Italian cuisine continues to thrive in the United States, but many Italian visitors remain unconvinced by how faithfully it is represented.

According to a Coldiretti/Ixè survey presented at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, nearly seven out of ten Italian tourists (69%) rate Italian restaurants in the U.S. positively. Eleven percent described them as excellent, 28% as good, and 30% as satisfactory. Only 26% expressed an overall negative opinion.

Authenticity, however, remains the biggest concern. Among the main criticisms, respondents cited recipes that stray too far from traditional Italian cooking (29%), the use of imitation Made in Italy products (28%), and lower-quality ingredients (25%).

Despite these concerns, the global market for Italian cuisine continues to expand. According to Deloitte's Foodservice Market Monitor 2025, Italian food worldwide is now worth €251 billion, up 5% year-on-year, with the United States and China accounting for more than 65% of global consumption.