7 examples of how to recognize a bad Italian restaurant
Our colleague Sophie from Italiamo has made it her profession to find the best Italian restaurants. A side effect (and added benefit) is that she can also quickly spot a not-so-good restaurant. But some places really make no attempt to hide it and reveal before you have even taken a bite that you should get out of there. Unless you want to pay too much money for mediocre pasta. This is how you unmask a tourist trap disguised as a restaurant.
It is already open at 6 o’clock
Pretending you are at home is something you should do at home. In Italy, people eat late. Sometimes as late as ten o’clock in the evening. You do not have to go along with that, but it is advisable not to head to a restaurant until after seven (at the earliest). Simply because at a normal-to-good restaurant, you will most likely find the doors closed. Only a tourist joint opens earlier.
There is a tout outside
Unless the tout is your potential great love and you want to impress him, run away. A good restaurant does not have a Costa-style promoter outside trying to charm you into coming in.
There are photos of food on the menu
Only a burger joint can get away with that. Photos on a menu are unnecessary, and the best part is that the dishes are usually photographed in an incredibly unappetizing way.
There is food—or even fake food—outside
The same calibre as above; unnecessary. Uncooked pasta belongs in the pan, not on the table.
The menu is in English
Do not start sprinting just yet! More and more restaurants in Italy have an English-language menu. But if that English menu is displayed on a music stand outside and there is no Italian version to be found, you may start making your exit.
There are strange dishes on the menu
Fries with pizza are no reason to run—that is simply Italian. An English breakfast with egg and sausage or American pancakes, on the other hand, are. Unless you are at some kind of themed restaurant.
The restaurant is centrally located
Not scientifically proven, but almost always true. The closer to the Duomo, the faster I make my escape. Think Leidseplein: that is not where you will find the most authentic places. But there are exceptions, both in Amsterdam (Xian Delicious Foods, Taste of Culture—I digress) and in Italy. One of my favourites in Florence is actually hidden next to the Duomo. But it remains a good rule of thumb, because simply walking into somewhere around there on a whim: never do it.
Also read:
- What not to do in Italy (and what you will probably do anyway)
- Recipe for the easiest pasta in the world (and it is delicious!)
- The best Italian restaurants in Maastricht
Source: Italiamo
