the great 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. All Mediterranean cultures have excellent food traditions from North Africa to Lebanon and Israel, France, Greece, Spain and, of course, Italy.
When you regarding noodles and pasta, you probably consider Italy, but those wonderful inventions began 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 important part of the restaurant. Of course, a great Italian restaurant will have a great wine list, a clean and elegant 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, also dingy decoration scheme.
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 make. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that impose $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 regarding a great Italian restaurant is needed. The service will be warm and professional, however, not overly friendly. After the 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 you doin’ tonight?” when ladies are seated at the table. This is most un-Italian of them. An Italian would never call girls “guy.” There is 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 you’ll be able to ones, need. It is all about the meal and the comfort.
The third aspect connected with a great Italian restaurant could be the ambiance. I not really know what it is, but Italians seem to be able carryout a wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in the suburban areas of Denver — as un-romantic a setting as have to — arrive close to great. An actually outstanding Italian restaurant will just possess a certain feeling from as soon as you walk in the door, a warmth and a glow that can’t really 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 bistro.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444