The Different Types of Italian Restaurants
Food is deeply ingrained in Italy’s culture, and therefore, it has given birth to so many different types of Italian restaurants all-across the country. However, this may create some confusion, especially when most tourists don’t know what an ‘osteria’ is (and as an Alpine Hotel, we often see this puzzling expression from our international guests!). So, in this brief guide, we will be giving you a rundown on all kinds of restaurants you will probably encounter in Italy, so that next time, you can make a well-informed decision on where to eat!
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RISTORANTE
Perhaps the most well-recognised type of restaurant on the list is the ‘Ristorante’. It is a formal place to eat Italian cuisine, where you sit down at a table, get presented a menu and offered table service. Generally, you order a few courses from the list which consists of antipasti (starter), primo (first course) and secondi (main). For instance, Albergo Miramonti offers well-loved Italian dishes such as Porcini Tagliatelle or even some unique local specialities like Pizzoccheri.
Source: Petite Suitcase
TRATTORIA
A trattoria is very similar to a ristorante, but a lot more casual. They are typically family-run and offer traditional home-cooked style dishes. The menu isn’t the same today, as it can vary depending on what the family chef feels like making. Therefore, visiting a trattoria is the perfect opportunity to experience authentic Italian home cooking! Imagine having a home-cooked dinner during Winter in Italy - now that’s the definition of comfort.
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OSTERIA
Cheap and relaxed - an osteria is the Italian equivalent of a corner pub. It is often quite small and characterised with shared tables, as well as a laid back atmosphere. You can expect to be served appetisers, snacks and simple dishes - which are all quite affordable! It’s a great place to socialise with friends and just have a good time. The perfect place to have a traditional Italian Aperitivo, perhaps?
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ENOTECA
This is something you probably have never heard of before - an ‘Enoteca’. An enoteca traditionally would only serve glasses of wine, and no food at all. Previously in Italy, it wasn’t common to find much pubs or taverns around cities and towns, unlike the British and American counterparts. Therefore, the alternative would be an ‘enoteca’, where people would pass by and purchase wine before heading out and finding dinner. But nowadays, many enotecas serve small bites to accompany your drink. It’s a great place to try out the local wines! So if you travel to Northern Italy, we highly recommend you try Valtellina Wines!
.Source: VWArtClub
PIZZERIA
Of course, we can’t forget about the Pizzerias! We cannot talk about Italian cuisine without mentioning the delicious, doughy, delight that everyone around the world seems to love. They are just like sit-down ristorante, however, instead of ordinary dishes, you can expect a menu full of pizza and salad. Without a doubt, when you travel to Italy, you cannot leave without giving the authentic Neapolitan Pizza a-try.
Source: Dolce e Salato
TAVOLA CALDA & ROSTICCERIA
A Tavola Caldo, or ‘hot table’ in English, is an Italian restaurant with no table service. To select your dish, you have to go to the cafeteria-style serving area where you get to choose from a variety of readily-cooked meals and drinks. A Tavola Caldo usually serves everything that you can expect from a typical Italian restaurant. Then for a rosticceria, it is also quite similar to a Tavola Caldo, but it’s typically where you purchase roast chicken and other meat products that you can take home for dinner.
We hope that this brief guide on Italian restaurants can help you decide where to eat! Why not stay at our Award-Winning Hotel? We are located within the Italian Alps, with a Hotel Spa, relaxing Cigar Lounge and an Italian Restaurant.
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