How many of us, when visiting a foreign country, wished that they could experiment the real traditional cuisine? Always trying to avoid the classic “tourist traps” and big chains, looking for the true taste of that culture?
Usually, before starting our travel, we desperately search the internet looking for restaurants or typical places where to eat and discover the specialties of the country we are going to visit, but, once we arrive, things are different and the risk of doing the wrong choices is right behind the corner.
Now, since we live in Venice (one of the most visited and full of tourist traps cities in the world) we thought we’d make a short list of our tips to eat like a local (and also save some money in the process):
1. If it has a tourist menu, it’s not for you.
Steer clear of such places. We know it sounds obvious, but restaurants that have this kind of menu tend to be less typical and more international, adjusting some recipes to (what they think are) the taste of a non-local audience.
They’re also very likely to try and take advantage of you (and your wallet), charging extra for bread, service and so on. This scenario ends up in only one tragic way: an unsatisfied stomach and an emptier wallet.
2. If there are people outside trying to lure you in, just decline politely
Especially in Italy, every restaurant targeting tourists has them. They are usually waiters that, under the sun, snow or rain, will try to convince you to eat at their tables: don’t. While a slight chance that the restaurant is decent might be present, disappointment is a more likely reaction. Remember that the good places don’t need to convince anyone to enter: they already have loyal local clients, the rest comes naturally for them. (Additional tip: if you can, try to understand the language and accent of the people at the tables: the more the locals, the better!).
3. It’s what’s on the inside that matters (believe us)
We know, we know, you’ve heard it before. But let’s be realistic: restaurants further from the city centers or in hidden streets are often a hundred times better than those near monuments or attractions. They may not look great, they may serve wine in chipped jugs, or have paper napkins, but trust us: it’ll definitely be worth it. Plus the atmosphere is much more relaxed and the personnel is likely to be nicer (and give you advice on what to visit next! They could be better than TripAdvisor).
4. Don’t play it safe with big chains
Whatever happens, wherever you are, just avoid the big already-heard-of food chains. We know that the temptation to just have a McChicken or some fries at Burger King is high, but try to resist it. No one in their right mind would turn down a carbonara for KFC, let’s be realistic. Who knows when you’ll be able to visit again, so dare a little more! At worst, you’ll have more funny anecdotes to tell when you return home.
5. Internet’s fine, but people are better
As we said before, people tend to research in advance on the web, planning their trip to the smallest detail, and while that’s a great tactic, we recommend also to leave a little room for improvisation. Ask local people, students or bartenders for advice: they’ll probably tell you things that you would never find on the Internet, suggesting unique things with the true local taste. Oh and one last thing: please don’t enter a pub or restaurant just for the free Wi-Fi. If the food is good we promise, you won’t have time to look at your Facebook.
So, these are our suggestions to have a much better culinary experience when travelling.
Have you ever fallen into a tourist trap? Do you have some more? Let us know, we look forward to hearing from you!