Question 1

What is the ZAFFERANO & CO. Italian Guide?

Accepted Answer

A guide to Italian food only, in all 50 American states and in the 20 regions of Italy: restaurants, pizzerias, gelato, bakeries, wine bars, delis, Italian markets and shops. Members review, and our inspectors judge one thing above all: authentic Italian cooking.

Question 2

Which places are in the guide?

Accepted Answer

Only Italian places. Fast-food chains and places with no Italian identity are left out. The first listings come from open map data (OpenStreetMap contributors); owners, members and our team add and correct places every day.

Question 3

What is the Italianità index?

Accepted Answer

An automatic rating from 0 to 100 based on public information: Italian or regional cuisine, a traditional Italian name and a complete listing. It moves with our members’ reviews. It is a first indication, not a judgement of the food.

Question 4

What do Buona Tavola, Verified Italian and the Pistilli mean?

Accepted Answer

They are our awards, from good to exceptional. Buona Tavola: good food at a fair price, with a lighter Italian identity. Verified Italian: the real thing, Italian cooking, products and people. Pistilli (1, 2 or 3): reserved for the very best Italian kitchens. The Pistillo is a saffron thread, the symbol of ZAFFERANO & CO.

Question 5

How do your inspectors judge a place?

Accepted Answer

Our inspectors visit anonymously and pay their bill like any guest. They judge authenticity first, then ingredients, technique, hospitality and value.

Question 6

Can a restaurant pay for an award or a better rating?

Accepted Answer

No. Awards and ratings cannot be bought. A paid Featured listing is always clearly marked as Featured.

Question 7

How do I write a review?

Accepted Answer

Sign in, open the place and choose “Write a review”: 1 to 5 stars, what you ate and up to 5 photos. One review per member and place.

Question 8

A place I love is missing. How can I add it?

Accepted Answer

Use “What’s your favorite Italian place?” or “Add your place”. Our team checks every suggestion before it goes live.

Question 9

I own a restaurant. How do I claim my page?

Accepted Answer

Find your place in “Own an Italian place?” and choose “Claim this place”. It is free. After our check your page shows the Owner verified badge and you can add photos, menu and opening hours.

Question 10

Why do you ask owners for a document?

Accepted Answer

To protect every place from fake owners and pranks. We ask for a business license, food service permit, certificate of occupancy, liquor license or company papers (in Italy: visura camerale or SCIA). Documents are seen only by our team and never published.

Question 11

How can I ask you to inspect a place?

Accepted Answer

Open the place and choose “Ask ZAFFERANO & CO. to inspect this place”, and tell us what we must taste. The places our members ask for most are visited first.

Question 12

What is “Eat it in America” and “Taste the original in Italy”?

Accepted Answer

Every Italian place shows where to eat the same kind of food in America, and every American place shows the originals in the Italian region its cooking comes from.

Question 13

Some information is wrong. What can I do?

Accepted Answer

Owners can claim the place and correct it. Anyone else can tell us through the place page or with “Add your place”. We check every change.