When most people think of having an Italian meal they think of sitting down at a restaurant and making a night of it. There really isn’t much of a fast option.
For most people quick Italian food means throwing some pasta in a pot and opening a jar of Prego, or worse, throwing a frozen meal in the microwave. However, there is another way to experience fast Italian food and that is through Fazoli’s.
Fazoli’s is a fast Italian food chain in the United States. They are currently serving up Italian food in 400 locations throughout the United States. Now it should be noted that I am using the term Italian food very loosely here. This is a great choice for people who like traditional Americanized Italian food, but not such a good choice for Italian food connoisseurs looking for a fine meal.
The Italian food served here includes such classics as spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, ravioli, pizza, subs, panini sandwiches, and salads. Many people like to catch one of these classic Italian food dishes through the drive through, but these people are missing part of what makes Fazoli’s so popular and that is the breadsticks.
If you dine inside a Fazoli’s then you get unlimited free breadsticks. This is Fazoli’s trademark and has helped them become popular in the United States.
While Fazoli’s is certainly not an option for quality Italian food, it is a good option to fill a craving for Italian food without having to go out to a restaurant and take up a good part of your night. There are not many options today for fast Italian food and to many people the whole concept of Fazoli’s strikes them as odd at first.
Fast food is generally seen as the domain of hamburgers and finger foods. For this reason Fazoli’s has not grown as fast or become as popular as other fast food chains. If Fazoli’s continues to grow and gain popularity then it may prompt others to start more quality fast Italian food chains.
Fast food chains are expanding to include healthy menu items and more quality food for the money. So there may be more of a place for Fazoli’s as the country expands its views on fast food in general.
Fazoli’s is cheap Italian food and you really do get what you pay for. Right now the only other real option for fast Italian food is to prepare it yourself. For some people making Italian food themselves defeats the purpose of fast Italian food so Fazoli’s is a great option.
With all the different innovations happening in contemporary Italian food it’s possible that in the future there may be multiple options for getting fast Italian food of a good quality. In fact, in Italy there are already fast food restaurants that serve good quality Italian food.
But, like most things in the world of Italian food, we can expect for it to be awhile before these developments make it to this side of the ocean. Until then we’ll just have to make do with Fazoli’s and resort to conventional restaurants to get fine Italian food.
I’m a passionate traveler, writer, and Italophile. My fascination with Italy’s history, art, and culture has led me on countless adventures across the Italian landscape. Through “I Live Italy,” I share my love for this extraordinary country and aims to inspire others to explore its boundless beauty.
