There are countless wonderful restaurants in Italy. Nevertheless, most tourists have at least once or twice ended up in what you could call “tourist traps”. Places where food is more fit in a garbage bin than on a plate. But how do you find the good places?

The Italian cuisine is exceptional. And without the shadow of doubt, I am not afraid to say that for me the Italian kitchen is the best in the world. Whether we talk about the Umbrian peasant cooking, the Ligurian sea inspired kitchen with its wild herbs or the more spicy Sicilian cuisine, characterized by both Italian and African food culture, is not important. Just as big a country Italy is, just as many different traditions and food cultures exist here. And in a country with more than 60 million Citizens, divided into 20 different regions from north to south, there is bound to be a patchwork of local food traditions – and they are all amazing.

But when it comes to choice of restaurants, the rule is the same throughout Italy – at least that is our experience.

The first thing to do is look at the location of the restaurant – and the city you are in. If you are in a tourist magnet of a city, it’s not one of the restaurants on the big piazza you should choose. Some of them may make excellent food – but since the rent in these places is expensive and they are therefore generally geared toward tourists, you can get some sad surprises in these places. Instead, go out into the smaller streets away from the center and look for a small trattoria or osteria. Here prices are usually also below those you will meet in the piazza.

The next thing we always try to get an impression of are the other guests in the restaurant. If the time is 1:30 PM – and you can not see a single Italian at the tables, then proceed and move forward. The locals know where the good restaurants are – and if they are not in the one you’re standing in front of, there are good chances that the food is not worth mentioning.

The last thing we try to relate to is the furniture. Are there even tables and chairs, checkered red / white tablecloths – and does the whole scene remind you of Disney’s Lady and Vagabond, then keep moving and looking. On the other hand, there is a whirl of different chairs, some in wood, some in plastic, some with high backs, others with low – and there are already more Italians there, eating the prepared slice of bread, then you can relax; you have probably find the right place. So take a seat and enjoy!