You Get What You Pay For
We all want to hop on a plane to Italy, but who has the time? Or the money? What we do have time for, however, is authentic cuisine—if you can find it! While plenty of restaurants claim to have nonna’s spaghetti, hungry patrons are often left with bland noodles and meatballs stuffed with breadcrumbs. Well, we’re here to break down a few ways you can spot the good from the bad restaurants.
1. No Italian Wines Available
You can hardly call yourself an Italian restaurant without Italian wines. While you don’t need to have a professional sommelier on site, the right chef curates a small, authentic menu filled with vintage vino and cocktails. Others only have basic options you could find in any sports bar.
2. Photos of Food on the Menu
It’s never good to see photos in the menu. They’re not only tacky, but they’re also deceptive most of the time. Sure, you can order the chicken parmesan, but chances are, it won’t look the same as it does on the page.
3. Literal Bread and Butter
We’re not saying authentic restaurants don’t offer bread—we’re saying that terrible joints bring those little butter packets with your roll. Classic Italian cuisine usually comes with olive oil, but even the restaurants that don’t provide it will come with a garlic spread or freshly baked slices on their own.
4. The Menu Items Aren’t in Italian
It might sound a little alienating, but real Italian restaurants stick to their culture. If you’re lucky, they might provide a translation; however, the best places proudly print in their own language and leave it up to knowledgeable staff to answer any questions.
5. Cheesy Decor
What’s the first thing you think of when you picture a tacky Italian restaurant? Maybe a checkered tablecloth? A measly flag tucked somewhere behind the bar? Only the worst spots treat ambiance like an afterthought, and it’s a clear sign you should leave.
6. No Homemade Pasta (or Sauce)
An Italian restaurant without homemade pasta? Yeah, no thanks. To be honest, this isn’t even specific to Italian places; it’s just more egregious in them! Chefs pour their hearts into every dish, and places that dare charge for noodles out of the box aren’t worth your time.
7. Confusing Menu Items
There’s no reason for an Italian menu to have Hawaiian pizza. It shouldn’t boast chicken fingers, either. You know it’s a bad spot when the menu caters to the masses; it’s an Italian restaurant, not a diner, and there’s nothing wrong with a little authenticity. It’s even worse if they try to squeeze in multiple cuisines!
8. The Place is Abandoned
No hungry diner wants to walk into a ghost town; nothing reveals a restaurant’s true nature like an empty dining room. It’s one thing to go on a Tuesday afternoon, but if those seats are empty on a Friday night, you should probably head somewhere else.
9. Cheese in a Shaker
As much as we love powdered parm, there’s no reason to see it out in the wild. Only the worst joints provide shakers filled with cheese, and we all know it isn’t fresh, either. The best places grate it right from the block!
10. Only Generic Menu Options
Spaghetti and meatballs. Lasagna. Bruschetta. These mouth-watering dishes belong in every Italian restaurant, but they shouldn’t eat up the whole menu. Great places bring family recipes to the table, sharing traditional cuisine with paying customers. Lackluster joints, on the other hand, only have the generic stuff.
So, how do you know which place deserves your money? We hope you’re hungry because we have a few key tips for finding the best Italian restaurants around!
1. Small and Simple
Great eateries aren’t flashy. They don’t need sandwich boards outside or gaudy decor to draw in the masses. They’re small, they’re simple, and they focus on what matters most: eating delicious food with loved ones. It may look like a hole in the wall, but don’t discredit the little guy!
2. Authentic Decor
Italian authenticity is all about warmth and sophistication. Look for its charm on the walls and tables. Anything from statue busts to exposed brick to wood-burning fireplaces all signal a little touch of home that transports everyone to the country’s cobblestone streets.
Chelms Varthoumlien on Unsplash
3. Concise Menu
A great restaurant needs an even better menu, and real Italian places know that! Good menus come with a curated selection of dishes. You won’t find generic meal options or menus that are pages long—just a few scrumptious dishes your chef plucked from their own love of the culture.
4. You Can Never Get a Reservation
It may be annoying, but there’s a good reason you can’t get into the best places! Even if you have to book well in advance, it’s more than worth it to experience all that’s offered, and it’s an even bigger sign of their success.
5. History on the Wall
Family is a big part of Italian culture! Authentic spots aren’t afraid to show off their history. You’ll find it on the walls in family photographs and newspaper clippings, or you’ll see it on the menu with old-school recipes.
6. Meals Are Properly Timed
Have you ever noticed that chain restaurants come with your entree before you’re done with the app? Real Italian restaurants don’t do that. They understand the importance of savoring every bite, and each dish is brought out at the appropriate time.
7. The Staff Recommends Dishes
It’s a good sign when the staff recommends dishes. It’s even better if they’re knowledgeable about the plates, especially those in Italian, and can make recommendations based on what you like. When the staff eat there, you know you’re in safe hands.
8. Farm-to-Table Ingredients
The best spots have seasonal dishes and farm-to-table ingredients! Devoted chefs bring vibrant options to their patrons, keeping on top of seasonal trends and ensuring quality with every bite. Don’t worry, you’ll know it’s fresh right away.
9. Every Sense is Treated
Italian cuisine is more than just a delicious dinner. It’s about ambiance—folded cloth napkins, instrumentals from the speakers, and soft lighting help bring the whole experience together. Real places know how to treat every sense, and you’ll walk out completely satisfied.
10. Al Dente Pasta
We know it sounds like a small thing, but you’d be surprised just how many inauthentic places serve soggy noodles. The right place cooks your pasta to perfection every time, and once you know the difference, you’ll never go back to that chain.
KEEP ON READING
