Ordering Food in Italy (10 Things You Must Know)

Everything you need to know about dining out in Italy: what to expect in terms of the menu, paying, tipping and how to order. We’ve also included some useful restaurant vocabulary (and see the downloadable vocabulary cheatsheet linked below).

Hi, we’re Anne and Ed from Our Big Italian Adventure. We spend half the year living and traveling in Italy, and we want to help you have the most amazing trip discovering and enjoying this spectacular country.

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🛜 LEARN: Using Your Phone: Saving Money while Staying Connected in Italy $💵 €💶

❗️Download FREE list of important restaurant vocabulary ❗️

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🏡 AUTHENTIC ITALY: URBINO – Unspoiled Renaissance Town

🏰 AUTHENTIC ITALY: Versailles in Italy? | Reggia di Caserta

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==== IMAGE CREDITS ====

[ilaria]

I'm Italian and this is the most accurate video explanation of our way of eating out I watched on Youtube

[Lorena-uvzo]

It is a pleasure to have you in our Country, as ambassadors of our culture. Thank you.

[robertocapitanio]

Sono italiano e penso che dopo aver visto tantissimi video di stranieri che parlavano di esperienze varie nei nostri ristoranti o trattorie o pizzerie finalmente ho trovato una persona non italiana che riesce a spiegare a chi non è italiano come noi viviamo il cibo in Italia.Grazie

[dizzyflores]

Concordo con gli altri italiani qui che apprezzano questo video fantastico, chiaro, accurato, utile e interessante. Grazie

[Clayjar]

I'm Italian. This is an excellent starting guide for a tourist.

[valentinerichardbarker]

Good explanation of lots of things which are obvious to an Italian resident but perhaps mysterious for a visitor or tourist.

[LuigiRosa]

Italian here: very informative!
Consider that according to Italian laws you have specific rights as a customer of a restaurant.
For instance, all dishes should have a price, if they have a board with the "speciality of the day" or the waiter tells you the additional dishes, make sure you know the price, especially in touristic areas.
Dishes made with frozen ingredients must be indicated, like in the menu you showed in the video.
While "scarpetta" is accepted in trattorias and it should be not made in hi-end restaurants, it is often recognized as an appreciation of the dish, as a way to tell the restaurant "I like it very much!". That said, especially if you are a foreigner, if you like a dish and you want to do a scarpetta, go for it and the hell the bon-ton! 🙂

If you go in non-touristic locations or outside the main touristic routes, it is not uncommon even for Italians to chat with the waiter: ask for local specialities, tell them if you have allergies/intolerances, tell them if you want to try local dishes, they will guide you.

[s.d.d.]

I have to agree with most if the comments: as an Italian I can say that your video is very accurate and I would say very useful to people visiting Italy from other Countries. 🙂

[paulafalconer]

I’m an expat living in Liguria for 29 years, married to an Italian.
Complimenti on your video as it is clear, concise and for the most part accurate.
Where we disagree is regarding tipping. If you experience good service for a sit down meal, a 10% gratuity is appropriate and much appreciated by your server.
While they get a salary, it is quite low, on average a 1000€ or less per month.
Times are changing and evolving and do should our ideas on tipping in Italy.
Looking forward to following you.

[riccardoscalisi]

As an italian I think you are by far the most accurate youtuber in describing our country.

[enzoparisi]

As an Italian I tell you that this is a very, very well done explanation. I recommend the "scarpetta" (scooping up the sauce or condiment from the plate with bread), it is something that is done, but it is not a very polite thing to do, it is absolutely not recommended in luxury restaurants or on formal occasions, such as a business lunch.

[gianluigitognon]

"Greetings from Italy! As an Italian, I must say this is one of the most accurate and precise videos I've ever seen about Italian food and how the restaurant system works in Italy. Compliments to the author for such a well-made and insightful piece!"

[ManuelPezzini]

I'm italian, I know perfectly what's happening here where I live, and I still watching your wondeful videos. Who knows why... 😂 Maybe because I love to "see us" from a different point of view. Buon appetito!

[alessandrobrullo]

Absolutely the most accurate videos about Italy I have ever seen over the internet. And very enjoyable too. Complimenti!!!

[itsmetaran]

What an incredible video! Packed with amazing info. Thanks a lot.

[WriterJenOnYT]

This is the most comprehensive Italian food do/don't lists I've ever seen. Well done!

[qwertyasdf]

As an Italian i must say you explained it very well, just a few things 1)a few restaurant they have two service shifts and when you book especially by phone but also on line if you ask for a table at 8pm for example they will inform you that they have a shift at 7.30 and another at 21.30 2)some restaurant especially the most touristic in bigger cities they do not close in the afternoon, they may serve you from 12am to 11pm continuosly 3)Coperto in the past when textile tablecloth and napkins were used covered also the expenses for washing them 4)we do not eat bread with pasta dishes, just doing scarpetta is okay in general but in a very formal restaurnat is not 5)Pepperoni is not used in Italy but you can find in many places pizza with "Salamino piccante" which is very similar and with "'Nduja" a typical Calabrian spreadable sausage with a soft consistency and very spicy taste(and if I may dare both are better than Pepperoni).Thx again for your video spreading our vast and valuable food culture in the world and by the way I recognised several places in my hometown Firenze (Florence).

[diegodz]

your video is a real treasure !
we have to say that the quality of the food is better if you avoid the big cities.

[Romalvx]

You have well said that tap water is almost everywhere drinkable, thank you so much ! Your word counts, for many people are going to take your word for true.
Let me add a curiosity about water in Rome, my town; tap water is checked more than 50 times every week by a dedicated lab located next to the Piramide in Ostiense district and therefore public fountains including the monument fountains are all part of the same safe water network, sometimes even offering mineral quality, digestive water. Congratulations for your steady progress in Italian as well as for your very honest account! Great job!

[FranTizUndici]

I'm italian and i live in Italy, your analisys it's very accurate!
Good job. 👍
One thing: Trattorie and Osterie have usually bigger portions and sometimes food it's better than in expensive restaurants. 😉