What makes good Italian restaurant in Barnet and a good Italian restaurant? This is my opinion.
Italy has a wonderful tradition of good cooking. The importance of Italian cuisine to Italian culture cannot be overstated. It is one of the central elements, and why shouldn’t it be? Think about Italy’s geography for a moment:
It stretches a long way from north to south. Therefore, there is a wide range of growing seasons and soil types. This means a rich variety of ingredients for food.
It is a peninsula, meaning it is almost surrounded by the sea, but also connected to the great Eurasian landmass. There is an abundance of fresh seafood and foreign ingredients from neighboring countries.
When you think of pasta and noodles, you probably think of Italy, but these wonderful inventions came to Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It says a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic is associated with Italy even though it didn’t originate there.
Anyway, food is a key element of Italian culture. Therefore, food is also the most important part of the restaurant. Of course, a good Italian restaurant has a great wine list, clean and elegant decor, and wonderful service, but a good Italian restaurant can get by on good food alone, even if it has a lousy wine list, poor service, and dingy decor.
By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, it’s definitely not authentic. A white tablecloth and a tall bill do not a good bistro make. Frankly, I can’t stand those fancy Italian restaurants in Manhattan that charge $400 for a bite that makes you want to eat a slice of pizza on the way home. A good Italian ristorante will fill you up, not full, but full.
The second aspect of a good Italian restaurant is the service. The service is cordial and professional, but not overly friendly. After orders are taken and the meal is underway, the waitress should be almost invisible. Flee any Italian restaurant where the waiter addresses the table as follows:
“How you guys doin’ tonight?” when the ladies are seated at the table. This is highly un-Italian. An Italian would never call a woman “guy.” Even in places that serve spaghetti with meatballs, the waiter might ask, “How are you doin’ tonight?” You don’t dwell on small talk in white tablecloth establishments, at least not the good ones. It’s all about the food and your comfort.
The third aspect of a good Italian restaurant is the ambiance. I don’t know what it is, but Italians everywhere seem to be able to create a wonderful atmosphere. I’ve eaten in a mall in suburban Denver – in an even less romantic setting – and it was almost great. A really great Italian restaurant exudes a certain feeling from the minute you walk in, a warmth and a glow that you can’t describe.
So the priorities are first the food, second the service, and third the ambiance. If all three points are met, you have found a good Italian restaurant.
