When Italians say “that’s a tourist restaurant”, it’s rarely a compliment. It usually means: less then average ingredients, rushed preparation, and a forgettable meal. That’s exactly why, on our culinary tour of Italy, we avoid those places — always.
You see, most tourists can’t tell the difference between good and great. Not because they’re at fault, but because it takes time to recognize the depth of flavor that comes from a long-simmered ragù or the crisp freshness of seasonal vegetables. And let’s be honest — when you’re only in town for a day or two, you won’t compare two plates side by side.
That’s why many “tourist restaurants” don’t even try.
They serve fast food with an Italian costume: ready-made sauces, microwaved pasta, “homemade” desserts delivered by a truck. They can get away with it — because their customers won’t come back anyway.
Locals, on the other hand, eat where the menu changes, when you sit down and they say they got out of menu additional plates, where seasonal ingredients matter (like mushrooms or artichokes). If you know what to look for, the signs are there.
When I choose where to take people during the tour, I rely on personal experience, local contacts, and places I’ve tested myself. Most of them are not well known, others are pure hidden gems. But they all share one thing: real food, cooked with care.
This isn’t a performance. You won’t find choreographed gestures or waiters pretending to be your “nonna.”
You’ll simply eat like Italians do.
And even if you can’t yet tell a good supermarket mozzarella from the best bufala in the world… your tastebuds will remember.
Because real food leaves a trace — even if you don’t fully realize it at the time.
That’s the kind of memory I want to give.
Not a show. Just truth on a plate.