A1 level

Ordering at a restaurant in Italian

Last updated 29 October 2026

An Italian meal is a social event with a clear shape, and knowing the shape makes ordering much easier. This page follows a meal from the door to the bill, and explains the courses along the way.

Arriving and getting a table

Buonasera, un tavolo per due, per favore. Good evening, a table for two, please.
Ho prenotato a nome Rossi. I booked under the name Rossi.
Avete un tavolo fuori? Do you have a table outside?
Possiamo sederci qui? Can we sit here?

A waiter will usually ask Avete prenotato? ("Did you book?") and show you a table. Many restaurants open for dinner only after about seven thirty, and lunch is often served from twelve thirty to three.

The structure of an Italian meal

A traditional menu follows a set order, and you do not have to order every course.

Course	What it is
l'antipasto	the starter, often cold cuts, cheese or bruschetta
il primo	the first course: pasta, risotto or soup
il secondo	the main course: meat or fish
il contorno	the side dish, ordered separately
il dolce	dessert
il caffè	an espresso, usually after dessert

A primo is not the main course in the English sense. Pasta comes first, then the meat or fish. It is fine to order a primo and a dolce only, or just a secondo with a contorno.

Reading the menu

Può portarmi il menù, per favore? Could you bring me the menu, please?
Cosa mi consiglia? What do you recommend?
Qual è il piatto del giorno? What is the dish of the day?
Cosa c'è in questo piatto? What is in this dish?
Sono allergico alle noci. I am allergic to nuts.
Ci sono piatti vegetariani? Are there vegetarian dishes?

Ordering

The polite way to order is vorrei ("I would like") or prendo ("I will have"). Both are fine; voglio ("I want") is too blunt.

Vorrei gli spaghetti alle vongole. I would like the spaghetti with clams.
Per me, la lasagna. For me, the lasagne.
Prendo il pesce del giorno. I will have the fish of the day.
Come contorno, un'insalata mista. For a side dish, a mixed salad.
Un'acqua naturale, per favore. Still water, please.
Una bottiglia di acqua frizzante. A bottle of sparkling water.
Un bicchiere di vino rosso della casa. A glass of the house red wine.

Il vino della casa is the house wine, usually good and inexpensive. Water is normally ordered by the bottle, either naturale (still) or frizzante (sparkling).

During the meal

Buon appetito! Enjoy your meal!
È buonissimo. It is delicious.
Mi può portare del pane? Could you bring me some bread?
Scusi, manca una forchetta. Excuse me, a fork is missing.
Un altro po' di vino, per favore. A little more wine, please.

Many restaurants add a small charge called il coperto for bread and the table setting. It is normal and appears on the bill.

The bill

Il conto, per favore. The bill, please.
Il servizio è incluso? Is service included?
Possiamo pagare con la carta? Can we pay by card?
Facciamo alla romana. Let us split the bill equally.
Tenga il resto. Keep the change.

In Italy a tip is not expected in the way it is in some countries. Rounding up the bill or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated, but not required.