Anna Grace Patterson

Howdy! My name is Anna Grace Patterson, and I am from Fort Worth, Texas. I will be a senior majoring in advertising and minoring in psychology. Dining in Italy has helped me engage all of my senses and truly appreciate the culture and love in every recipe. However, there’s nothing like a traditional American burger to cure inevitable homesickness, and Crispi’s has the perfect medicine.

A Little Taste of Home

If you’re looking down, trying to get through the bustling crowd of people walking the streets of Arezzo with unexplained confidence, you just might miss Crispi’s.

Its sign is hidden behind patio seating, making it difficult to spot if not for the hefty cow silhouette beside the entrance. Walking in, you are greeted with a modern 1950s American diner appearance.

Red and black tables and white tiled walls transport you back to the good ole days. One would expect a burger joint like Crispi’s to be a fast-paced dining experience such as the restaurants in the United States. Crispi’s is quite the opposite. The waiters are very welcoming, asking for your party number and escorting you to a table for a true food adventure.

Since 1993, the menu has been vast, offering more than just burgers. Salads, pizzas and tasteful draft or craft beers are just a few of the many options served at Crispi’s. For OU in Arezzo students, a specially curated menu is provided. Your voucher will cover one of the meal preferences and either a soda or water. If you’re craving an American classic and a satisfying break from traditional pasta, I suggest the bacon cheeseburger.

Sandwiched between a sesame seed bun, PGI-certified Tuscan Chianina beef is tenderly cooked medium-well. Despite most other breads made without salt in Arezzo, the bun is fluffy and packed with flavor. The meat is seasoned well and deliciously juicy. Cheddar cheese melts down the sides of the patty and sticks to the bun. Subjectively, I believe the best part of this burger is the bacon.

In the States, a quick bacon cheeseburger might have two measly pieces of fatty bacon if you’re lucky. Consistent with its other aspects, Crispi’s will exceed your expectations and deliver a much better version. Two thick, meaty and lengthy pieces of bacon are placed perfectly in the middle of the burger. They’re easy to bite into and blend beautifully with the other ingredients.

If you’re wanting to enhance the American experience, ask for a Coca-Cola and allow the fizzy sweetness to grace your tastebuds. While the authentic Italian cuisine of Arezzo is unlike any other, Crispi’s is an ideal brief hiatus.