Eating out
The restaurants mainly get really crowded in the evening
The restaurants in Sardinia offer excellent cuisine. I have never been disappointed in terms of quality.
However, the food is not really cheap, especially in the high season, and the Euro has once again caused prices to rise significantly. Prices drop considerably the further you get from the coast.
Once you have found a suitable restaurant, you should definitely try the typical Sardinian specialities.
In the early and late season, many restaurants are closed, especially in the holiday resorts on the coast. In the few restaurants that were open, it happened to us repeatedly that we were the only guests.
Then the owners took care of our well-being in an almost touching way. The kitchen staff started cooking just for us late in the evening and they apologised many times that it took a little longer due to lack of preparation. What was served was well worth the wait.
Pizza – always a good idea
The sequence of the individual courses is like in Italy:
First antipasti – a starter, followed by the primo piatto, the first course, which usually consists of pasta dishes.
Then comes the secondo, the main course with fish or meat. Side dishes often have to be ordered separately.
Finally, there is a dessert, which is often typical of the respective region. Such a menu will definitely fill you up, but it costs between 20 and 50€, depending on the restaurant and the time of the trip.
While Italians often order only one course for lunch (pranzo), this is not usual for dinner (cena) in restaurants.
If you are not very hungry, it is better to go to a pizzeria, rosticceria, paninoteca or similar.
If you have eaten with several people, you will still only receive one bill for all of them. It is unusual in Italy and also in Sardinia to charge each person separately – so do not insist on separate bills!
Tips are usually included in the price. If you were particularly pleased, just leave a small amount on the table.
When studying the menus and the prices listed, be aware that a few euros extra will be charged for the cover (coperto).
Sometimes there is also a surcharge for service (servizio).
Tip:
In the larger towns, it is worth looking for a trattoria where the locals also go to eat. These eateries usually offer excellent and relatively inexpensive cuisine.
Otherwise, pizzerias can be found everywhere, which are much cheaper than restaurants.
Another option for a relatively inexpensive and excellent meal can be found at almost all agriturismo providers.
Even if you don’t live there, you can enjoy typical Sardinian cuisine. Just look out for the many advertising signs along the country roads that will lead you to the farms. Advance booking is usually necessary.
Important!
Be sure to take your bill with you when you leave the restaurant! The “Guardia di finanza” always carries out checks.
Also, follow the smoking ban in public places that has been in force in Italy since 2005!
This includes bars and restaurants. If you are caught smoking here, it can cost you up to €275 in fines. Smoking in the presence of pregnant women or children can cost you even more!
Most of the time it will not come to that, because the innkeeper himself will first make you aware of the smoking ban. Otherwise he or she will also be threatened with a hefty fine.