What makes good Italian food and a great Italian restaurant? This is what I think.
Italy has a wonderful tradition of fine food items. Italian food’s importance to Italian culture can not overstated. It is on the list of 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 can nearly surrounded through sea but also connected to fantastic 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, Italy.
When you think of noodles and pasta, you probably think about Italy, but those wonderful inventions reached Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It reveals a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic became connected with Italy even although it did not originate there.
Anyway, food can be a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, the food is probably the most important part of this restaurant. Of course, a great Italian restaurant will have a great wine list, a clean and elegant decor, and wonderful service, but a suitable Italian restaurant can have by on great food alone, even when they have a crummy wine list, poor service, having a dingy decoration pattern.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s in no way authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do rather than a great bistro establish. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that charge a fee $400 for a morsel that gives you want to stop for a slice of pizza on the way 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, even so, not overly friendly. Recognized orders are taken and the meal gets rolling, true 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’ at some point?” when ladies are seated at the table. This is most un-Italian . An Italian would never call ladies “guy.” Along with 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 fantastic ones, however. It is all about the meal properly comfort.
The third aspect of any great Italian restaurant may be the ambiance. I’m not sure what it is, but Italians could be seen as able to create wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in the suburban areas of Denver — as un-romantic an environment as considerably more — that come close to great. A totally outstanding Italian restaurant will just possess a certain feeling from the instant you walk in the door, a warmth and the glow that can’t sometimes be described.
So the priorities are food first, service second, and a ambiance third. If all three are met, you can see a great Italian bistro.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444