Calamari is Italian for squid. Get over it.
Calamari is delicious when properly prepared, and able to retread truck tires when prepared improperly. To make it even more confusing, there are two proper ways to cook squid (I said, get OVER it), either fast or very slow.
The calamari friti? you've had in restaurants is fried quickly. However you can also stew calamari slowly and it will also be good. Pan fry it for ten minutes, though, and you've got a jaw workout that can't be beat.