Ligurian eatery ignites debate with two‑course minimum rule
A restaurateur from Liguria, Italy, has been criticized for requiring each person to order at least two courses. She argues that this ensures quality service without skimping on products.
According to the local daily "Il Secolo XIX," the owner of a small, renowned, and previously highly rated establishment in the town of Camogli, near Genoa, sparked a heated debate in Italy.
Valentina Mura explained, amid criticism, that the requirement to order at least two courses was not an easy decision for her. She added that she made it to maintain the quality of the dishes served without having to cut back on products or reduce staff in the restaurant, which has only 18 seats and where guests can stay at the table as long as they wish in the evening.
The restaurateur explains
"The choice was either to introduce a fixed-price menu or to require ordering a first and second course. Ultimately, we chose the latter option," the restaurateur explained.
She assured me that "there are no speculative intentions here, and we don't want to earn more. It's just about being able to stay the same."
Italian media note that this move goes against the current restaurant trend of sharing a single portion of pasta or pizza for financial reasons or out of concern for one's figure. The gastronomy industry associations have supported the criticized restaurateur from Liguria, who does not intend to back down from her decision.
