Trattoria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A specifically Italian institution more akin to an eating club than a conventional restaurant. There are no menus, the service is casual, the prices low, and the emphasis is on a steady clientele rather than on haute cuisine. The food is modest but plentiful and is served family-style (i.e. at common tables).
Trattorie are also found in some American cities with large Italian-American populations such as San Francisco.