When you’re looking to have a romantic meal, Italian food is a great idea. Italian food is almost universally loved. If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, feed him (and yourself) well! Here are a few tips for how to pick an incredible Italian restaurant.

Pick an Italian restaurant that serves credible Italian food – don’t settle for cheap knock-offs. Look at the menu online before booking, and expect to find more than just spaghetti and pizza. If you want a romantic date then you’re going to want authentic food, and not some American inspired Pizza Hut type of experience. Call the restaurant and talk to the staff about menu items if you have any doubts about the menu, or the freshness of the ingredients. A true Italian restaurant will likely have some staff with Italian accents. If everyone you speak to sounds like they are not Italian by birth, then there is a good chance the menu will not be truly Italian inspired either.

Finding a restaurant with authentic cuisine is just part of the fun however. You need to understand what’s on the menu so that when you order it on the night you don’t get a nasty surprise. If you want to impress your partner, learn the Italian words for the menu item and ask for it in Italian. Very cool! If the night is not a surprise, perhaps try and find out in advance what type of Italian foods your date likes, so that you can order for them in Italian also. That’s a very sexy skill to have I think.

Italian food always goes well with wine, so do some research and find out about the wines on offer. A good Italian restaurant will always have a good wine list (and knowledgeable service staff). Good wine helps conversation flow, and romance blossom. If you’re not a wine expert, ask the Maitre’D or wine waiter for help. Or if your Italian restaurant budget is lower, just ask your waiter.

Always seek out an Italian restaurant with atmosphere for your special date. Don’t pick a dead quiet, old and cheap and nasty restaurant if you want to fan the flames of passion. Find a nice place to eat: a fine restaurant with white tablecloths and silver cutlery, darkened lighting and possibly some sentimental music out of sight. Flowers or candles on the tables can help too. Inquire about whether or not you can bring your own small roses or flowers to the restaurant for your table – your date will be truly impressed if your table looks better than all of the others in the restaurant. It’s those small touches that say “I care”. And showing that you care can open up all sorts of possibilities.

Enjoy your romantic dinner with your loved one – or new date. Pizza, wine and romance – how fantastic!

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