What would order at an Italian restaurant?

[Georgepigismylife]

It's not a cuisine I'd choose as I'm not keen on pizza or pasta.

What dish would you recommend?

I've been invited for an Italian (in case that was a bit too random) 😆🙈

If they have aubergine parmigiana, that is absolutely gorgeous.

Risotto. It takes forever to make properly, so a treat to have someone else do the hard work

Cotoletta milanese

I always go for something that's not pasta or pizza. Scallopine, saltimboca, veal (if it's English rose).

Depends on the restaurant type. I found that in the ones whose menu are mainly pasta or pizza the meat/fish dishes aren't that great.

What does Tripadvior say? We have an independent Italian and they do amazing fish dishes, fresh fish depening on the catch/what they can get at the market. But on the other hand they only have a handful of pasta dishes and no pizza at all. So the reviews are all about the fish.

Saltimbocca is a fairly standard dish, veal escalope (often pork or chicken here in the UK) with parma ham and sage. Great if done well.
Chicken milanese which is basically a breaded chicken breast with tomato sauce - I find it boring.

At my local independent Italian I usually get the fish, maybe have a look at the online menu and come back and tell us what they've got

Aubaguine parmesagna. To start.

Then maybe a risotto or gnocci if you don't like pasta /pizza ?

I would order a Negroni to drink and a plate of spaghetti alle vongole to eat! Delish.

Sausage or seafood risotto or braciole (if they have it) which is a stuffed meat roll covered in a sauce.

Caprese salad to begin - basically mozzarella and tomatoes with balsamic vinegar
Main hmm.. maybe try see if they have an interesting looking pasta? I'm not the biggest pasta fun but every once in a while x

Risotto is really nice too! I had that a few days ago (home made)

It really depends on what kind of Italian restaurant. They don’t all have the same focus. Some really lean into the pasta and don’t really do much else. If that is the case I look for something in a cream sauce or something lemony (I’m allergic to tomatoes).

I always enjoy Chicken Piccata and I love risotto, especially with mushrooms.

Steaks are usually v good at Italian Restaurants imo

Garlic bread
Aranchini
Aubergine parmigiana or veggie pizza or risotto

I'd probably have a salad starter, vegetable risotto and a bucket full of aperol spritz and red wine.

Aubergine parmigiana

Stroganoff maybe?

Steak tagliata for main. Probably calamari for starter unless they had a nice home made pasta dish.

If it’s a restaurant you don’t know, then for your first visit only ever order the most basic dishes eg a margarita, a simple pasta dish like arrabiata, or steak. This will give you an idea of how good the standard is - if they can do a basic recipe well or even brilliantly, then you are safe to proceed with the more tricky dishes the second time you visit. Never dive in and order a risotto or parmigiana at a restaurant that you are not sure about - they are often done badly and are sloppy, greasy messes!

Chicken Cacciatore - delicious.

Seafood spaghetti

Could you look online for the restaurant menu?

Risotto as I love it but no one else does and it's a ball ache to make.

Or something seafood-y. Or both - the family Italian by my mums does a lovely seafood risotto.

Anyone else channelling Gavin and Stacey? Gwen I'm having the gnocchi

Almost anything except pizza or pasta! Pizza I can really take or leave, I think of it as a very run of the mill everyday type food. Similarly pasta just doesn't get me excited.

I might have 2 starters, or steak or fish - depending on the menu.