The same, but not quite.

 After 2 days in Volterra one thing has become very noticeable about the food options available in local restaurants. There are very few. It is almost as if every restaurant has the same basic menu with only a few slight variations on the same theme. Starting with Antipasti, they follow with Piatti Primi followed by Secundi. While the odd one might throw in a couple of risotto dishes, it is basically pici or tagliatelle with the same sauce. The only real variable is the price of the dish and the portion size. Ditto the secundi- usually wild boar, some form of beef dish, the obligatory Florentine steak, grilled lamb chops, tripe and occasionally a baked fish dish, Chicken is rarely seen. The various review sites like TripAdvisor list virtually every restaurant as Italian or Tuscan. A few will offer pizza or sandwiches but again, more of the same. Rarely one will come across places offering pizza Bianca- but for the rest, it’s tomato sauce alone

There is no attempt at Greek food, or French and certainly no attempt to cater to Asian tourists. 

As most tourists are in and out after one meal in one restaurant, it is not something they would notice. But after a week travelling the rural routes, it is getting a little tiresome. With only one vegetarian joint in the entire town, and one place offering burgers, I’m looking forward to our escape to Sicily where seafood is not only plentiful but offered in a variety of ways. 

 It turned out to be the same story in San Gimignano where we stayed for one night so we could explore some of the neighbouring towns. It turns out it was no different, and if anything, probably worse as he restaurant selection was somewhat smaller.