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re: Question for the people that eat at tourist trap restaurants in Europe
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:03 pm to ClemsonKitten
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:03 pm to ClemsonKitten
I had the best wild boar pasta dish on a public square in Florence. Served by a skeezy Italian dude, not by Middle Easterners.
Get off my cloud, man. Let me travel like I want.
Get off my cloud, man. Let me travel like I want.
0
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:10 pm to GreatLakesTiger24
quote:
lot of people just aren’t that into food Some of my friends are like this. It’s hard for me to understand but it’s not that uncommon
A lot of people go to places like Italy expecting authentic Italian to be like a better version of Olive Garden. Most don’t realize American versions of foreign food are nothing like the authentic and actually won’t like the authentic food at all. Like Paulie in sopranos when they go to Italy and is disgusted at his meal and asks for spaghetti and gravy
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:14 pm to ClemsonKitten
Best traps are in Italy… specifically Rome. Get a table outdoors with a view. They take a drink order then someone comes up with a small bowl of popcorn, potato chips etc, and puts it down without saying a word. One person at the table takes a bit and says those are stale and no one touches them again. Guess what? It is on your bill for 10 Euros. LOL. Nothing is free over there.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:15 pm to deltaland
quote:
A lot of people go to places like Italy expecting authentic Italian to be like a better version of Olive Garden. Most don’t realize American versions of foreign food are nothing like the authentic and actually won’t like the authentic food at all. Like Paulie in sopranos when they go to Italy and is disgusted at his meal and asks for spaghetti and gravy
My aunt got Pasta Alfredo that looked pretty similar to the authentic Italian version and she hated it because it didn’t have a jar of prego alfredo sauce dumped in it.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:33 pm to deltaland
quote:I don't even have to be traveling internationally to have a pretty strong idea of what i want to eat on a trip.
A lot of people go to places like Italy expecting authentic Italian to be like a better version of Olive Garden. Most don’t realize American versions of foreign food are nothing like the authentic and actually won’t like the authentic food at all. Like Paulie in sopranos when they go to Italy and is disgusted at his meal and asks for spaghetti and gravy
I'm sort envious of people who aren't obsessed with food though. Seems like it would be a lot easier. I have a group of friends who in Las Vegas would just eat fast food and at the fast casual food courts in the casino, just to get full. with another group, the meals are are basically the highlight of the trip.
This post was edited on 11/14/25 at 5:34 pm
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:42 pm to jchamil
quote:
You didn't see these type places in Italy or Greece? Did you just not go to Rome, Athens, Florence, Venice, etc and only stay in rural areas?
I go to the cities sometimes. Things are usually better in smaller cities.
Trieste is where I go the most in Italy. Haven't seen any Indians yet.
Athens has alot of Turks, but I can't remember seeing an Indian. I do not go there often.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:43 pm to Tridentds
quote:
Best traps are in Italy… specifically Rome. Get a table outdoors with a view. They take a drink order then someone comes up with a small bowl of popcorn, potato chips etc, and puts it down without saying a word. One person at the table takes a bit and says those are stale and no one touches them again. Guess what? It is on your bill for 10 Euros. LOL. Nothing is free over there
Most places in Italy charge you for the silverware. Good thing the food is really cheap.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:48 pm to UtahCajun
quote:have you ever been to Basilicata or Puglia? if so, how was the tourism situation? I know they've become more popular recently.
Trieste is where I go the most in Italy. Haven't seen any Indians yet.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:00 pm to GreatLakesTiger24
When we have the random bro trip (typically bachelor parties so it may not happen again for a while since we're all married) there is typically one high end/bougie place and then we just eat normally otherwise, which usually includes 1-2 places that have something more local-focused.
I am the one who didn't follow that by requesting Korean BBQ on my bachelor party trip to San Diego, but nobody was exactly complaining about the choice when we were done. I fricking love Korean food.
I am the one who didn't follow that by requesting Korean BBQ on my bachelor party trip to San Diego, but nobody was exactly complaining about the choice when we were done. I fricking love Korean food.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:05 pm to ClemsonKitten
I always make friends with the Concierge over a couple days and ask him/her "last time you went out with friends and your wife/SO, where did you go"
Haven't been led astray yet!
