It’s easy to fall into tourist traps when travelling abroad – and it can especially feel difficult to find the authentic spots to eat.
Fortunately, one local has revealed exactly how to pick a restaurant in Italy and avoid the businesses targeting holidaymakers.
Travel content creator Romi, who goes by @twosuitcasesandatrunki on Instagram, shared her tips for how Italians scope out the best eateries.
In a post on social media, she explained how locals use ‘less logic, more vibes’ when choosing where to dine.
They also ‘almost never read reviews’ of the establishment, and instead look at other factors to determine if they want to eat there.
First looking at the menu, locals count how many dishes there are to choose from, according to Romi.
‘If the menu is longer than a Harry Potter book, we run. Too many choices = frozen food,’ she penned.
The ‘ultimate rule’, however, is how the restaurant smells. If there is a strong smell of garlic all the way down the street from the establishment, it’s probably a good one.
Travel content creator Romi, who goes by @twosuitcasesandatrunki on Instagram, shared her tips for how Italians scope out the best eateries (stock)
The travel content creator explained how if a place has a small menu, it ‘means somebody’s actually cooking back there’.
Signage written in English is another red flag for Romi. She acknowledges having menu options in other languages is normal in tourist areas but signs reading ‘BEST PASTA EVER!’ aren’t attractive.
‘No Italian believes those for a second,’ she penned.
The pasta on offer is a big determining factor too, and Romi looks out for a range of different types and accompanying sauces.
Another important carb to consider is the bread, she avoids anything that looks ‘lonely, stale or mass-produced’.
It’s a good idea to have a quick look inside before committing to a restaurant and scope out if any locals are eating there.
Romi says a ‘waiter stressed in a “doing-his-job” way’ is an ‘excellent’ sign.
Handwritten daily specials are good to look out for, and the travel content creator thinks they signify a ‘pure treasure’.
‘It usually means the chef cooked whatever looked amazing at the market that morning,’ she explained.
In a post on social media, she explained how locals use ‘less logic, more vibes’ when choosing where to dine (stock)
Restaurants that have ‘airport energy’ are also to be avoided, according to Romi.
This can include owners ‘begging’ customers to come inside, or having ‘laminated menus’.
Timing and how full the restaurant is can be a tell-tale sign of a good establishment too.
If it is empty at 1pm, Romi says this is a ‘red flag’ and revealed that tables usually fill out early if the spot offers good food.
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Local reveals how to find authentic restaurants in Italy – and how to avoid tourist traps
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