At the Restaurant

Eating & Drinking — Page 2. Ordering at a Restaurant

Eating out in Italy — Culture & Rules:

Timing: Lunch is usually 12:30–14:30, Dinner is 20:00–22:30. Restaurants often close between meals.
Take your time! A meal is a social experience — nobody rushes you. You will not be hurried to leave your table.
Coperto: Almost all restaurants charge a small cover charge per person (€1–€3). This includes bread on the table — it is normal, not a mistake.
Coffee rule: After a meal, only order espresso — never cappuccino or other milky coffees!

The structure of an Italian meal — how it works:

Antipasti — Starters / appetisers (meats, cheeses, vegetables, seafood)
Primi — First courses: pasta, risotto, soup, gnocchi (these are main dishes, not sides!)
Secondi — Second courses: meat, fish or poultry (the main protein)
Contorni — Side dishes: salad, vegetables, potatoes — ordered separately
Dolci — Desserts
Caffè — Espresso to finish

Key Vocabulary

Italian	Pronunciation	Meaning
Un tavolo per…	oon tah‑vo‑lo per…	A table for…
Il menù	il meh‑noo	The menu
Il conto	il kon‑toh	The bill / check
Antipasto / Antipasti	an‑tee‑pah‑stoh / stee	Starter / Starters
Primo / Primi	pree‑moh / pree‑mee	First course(s)
Secondo / Secondi	seh‑kon‑doh / seh‑kon‑dee	Second / Main course(s)
Contorno / Contorni	kon‑tor‑noh / kon‑tor‑nee	Side dish(es)
Dolce / Dolci	dol‑cheh / dol‑chee	Dessert(s)
Consigliere qualcosa?	kon‑see‑lyeh‑reh kwal‑koh‑sah	Can you recommend something?
È possibile pagare con carta?	eh pos‑see‑bee‑leh pah‑gah‑reh kon kar‑tah	Can we pay by card?

Italian Restaurant Menu — clear sections, no food photos

Typical restaurant menu — sections follow the order of an Italian meal. Note: Insalata Mista is listed only under Contorni (sides).

Conversation: Evening Meal

Roles:
• W2 = Server / Waitress
• W1 & M = Customers (ordering for the table / for a friend arriving soon)

FORMAL / RESTAURANT Evening Meal

W1: Buonasera, un tavolo per tre, per favore?
Good evening, a table for three, please?

W2: Buonasera. Prego, di qua.
Good evening. This way, please.

M: Grazie. Potrebbe portarci il menù, per favore?
Thank you. Could you bring us the menu, please?

W2: Ecco a voi. Desiderate ordinare subito o aspettate?
Here you are. Would you like to order now or wait?

W1: Ora va bene. Per antipasto prendiamo un misto di salumi e formaggi per il tavolo.
Now is fine. For a starter, we’ll take a mixed platter of cured meats and cheeses for the table.

W1: Come primo io prendo la pasta alla carbonara.No secondo.
And for the first course, I’ll have the pasta carbonara. No second course.

M: Come primo prendo i ravioli di ricotta e spinaci e come secondo vorrei il filetto di manzo.
For the first course I’ll have the ricotta and spinach ravioli and for the second course I’d like the beef fillet.