At the Restaurant
Italian cuisine needs no introduction. Here's how to order your first proper Italian meal.
The Italian meal
A traditional Italian meal has a specific order:
- L'antipasto — appetizer (bruschetta, cold cuts, etc.)
- Il primo — first course (pasta, risotto, or soup)
- Il secondo — second course (meat or fish)
- Il contorno — side dish (vegetables, salad)
- Il dolce — dessert
- Il caffè — espresso (always last, never with the meal)
You don't have to order all courses — un primo e un dolce is perfectly normal.
Restaurant vocabulary
| Italiano | English |
|---|---|
| Un tavolo per due, per favore. | A table for two, please. |
| Il menù / La carta | The menu |
| Cosa consiglia? | What do you recommend? |
| Il piatto del giorno | Today's special |
| Per me, la pasta. | For me, the pasta. |
| Vorrei un bicchiere di vino rosso. | I'd like a glass of red wine. |
| Il conto, per favore. | The bill, please. |
Dietary needs
| Italiano | English |
|---|---|
| Sono vegetariano/a. | I'm vegetarian. |
| Sono allergico/a a… | I'm allergic to… |
| Senza glutine | Gluten-free |
| È piccante? | Is it spicy? |
Tipping
In Italy, you may see coperto (cover charge, €1–3 per person) on the bill — this is normal and legal. Tipping beyond the coperto is not expected, but rounding up is appreciated.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below to mark this chapter as read.
What is "il primo" in an Italian meal?
How do you ask for the bill?
"Il piatto del giorno" means ___.
Complete: Cosa ___?
What is "coperto" in an Italian restaurant?
How do you say "I'm vegetarian" (feminine) in Italian?