Restaurant

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Restaurant

Is there any certification that allows to identify typical Italian restaurants?

In 2003 the Ministry of Health in collaboration with FIPE (Italian Federation of Bars and Catering) created two different marks which are given free of charge to restaurants offering particular services to guests. The marks, called ``Il Bollino Blu della Ristorazione'' and ``Ristorante Tipico'' are displayed on restaurants' main entrance specifying the services provided. The first one can be found in restaurants ensuring sanitation, transparency rules and food safety, specific menus for special dietary needs, participation in prevention campaigns and nutrition education and card services (a kind of Identity card of the restaurant ), guarantee of the staff professionalism. The second label Ristorante Tipico can be found in restaurants offering typical Italian products, dishes of local gastronomy and wines produced in the area.

Is it specified in a menu whether the fish is fresh or frozen?

Restaurants and other similar catering places, are obliged to specify in the menu whether the fish is fresh or frozen by marking its status with an asterisk.

The charge for cover and bread has been included in the bill even if it was not mentioned in the menu. Is it legal?

It is advisable to check prices on the menu before entering the restaurant. The restaurant manager can decide to include charges as service, cover charge and bread in the bill but they must be shown on the menu, so that customers can be aware of the real price of the meal. There is an exception for restaurants in Lazio Region, since a regional law prohibits to include such extra charges. On the contrary, if the invoice ``cover and bread'' is specified on the menu, the customers are not entitled to make a complain.

I am visiting Italy next month. How can I know which restaurants and ice-cream parlours have special menu for people with coeliac disease?

Restaurants and ice-cream parlours exhibit notices specifying which products do not contain gluten. Anyway we suggest that you review the guide and the list provided by the Italian Coeliac Disease's Association.

Italian Association of Coeliac Disease

I am a tourist visiting Italy, I have seen abbreviations like DOC, IGP, DOP, STG on some products at the supermarket. What do they stand for?

They are acronyms established by a legislation of the European Union in order to protect some of the typical food products. DOP stands for Protected Designation of Origin DOC stands for Controlled Origin Denomination IGP stands for Protected Geographical Indication STG stands for Traditional Speciality Guaranteed.

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