What makes good Italian food and a great Italian restaurant? This exactly what I think.
Italy has a wonderful tradition of fine culinary. Italian food’s importance to Italian culture can not overstated. It is one of several central elements, and why shouldn’t it be? Think about Italy’s geography for a second:
It runs mile after mile from north to south. Therefore, it possesses a great wide array of growing seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning it is nearly surrounded through sea but also connected to the great 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 and beyond. All Mediterranean cultures have excellent food traditions from North Africa to Lebanon and Israel, France, Greece, Spain and, of course, Italy.
When you consider noodles and pasta, you probably involving Italy, but those wonderful inventions came to Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It informs you a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic became associated with 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 of this restaurant. Of course, a great Italian restaurant will have a great wine list, a clean and chic decor, and wonderful service, but a positive Italian restaurant maybe by on great food alone, regardless if they have a crummy wine list, poor service, and a dingy decoration schemes.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s in no way authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do as opposed to a great bistro establish. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that cost you $400 for a morsel that makes you want to stop for a slice of pizza during your studies home. A great Italian ristorante will leave you full, not stuffed, but full.
The second involving a great Italian restaurant is needed. The service will be warm and professional, however, not overly friendly. Following your 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 you doin’ tonight?” when ladies are seated at the table. This is most un-Italian with them. An Italian would never call like a “guy.” There is 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 the good ones, anyway. It is all about the meal and your comfort.
The third aspect of a great Italian restaurant may be the ambiance. I am not sure what it is, but Italians seem to be able to build a wonderful atmosphere anywhere. I’ve eaten at places in strip malls in suburbia of Denver — as un-romantic a setting as there is — that come close to great. An actually outstanding Italian restaurant will just have a certain feeling from the second you walk in the door, a warmth and the glow that can’t actually be described.
So the priorities are food first, service second, and a ambiance third. If all three are met, you say that a great Italian small business.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444