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 several central elements, and why don’t it be? Think about Italy’s geography for a second:
It runs mile after mile from north to south. Therefore, perfect for this little wide array of accelerating seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning might be nearly surrounded through 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 sea. All Mediterranean cultures have excellent food traditions from North Africa to Lebanon and Israel, France, Greece, Spain and, of course, Toscana.
When you involving noodles and pasta, you probably involving Italy, but those wonderful inventions reached Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It tells 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 a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, the food is important part from the restaurant. Of course, a great Italian restaurant will have a great wine list, a clean and elegant decor, and wonderful service, but a good Italian restaurant maybe by on great food alone, regardless if they have a crummy wine list, poor service, and a dingy decoration framework.
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 making. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that charge you $400 for a morsel that forces you to 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 involving a great Italian restaurant is the service. The service will be warm and professional, but not overly friendly. Following your 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 you doin’ today?” when ladies are seated at the table. This is most un-Italian industry experts. An Italian would never call like a “guy.” During 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 fortunately ones, anyway. It is all about the meal at the same time comfort.
The third aspect of one great Italian restaurant may be the ambiance. I don’t know what it is, but Italians could be seen as able to build a wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in the suburbs of Denver — as un-romantic an environment as tend to be : — 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 sometimes be described.
So the priorities are food first, service second, and a ambiance information. If all three are met, you have found a great Italian restaurant.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444