by Lillith Black

Created on: May 25, 2009

The best Italian Restaurants have a combination of elements that create an excellent overall experience. Atmosphere is the first thing people notice about a restaurant, and the first part of that in an Italian restaurant is the smell. It always smells like baking bread and garlic in an Italian restaurant, and if you don't have that, you lose me right away. The other part of the atmosphere that is important is comfort. It has to be cozy, warm, and inviting. Tables with comfortable chairs and cozy romantic booths. In the summer, a patio is a great way to bring those would-be bar-b-que people in to your restaurant. The best restaurants have all of these elements. Lighting is also important, and warm, dim lights work the best for Italian restaurants. Candles should be on every table, and they will add to the dimly lit ambiance in the restaurant. Fresh flowers on the table or at least on the bar or in the front of the restaurant add to the environment by adding a fresh element. This can be taken a step further by planting herbs in the windows. Music should be soft and romantic: Sinatra (or the like), Classical or Opera. A great staff from the front door to dessert service is also important. People remember their favorite servers and bartenders. They enjoy that warm smile at the front door.

The next part is the wine list. This is a hugely important feature, as in Italy, they drink wine with every meal. They focus so much on quality wine there, and so many Italian restaurants fall short here. They'll have three reds and two whites, none of which are really any good. It is essential to have a broad-spectrum wine list, and have wines that are in a variety of price points so that your clientele can choose. Having a variety of types of wine is also important. Pinot Noir will go better with your lighter dishes, Chianti, Barolo, Cabernet and Shiraz for the heavier ones. Have a few white choices too, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and a sweet one like Riesling. A great Italian restaurant has choices. Any Italian restaurant should also have a full bar stocked with Italian liquors and beers.

The menu is of course essential to success. The bread served before the meal (and during) is huge. I remember this Italian place from years ago that had these bread knots with garlic and Parmesan topping that were amazing. They served them with a little of the house red sauce. I'll never forget that restaurant. The next most important part of the menu is the red sauce. The marinara IS the menu. Make it extremely flavorful and rich and use it as a base for the meat sauce. A great red sauce and bread makes a meal great; a mediocre one is hard to recover from. The only way to have a great menu, really, is to have a great chef. Spend the money here. Pay an expert. The best chefs aren't cheap, but they are extremely worth it.

Fresh ingredients are the best way to make your food great. A restaurant who uses fresh thyme, basil, rosemary, etc. will have a better menu and better food that one who only uses dried. Use fresh pasta when you can, not dried. Bake bread in-house. Not only will it add to the environment, but it will also add to the menu. Homemade pasta is much better than dried. Fresh fish is also essential. Italy is surrounded by water, and their fish is always fresh.

If you combine all of these elements, you will have the best Italian restaurant. I'll eat there again and again, and so will everyone else!

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