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 ar, the English term for a counter or place serving primarily alcoholic beverages, has a broader meaning in Italy, where such establishments abound as gathering places, providing coffee, wine, beer and spirits, soft drinks, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, candies and more. An "American bar" specializes in cocktails and mixed drinks. The terms snack bar, wine bar and pub often remain in English in Italy.
Caffè originally applied to the coffee house popularized in the 18th century. Although a modern caffè will specialize in espresso-sometimes from its own torrefazione or roasting plant-the term has become synonymous with bar. In Italy, a caffè is not usually a dining place, as a café so often is elsewhere. But there are exceptions. |
| Birreria was originally a place that served draught beer made in its own brewery, though it now signifies a tavern or pub that specializes in beer but offers other beverages and often a menu with hot and cold dishes.
Terms for shops where food is sold and may be eaten on the premises are rosticceria (specializing in roast meats), tavola calda (hot dishes), tavola fredda (cold foods), paninoteca (sandwiches), gelateria (homemade ice cream). Enoteca (wine library) usually refers to a retail shop, though some enoteche also serve wine and food.
Not all eating and drinking places offer local specialties, since imitation and adoption of foods from other regions is widespread in Italy. You can find spaghetti alla matriciana on menus in Milan and costoletta alla milanese in Rome, peperonata in Verona and polenta in Palermo. You can also find what even Italians call "fast food" just about everywhere.
To taste the foods and wines of Italy at their genuine best, there's no substitute for a visit to their regions of origin. If you do make the trip, buon viaggio and buon appetito! |
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