Pompeii's 2,000-Year-Old Snack Bar Will Soon Be Serving Customers Again

Modern day dining as we know it may have suffered quite a bit during the pandemic but the industry is finding ways to deal with uncertainty. For example, as highlighted by Quartz, DoorDash has decided to work with six eateries in California to create a temporary ghost kitchen until November. Meanwhile, things are looking up in Italy, where more customers are being welcomed into restaurants. According to the Associated Press, those who wish to eat indoors or visit places like museums in the country are required to adhere to certain guidelines and get "a green pass" to be eligible to enter.

And guess what? Italy has a visual treat in store for its visitors this summer. As per People, the country is gearing up to open a 2000-year-old eatery in Pompeii for public viewing. Starting August 12, visitors will get a chance to explore the "thermopolium," a food and snack counter that was in vogue hundreds of years ago. The eatery was known for offering dishes such as snail, pork, beef, and fish. What's exciting is that the remains of this restaurant are in excellent condition and offer a rare opportunity to get a closer look at what dining was like in those times.

According to a piece by The Guardian, archaeologists were able to exhume the ancient restaurant late last year. They were amazed by the details preserved by volcanic ash that they saw at the site. For example, the eatery had intricate artwork that depicted things like a Nymph seated gracefully on a seahorse, gladiators fiercely fighting each other, and gorgeous still life images, among other things. The director general at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Massimo Osanna said, "As well as bearing witness to daily life in Pompeii, the possibilities to analyze afforded by this thermopolium are exceptional because for the first time we have excavated a site in its entirety."

Well, luckily for visitors from different parts of the world, this eatery will now open its doors to customers again this month. According to People, experts have found, among other things, duck bones and crushed fava beans at the location. The latter were believed to be used to enhance the flavor of wine in those days. Also, a snack bar like this one was targeted towards those who didn't have the luxury of cooking at home and were too poor to afford a proper kitchen in Pompeii.