Here's How To Find The Best Authentic Restaurants While In Italy

Food is one of the most anticipated parts of any trip to Italy. Pizza, pasta, risotto, gelato — there are so many iconic dishes to sample. It's no wonder some locals say that food is the best souvenir you can get while in Italy.

However, you might be disappointed if you get caught in tourist-trap restaurants and miss out on the authentic eateries. But how can you tell the difference? To get some insider advice, Explore exclusively reached out to Katy Clarke, the founder of Untold Italy and Untold Italy Tours. Her first tip for finding the best restaurants in the boot-shaped country: Think local. "There's no such things as 'Italian' food," Clarke explains. "Each region and even town has its own specialties based on the local produce of the area. The restaurants that specialize in those dishes are the ones you should make reservations at." A restaurant that serves menu items that may be familiar to tourists but aren't reflective of the local cuisine is best skipped.

If you're not sure which dishes are native to your destination, Clarke suggests doing a bit of research before your trip. Chances are, you'll learn of some foods you've never even seen on the menu at your hometown's Italian restaurant. And if there's a particular dish you know you love, such as carbonara or Margherita pizza, pinpoint where it originally hails from and consider adding that city or region to your travel itinerary.

If you prefer spontaneous travel and enjoy serendipitously finding hidden-gem restaurants, keep a few points in mind so you don't wind up at a disappointing tourist trap. For starters, Katy Clarke says to move a few blocks away from the major attractions. Once you're away from the touristy streets, "look for places where well-dressed locals are eating," the expert advises.

Clarke notes that Italian restaurants are required by law to display a menu with prices outside the building, and that menu can help you separate the authentic restaurants from the subpar ones. "If you see a menu with pictures on it, keep walking," she says. Similarly, a laminated menu can also signal a tourist trap in Italy.

Before sitting down for a meal, consider what kind of customer a restaurant may be targeting with its marketing and menu options. "Any restaurant with a display table and greeter out the front is definitely a place that is focusing on the tourist dollar and not great food," Clarke reveals. She also suggests watching out for gimmicks, such as pasta served in a cheese wheel, which she points out are "definitely for tourists and not something an Italian would eat for taste and health and safety reasons."

Going with the flow and stumbling upon surprise finds is one option when eating your way through Italy. With that said, some meals are worth a little extra planning. Katy Clarke tells us, "Make reservations well in advance at popular restaurants or prepare to be disappointed." She recommends using The Fork app to book reservations online ahead of your trip. The Italy expert also suggests securing your spot with a food tour (her pick is Devour Tours) to learn more about a city's local culture and signature dishes.

If you want to get the most out of your food tourism experience, consider organizing your Italian vacation with food in mind. Specifically, plan some day trips away from the main sites and attractions. Clarke says, "Head out of the cities and historic dishes and into the countryside for the most delicious meals of your life." Nonna's beloved recipes and authentic local favorites are easy to find once you're off the beaten path.