subject: How To Create A More Authentic Italian Restaurant [print this page] One complaint some people have when they go to many of the restaurants across the country is that some of them lack authenticity and uniqueness. For instance, many chain establishments or buffets are practically the same. There aren't really any differences between them. This may work out in the commercial space, but when people go to a specialized eatery that offers a certain type of food and caters to people who are interested in a specific culture, they expect something different and little more creative and unique.
If, for instance, you are thinking about opening up an Italian restaurant, pizza might be the most obvious but necessary cuisine choice to go with. There are several things that you can do to create the distinctive atmosphere and experience that your patrons can appreciate, however. These practices will also help to set your Italian restaurant, pizza presentation and staff image apart from your competition.
One of the first things you can do is find staff uniforms that represent the culture of Italy. You can conduct some research and search for some authentic restaurant staff uniforms, or you can research the culture in general and try to imitate some of their everyday fashion attire.
For example, one thing you may notice when you go to Italy or when you conduct your online search is that some of the older women will be wearing headscarves. Most of the time, it will be tied underneath their chin. So, this is something you may want to incorporate in the female uniforms.
Another great way to create a more authentic atmosphere in your Italian restaurant is to include a large mural. When you go to some eateries, you may see pictures and other memorabilia on the walls. This may work for them, but in order to create a more intense cultural environment, you may want to take it a step further and incorporate a mural that covers all of the walls in the building. It can either be one scene that continues throughout the entire space, or each wall can have a different scene that represents different parts of the country.
Lastly, the best way to create the true representation of Italy's culture at your Italian restaurant is to serve the type of food that is served in the actual country. Of course, you want to create your own spin on things, like incorporating your own recipe. However, don't try to go for the more westernized or commercialized way of doing things. Make sure that when you make your recipes that you try to do something that the average Italian can truly identify with.
It's not enough for a place to be called an Italian restaurant; pizza and similar cuisine is available from many sources. The atmosphere and the service should also match the title.