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What differs between a trattoria, osteria, ristorante and enoteca?

I can’t be the only one that got quite confused with the different ways that Italians name the foodie meetups. But lately we have been in Italy quite a few times, so let’s try and break them down in a way that we can all understand it a bit better … here we go!



Trattoria:
You can expect regional cuisine at a trattoria, quite inexpensive but with a larger menu than the Osteria. Traditionally the Trattorias were family-owned, like rustic neighborhood restaurants.

Osteria:
Supercheap, kind of like the hostel version of a restaurant with communal-style tables. Originally you brought your own food to an Osteria and only bought your drinks, but that’s not the way today. Nowadays you can find either a small or a non-existing menu with warm and cheap meals. So it’s kind of like an Enoteca but with simple cooked meals of the day.

Enoteca:
It’s not a bar but it is a bar. At bars, they serve breakfast and such due to their early opening hours, but you can’t find that at an Enoteca. It’s more like a wine bar that serves by the glass, with light appetizers like cured meat and cheese platters.

Ristorante:
This is where you go for a more formal dining experience, with menus of several courses. It’s the kind of place where you spend several hours and a more significant part of your budget. It’s a full-service restaurant.


Does that make any sense?
As I started writing this I just got more confused over the different types of places they have in Italy, like a pub called a Birreria, a bakery called Pasticceria, and a Pescheria is a seafood restaurant. But that’s just names in a different language. Trattoria, Osteria, and Ristorante, are all different types of restaurants that are good to know of before you start looking for a place to eat or drink.

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