Best meal in Venice last time was at Il Nuestro Galleon. Waiter Sergio spoke almost no English. After we asked a few quesions he said, "you want seafood, beef, chicken, or lamb?' to each of us. Brought each of us a fabulous entree along with a few shareable apps. Awesome dinner !
Haven't been led astray yet!
Best meal in Venice last time was at Il Nuestro Galleon. Waiter Sergio spoke almost no English. After we asked a few quesions he said, "you want seafood, beef, chicken, or lamb?' to each of us. Brought each of us a fabulous entree along with a few shareable apps. Awesome dinner !
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:30 pm to Joshjrn
quote:
Because it’s in the city square, has a large picture menu, and outdoor seating. I don’t do it, but I understand the draw for someone who doesn’t want to spend much time or thought on what they are going to eat.
This got 19 upvotes
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:33 pm to ClemsonKitten
Everything I need is in Eunice. Why would I waste my time in Europe.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:39 pm to LSUtoBOOT
quote:
Sari, not Powwow.
Sandals, not moccasins
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:44 pm to Ingeniero
quote:
When we visited Rome, I learned enough Italian to make conversation and we were able to visit restaurants and cafes that otherwise would've been inaccessible. The ones that speak English are convenient but you can miss out on a lot by not learning the basics of the language beforehand.
I took four years of German in high school, straight A's, tutored other kids, and went on a trip to Germany the summer after graduation before starting UGA, still had no fricking clue what I was ordering off the menu. This was in the 90's. My brother and I would go Adventure Eating and having no fricking clue what we were ordering, other than the standard wursts and snitzel.
Weisswurst in Munich is good. Being 18 and allowed to drink was awesome too.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:49 pm to ClemsonKitten
There’s a weird trend over the last 10 years where everyone has to prove how cultured and authentic they are. And this thread screams that. Next thing is, “I hate people who go to resorts because I LOVE to explore” who gives a shite. And I’ve never been to a resort or cruise
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:52 pm to ClemsonKitten
It’s all about the ‘gram. Best food I had in Spain was when my buddy and I wandered into a hole in the wall while off the beaten path in Madrid.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 7:06 pm to blueridgeTiger
quote:
My wife (no pics on this website) and I enjoy eating at outdoor restaurants on crowded squares in Europe. Salad and sandwich, wine and local beer. People watch. Converse with people at nearby tables. WTF is wrong with that?
When I was in Venice, a young lady in the tour group and I set off to find some places to photograph. We ended up “lost” in the interior of the island, and found this small piazza full of locals going about their day, conducting business, visiting, etc. there was a small restaurant with outdoor seating where we shared a little pasta and several glasses of wine and just took in the sights and sounds. The restaurant staff didn’t speak a bit of English, nor was the menu in English. It was one of the best days of that trip.
The next day, we stopped in Verona and two Aussies and I stopped at Il Ippopatamo, a European chain, and had a great bottle of wine and a great margherita pizza. The wait staff spoke English, French, Deutsch, and Italian. Total tourist trap, but we had a fantastic time right next to the Coliseum.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 7:11 pm to ClemsonKitten
Often times these tourist places are used because they are around the corner from "the hotel" or "the place we have to go see". After walking around "the sights" of London, you just want to grab something outdoors at a place that is convenient.
So what if it's overpriced, you are on vacation!
So what if it's not completely authentic, you were just very authentic, you saw Buckingham Palace and that is enough for today.
So what if it's overpriced, you are on vacation!
So what if it's not completely authentic, you were just very authentic, you saw Buckingham Palace and that is enough for today.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 7:13 pm to LuckySo-n-So
quote:
The next day, we stopped in Verona and two Aussies and I stopped at Il Ippopatamo, a European chain, and had a great bottle of wine and a great margherita pizza. The wait staff spoke English, French, Deutsch, and Italian. Total tourist trap, but we had a fantastic time right next to the Coliseum.
We stopped at a place next to that coliseum for coffee and it was definitely MID and overpriced compared to places we researched. We were better off going to Starbucks or McDonalds.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 7:29 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
quote:
Incredibly insensitive and out of touch with the times. It’s tech support, not casino.
What about cigar store vs convenience store?
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