The Best Places for Italian Food in Spain

In Spain, we have long been accustomed to eating Italian food. After all, the tomato, a perennial component of Italian cuisine, is one of our most beloved ingredients. In addition to mutual appreciation for tomatoes, both Spain and Italy are Catholic countries that tend to favor large families and are known for their familial warmth. This makes Italians feel at home in Spain, and Spaniards feel at home in Italy. There are few people in Spain who havent visited Rome, Florence, or Venice. Its no wonder that Italian cuisine has become a staple in Spanish gastronomy. However, just as there are tourists who inadvertently get ripped off at overpriced paella joints in Madrid, there are Italians in Spain who are appalled by the travesty of Italian cuisine served at many so-called Italian restaurants. Pizza and pasta are among the most abused dishes globally. Its about time we learned to distinguish between the good, the bad, and the mediocre. Lets start with pizza. There are two types of pizza: the Neapolitan and the Roman. The Neapolitan pizza has a thicker, airy edge, while the Roman pizza is crispy, thin, and almost without a crust. Both pizzas have their aficionados, but the Roman pizza is more difficult to make and is therefore the more prestigious of the two. If youre eating a pizza with a doughy, uncooked base, youre not eating a good pizza. The dough, as any self-respecting pizzaiolo will tell you, must be made with the right flour, a slow fermentation process, and baked in a wood-fired oven at over 400 degrees Celsius so the crust is crispy, the base is cooked, and the cheese is melted but not burnt. If youve ever eaten a pizza with melted cheese thats more like a shoe sole, you know what Im talking about. In a good Italian restaurant, youll find two types of pasta: pasta fresca (fresh pasta) and pasta secca (dry pasta). Both types can be either industrial or artisanal, and both can be excellent. However, the difference is in the cooking time. Fresh pasta cooks in about three minutes, while dry pasta requires 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the type. Youd be surprised how many people have never eaten properly cooked pasta in their lives. Pasta should be cooked al dente, which means it should be firm to the bite. Undercooked, it will be too hard; overcooked, it will be mushy. The secret to cooking pasta is to follow the instructions on the package and taste it a minute before the recommended cooking time ends. A common misconception is that pasta should be cooked with a bit of olive oil. This is a mistake. Olive oil prevents the sauce from adhering to the pasta. The only thing you need to add to the water is salt. Once the pasta is cooked, it should be drained quickly but not thoroughly, as a bit of the water helps the sauce adhere. It should be mixed with the sauce right away and served immediately. If you let it sit, the pasta will overcook in its own heat. You may have noticed that Im mentioning pizza and pasta more often than other Italian dishes. This is because these two dishes are often the only options on the menu at many Italian restaurants. However, a good Italian restaurant should offer a variety of dishes that reflect the rich and varied Italian cuisine.

Rome: Italian Cuisine in Spain

There are over 500 Italian restaurants in Spain, and many of them are excellent. However, for the purposes of this article, I will focus on a select few that stand out for their authenticity and quality. In Madrid, the best Italian restaurant is Don Giovanni, run by the charismatic Andrea Tumbarello. Tumbarello is a self-taught chef who has won numerous awards for his innovative take on traditional Italian cuisine. His restaurant is famous for its truffles, which he uses in dishes like the huevo milenario, a creamy egg yolk cooked at a low temperature and topped with shaved truffles. Another must-try dish is the carpaccio de gamba roja, a delicate carpaccio of red prawns drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice. In Barcelona, one of the best Italian restaurants is Xemei, run by the twin brothers Stefano and Max Colombo. Xemei is known for its Venetian cuisine, and the brothers import many of their ingredients directly from Italy. Their bacalà mantecato, a creamy salt cod dish, is a highlight, as is their fegato alla veneziana, a traditional Venetian dish of liver and onions. In Valencia, the top Italian restaurant is Il Rossini, run by the Italian-Spanish chef Giuseppe Iannotti. Iannotti is known for his creative take on Italian cuisine, and his restaurant has won numerous awards for its innovative dishes. One of his most famous creations is the pasta e fagioli, a traditional Italian pasta and bean soup that he elevates with a modern twist.

Florence: A Taste of Tuscany

Moving on to Tuscany, we find some of the best Italian restaurants in Spain. In Seville, one of the top Italian restaurants is La Mia Tana, run by the Italian chef Marco di Costanzo. La Mia Tana is known for its traditional Tuscan cuisine, and one of the highlights is the bistecca alla fiorentina, a thick, juicy steak that is grilled to perfection. The restaurant also serves a delicious pappa al pomodoro, a traditional Tuscan soup made with tomatoes and stale bread. In Bilbao, one of the best Italian restaurants is Pasta y Basta, run by the Italian chef Francesco Mazzini. Pasta y Basta is known for its homemade pasta, and one of the highlights is the tagliatelle al tartufo, a ribbon pasta dish topped with shaved truffles. The restaurant also serves a delicious risotto ai funghi, a creamy mushroom risotto that is a staple of Tuscan cuisine.

Venice: A Culinary Journey

Moving on to Venice, we find some of the best seafood in Italy, and this is reflected in the Italian restaurants in Spain. In Malaga, one of the top Italian restaurants is La Tratoria, run by the Italian chef Salvatore Esposito. La Tratoria is known for its Venetian seafood dishes, and one of the highlights is the sarde in saor, a traditional Venetian dish of sardines marinated in vinegar, onions, and raisins. The restaurant also serves a delicious fritto misto, a mixed seafood fry that is a staple of Venetian cuisine. In Zaragoza, one of the best Italian restaurants is La Farándula, run by the Italian chef Claudio Rinaldi. La Farándula is known for its homemade pasta, and one of the highlights is the ravioli di pesce, a homemade pasta stuffed with seafood. The restaurant also serves a delicious risotto al nero di seppia, a black squid ink risotto that is a staple of Venetian cuisine.

Naples: Pizza and Pasta

No article about Italian food would be complete without mentioning Naples, the birthplace of pizza. In Madrid, one of the best pizzerias is Oven Mozzarella Bar, run by the Italian chef Andrea Tumbarello. Oven Mozzarella Bar is known for its authentic Neapolitan pizzas, and one of the highlights is the pizza margherita, a simple yet delicious pizza topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. The restaurant also serves a delicious pizza quattro formaggi, a pizza topped with four different types of cheese. In Barcelona, one of the best pizzerias is La Balmesina, run by the Italian chef Luca Gorini. La Balmesina is known for its authentic Roman pizzas, and one of the highlights is the pizza bianca, a pizza topped with mozzarella cheese and truffle oil. The restaurant also serves a delicious pizza capricciosa, a pizza topped with ham, mushrooms, artichokes, and olives. In conclusion, Italian cuisine is one of the most popular and beloved cuisines in the world, and its no wonder that it has found a home in Spain. Whether its the rich and hearty dishes of Tuscany, the fresh and flavorful seafood of Venice, or the simple yet delicious pizzas and pastas of Naples, Italian cuisine is sure to satisfy even the most discerning of palates. So next time youre in Spain, be sure to seek out some of these top Italian restaurants and experience the best of Italian cuisine for yourself.