Italian vs. American dining experiences

Since I've been here I've noticed many differences between Italian and American food, and moreover, the dining experiences in general.  One of the first things I noticed about food in Italy is that the large majority of restaurants serve only Italian food.  In America, we have many American restaurants, but we also have just as many other ethnic restaurants.  Mexican, Italian, and Chinese restaurants are everywhere!  We also have Japanese, Spanish, Indian, Thai, and countless other ethnic restaurants.  In Italy there are very few ethnic restaurants.  I have been looking all over for a good sushi or mexican restaurant with no luck!  Another thing that is very different about Italian restaurants is that it is not customary to tip.  In America a 15-20% tip is always expected, and is even included in bills for large parties.  Despite these basic differences, I believe the biggest difference is how dining is viewed/valued in Italy versus America.  In America, we eat to eat.  Service is a lot faster and people get easily frustrated if the food takes too long.  Fast food restaurants are also an American favorite, as they are convenient and fast!  For lunch most Americans will either get fast food such as McDonalds, grab a quick sandwich, or maybe sit down for 20/30 minutes.  On the contrary, Italians take long lunch breaks and eat a large lunch, often consisting of two courses.  Also, for Italians, eating is a very social experience that is highly valued.  They don't eat to eat, but rather eat to socialize with friends and take a break from their day.  That is why the service often appears very slow to Americans, but is normal for Italians; they like to take their time and enjoy themselves.  I really like the Italian mentality on dining and am trying to pick up on this attitude while I am here.