More than Pizza & Pasta: Unconventional Italian Cuisine You've Got to Try

Italian cuisine is often put into a little carbo-loaded box, but there's so much more to this rich culinary heritage. It's well past time to expand your flavor horizons and sink your teeth into something more adventurous. Before you head to the fusion cuisine, take a closer look at your menu.

When you want an authentic Italian restaurant experience, you'll need to venture beyond the pizze and paste. When you're talking about the real deal, all the way from the sunny Mediterranean, seafood, meat, and veggies play a much bigger role on the plate.

Unexpected Seafood Sensations

Italy's location on the shores of the bountiful Mediterranean Sea makes it a hotspot for delicious seafood dishes. Every region has its own take on the frutti di mare, from risottos to fried calamari. Italian cuisine dishes focus on freshness and flavor, so local, seasonal ingredients are usually at the forefront wherever it's cooked.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy the delicate flavors of fish is crudo, which is raw, lightly dressed, and thinly sliced. Similar to sashimi, only the highest-quality fish is used to ensure a safe and healthy meal. Our Crudo of the Day is served with Fresno chili, orange oil, pignoli nuts, and a salsa verde – a zesty way to start any meal.

If you prefer your fish crispy and cooked to perfection, perhaps our Roasted Branzino will do. Served with green olive tapenade, tomato, and capers, this mild and flaky white fish is native to Italian waters and a popular choice at home and abroad.

There's plenty to explore on the seafood front. Shrimp, squid, and lobster are standard on the Italian menu, especially in the coastal south. The region's flavors, like garlic and basil, are a perfect match with some succulent shrimp – you can taste it for yourself with our Orzo with Rock Shrimp.

Authentic Italian Cuisine: A Carnivore's Paradise

Il carne is also a perennial favorite in Italy. Most festive or formal meals are structured around protein, with more carb-forward elements like pizza and pasta typically taking a supportive role. Whether you're a fan of chicken, veal, or beef, the cuisine of Italy always delivers.

While it faces some hefty competition from pork, beef is definitely in the running for Italy's most popular meat. Its versatility makes it great for everything from a light sear to inclusion in one of those famous Italian sausages. Sometimes simple is just how you want it. For the purist carnivore, there's little more satisfying than a perfect succulent Seared NY Strip Steak.

If you're looking for something even further off the beaten track and into some authentic Italian cuisine, try veal. Thanks to its tenderness and low fat content, it's very popular across the Mediterranean region. If there's one dish on our menu that sums up our dedication to the authentic taste experience on our Italian cuisine menu, it's the Veal Ambra. Served with arugula, tomatoes, pickled shallot, pepperoncini, and sliced green olives, the flavors of Italia make you feel a casa with every bite.

Embrace the Diversity of Italy's Food at Ambra

Wander through our Italian cuisine menu and treat yourself to something other than the usual. The flavors of the Bel Paese should never be boxed in – there's so much more to experience beyond the familiar pasta and pizza. Getting a little adventurous opens so many flavorful doors, and you never know whether your new food favorite might be behind one of them. So pull up a chair, gather your friends and family, and enjoy the best of what Italian cuisine has to offer right here in New York.