Dining Out In A Strange Place? Use These Tips To Find Authentic Italian Food
Smart shoppers know that the flashiest marketing is not always the best indicator of quality when purchasing goods or services. What they may not consider, however, is that the same thought process also applies when looking for a great place to eat. This is true locally and especially so when the search is on to find a great Italian restaurant in a busy area, such as a tourist hot spot or a busy urban center. If your travels have taken you to an unfamiliar area and you are hungering for a deliciously authentic Italian restaurant, here are some tips to help you make a great choice.
Scope out the menu online
One of the first things to do - and one of the easiest - is to look for Italian restaurants in the area in which you want to dine and then check the menus for each one. Because genuinely authentic Italian food is actually very simple, restaurants that feature extravagant dishes with complicated names should be approached with caution.
Additional menu clues to help you spot the least authentic Italian can include:
- seeing plates of pasta with sauce on top instead of already carefully mixed by the chef
- finding pictures or menu listings of fluffy bread sticks or rolls instead of the simpler, but more authentic Italian grissini
- seeing mentions of Italian pizza with non-authentic toppings, like pineapple
Authentic Italian restaurants also do not use pepperoni in their recipes, instead they use a tasty sliced meat called salami, that is somewhat similar.
Look for reviews
While looking online at the list of restaurants and their menus, take time to check out the reviews that have been posted for each one. When doing so, it is important not to automatically discount or choose one restaurant over another based on one or two really good or really bad reviews. Instead, look for the restaurant that has most often been given a positive rating by those customers who have taken the time to leave a review.
Ask the locals
No matter where you are searching for an authentic Italian restaurant, a great way to locate the best one is to ask the people who live in the area year round. Unlike visitors to the area, local people quickly discover and are happy to share the names of the restaurants that offer the most pleasurable dining experience.
If you are still wavering and need additional assistance in finding a truly authentic Italian restaurant, take a moment to call each one so you can get answers to any questions you may have. Reach out to a company like Tony & Joe's Pizzeria to learn more.