Hello birkett7,
The most typical traditional Italian restaurant design attempts to
make you feel you are dining in a small Italian village restaurant –
rustic furniture, rough stone or brick walls, vines, checkered cloths,
straw covered Chianti bottles are trademarks of this look (and murals
of Italian scenes can be used as well, or pictures of Italy hanging on
the walls). Traditional Italian music completes the atmosphere. This
can include operatic (Verdi!) as well as folk tunes, since opera is a
part of every layer of society in Italy.
“At Del's you sit back and enjoy the traditional Italian decor, of red
and white checkered tablecloths, soft glowing candlelight and Chianti
bottles adorned with baskets. You listen to the strains of Sinatra,
followed by festive Italian songs in the background.”
http://www.delspizzeria.com/ (with picture)
“The menu has changed very little since the '60s, and much of the
decor looks like it hasn't changed, either. The walls are a mixture of
dark wood paneling and worn red-velvet-and-gold wallpaper. Framed
travel prints of Italian destinations and a well-aged map of the
boot-shaped country adorn the walls. A mixture of booths and tables
with chairs are festooned with red-and-white tablecloths. Light
fixtures, with their amber glass and faux-gas flames are appropriate
to the decor; we do wish they'd been complemented by some real candles
on the tables, which would have added a cozy touch to the atmosphere.”
http://www.bhamdining.com/Reviews/review_lovoys.html
“Enjoy the warm and inviting atmosphere of the cozy bar, handsome
two-way brick fireplace and live piano music. The beautiful mural of
the rolling hills of Italy and original Italian art by well-known
artist Antonio Sbrana grace the walls of the dining rooms.”
http://www.celebrationusa.com/antonios.shtml
although this look can also go more upmarket:
“warm olivewood, flickering candles, rustic stone walls and hand-hewn
beams. Splendido is our fantasy of a Mediterranean inn,… enter through
200 year-old, Spanish olivewood doors. . grape arbor above the bar…
stone walls and pillars made of rubble like ancient ruins throughout
the Mediterranean… Ceilings in each area… range from grapevine stakes
and willow branches to vaulted brick and fabric canopies. One area
whispers of an old castle, another evokes a patio overlooking the sea…
massive European bread oven, also made of rubble stone and brick.
Under its mantle of hand-hewn olive logs are two stones with fish
fossils millions of years old. The hearth surface is fossilized
sandstone, revealing oyster shells.. the lighting is sculptured works
of art. The amphora, a classic jug-shape used throughout the
Mediterranean since the beginning of time, is held glowing by
sculptured hands to represent the cradling of civilization… Other
lights are all individually hand-blown glass vessels. Counters
fronting the display kitchen are painted antique cabinetry…
Countertops are Italian marble, and the pizza oven is covered with
hand painted tiles from Italy” http://splendido.citysearch.com/4.html
But some prefer to go for something elegant and sophisticated rather
than rustic traditional. The elegant look can also include
traditional elements, or it can be based on contemporary Italian
design, or on something completely different.
“With its ceramic floor tiles, Sardinian pink granite tables and
Italian made chairs, we have tried to recreate a little bit of Italy
for you, with a modern touch” The URL is to a virtual tour:
http://www.dine-online.co.uk/convivio.htm
“The understated decor at Paolo's is a departure from the typical
Italian restaurant, with warm wood tables, chairs and benches created
especially for the restaurant by Amish craftsman, complemented by blue
curtains, light fixtures and stained glass highlights.”
http://www.myauntedna.com/paolos.htm (with picture)
“along with our slick and contemporary decor, will give you fine
Northern Italian dining at its best”
http://cafitiramisu.citysearch.com/ (small picture)
“Dining in Florentine decor surrounded by hand-painted frescos,
Bellissimo offers the fastidious diner the service and attention that
they are accustomed to. Live Italian music”
http://www.bellissimo.com.au/ There is a link to a virtual tour
here: http://www.bellissimo.com.au/html/bellissimo.html
“Time was when Italian restaurants were decorated with mock arches and
murals of Amalfi, the waiters wielded giant pepper grinders and
offered menus with two pages of pasta - cooking by numbers. Actually,
there are still plenty of these travesties around, even in the smarter
districts of London. Il Convivio is a good example of the stylish
revisionist kind of Italian restaurant, streamlined rather than
totally minimalist, white with splashes of bold earth colours, and an
electrically operated glass roof.”
http://www.dine-online.co.uk/convivio.htm
And this might perhaps be called urban (rather than rustic)
traditional in two out of the three dining rooms:
Fellini's Tower of Pasta in the Stratosphere, Las Vegas “A festive
atmosphere is created with lively music, painted murals, sky blue
ceilings and neighborhood facades. There are three main rooms in the
restaurant featuring Rome and the Spanish Steps, Venice and the Bridge
of Sighs, and Sicily with the Calabria. The three perspectives of
Italy are well done, down to the vines hanging from the iron balconies
jutting out from the rough brick and earth-tone masonry. The
distinctly Italian decor put us in a warm and relaxed mood.”
“There's an open yet intimate little bar and seating area in front,
separate from the dining room. Inside, the room is split by columns
into four smaller rooms, each featuring lovely hand-painted murals on
the antiqued walls.”
http://www.fellinislv.com/fellinis_in_the_news.htm
A virtual tour of the three rooms is available at
http://www.fellinislv.com/virtual_tour_of_fellinis.htm |
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