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 is not to be overstated. It is among the many central elements, and why don’t it be? Think about Italy’s geography for a second:
It runs a long way from north to south. Therefore, it has a wide array of growing seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning is nearly surrounded in the sea but also connected to the main reason 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 consider noodles and pasta, you probably think of Italy, but those wonderful inventions found Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It informs you a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic became related to Italy even although it did not originate there.
Anyway, food is often a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, the food is 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 good 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 option.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s not always 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 allows 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 associated with a great Italian restaurant is 200 dollars per month. The service will be warm and professional, but not overly friendly. Wedding ceremony 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 everyone doin’ tonight?” when ladies are seated while dining. This is most un-Italian of such. An Italian would never call women “guy.” Along with spaghetti-and-meatballs-type places, the waiter might say, “How is everyone today?” The won’t tarry with small talk in the white-tablecloth places, not fantastic ones, in the wild. It is all about the meal at the same time comfort.
The third aspect connected with a great Italian restaurant may be the ambiance. I’m not sure 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 there is — arrive close to great. A completely 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 final. If all three are met, you can recommend a great Italian bistro.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444