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 is not to 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 some distance from north to south. Therefore, it has a 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 through 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, England.
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 related to Italy even though it did not originate there.
Anyway, food can be a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, the food is regarded as 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 first rate Italian restaurant can have by on great food alone, even if they have a crummy wine list, poor service, also dingy decoration scheme.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s far from authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do not a great bistro make. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that charge you $400 for a morsel that allows want to stop for a slice of pizza along the way home. A great Italian ristorante will leave you full, not stuffed, but full.
The second regarding a great Italian restaurant is the service. The service will be warm and professional, but 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 all of you doin’ tonight?” when ladies are seated at the table. This is most un-Italian of such. An Italian would never call ladies “guy.” Along with 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 fantastic ones, need. It is all about the meal likewise comfort.
The third aspect in regards to a great Italian restaurant may be the ambiance. I am not sure what it is, but Italians appear like able to create wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in the suburbs of Denver — as un-romantic an environment as can be — that come close to great. An actually outstanding Italian restaurant will just possess a certain feeling from when you walk in the door, a warmth and a glow that can’t be described.
So the priorities are food first, service second, and a ambiance final. If all three are met, you are recommending a great Italian bistro.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444