Italian phrases for the restaurant
An Italian meal has a shape: antipasto, primo, secondo with a contorno, then dolce and un caffè. You do not have to order all of it, but knowing the shape makes the menu, and the waiter’s questions, much easier to follow.
These are the phrases for the whole evening, from asking for a table to asking for the bill, grouped in the order you will need them.
Getting a table
- Buonasera.Good evening
- Avete un tavolo per stasera?Do you have a table for tonight?
- Vorrei un tavolo per due.I'd like a table for two
- Ho prenotato per le otto.I've booked for eight
- Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per quattro persone, per favore.I'd like to book a table for four people, please
- C'è un tavolo libero fuori?Is there a free table outside?
- Il menù, per favore.The menu, please
Ordering, course by course
- Cosa mi consiglia?What do you recommend?
- Qual è il piatto del giorno?What's the dish of the day?
- Avete qualcosa di tipico della zona?Do you have anything typical of the area?
- Per antipasto, i crostini.For the starter, the crostini
- Come primo, il risotto.For the first course, the risotto
- Di secondo, il pesce.For the main course, the fish
- Un contorno di patate.A side of potatoes
- Solo un primo, grazie.Just a first course, thanks
- Per dolce, il tiramisù.For dessert, the tiramisù
- Acqua naturale o frizzante?Still or sparkling water?
Allergies and preferences
- Sono vegetariano.I'm vegetarian
- Non mangio carne.I don't eat meat
- Sono allergico alle noci.I'm allergic to nuts
- Sono intollerante al glutine.I'm gluten intolerant
- Contiene uova?Does it contain eggs?
- Senza cipolla, per favore.No onion, please
- È piccante?Is it spicy?
What the waiter says
- Avete deciso?Have you decided?
- Ancora un minuto, per favore.One more minute, please
- Qualcosa da bere intanto?Something to drink in the meantime?
- La cottura, come la preferisce?How would you like it cooked?
- Tutto a posto qui?Everything all right here?
- Prendete un caffè?Will you have a coffee?
The bill
- Il conto, per favore.The bill, please
- Il coperto è incluso?Is the cover charge included?
- Potremmo avere conti separati?Could we have separate bills?
- Si può pagare con la carta?Can I pay by card?
- Il conto non è giusto.The bill isn't right
- Era tutto squisito.Everything was exquisite
You choose how many courses
Nobody expects four courses. A primo on its own, or a secondo with a contorno, is a normal meal. Solo un primo, grazie says exactly that. Side dishes are ordered separately: a secondo of meat or fish usually arrives on its own.
The bill waits for you
Rushing a table is thought rude, so the bill does not arrive until you ask for it. Catch the waiter’s eye and say il conto, per favore. The coperto on the bill is a cover charge per person for bread and the table, and it is normal.
Say an allergy plainly
Sono allergico alle noci (allergica if you are a woman) is clear and taken seriously. Intollerante is the word for an intolerance, like gluten or lactose. Restaurants in Italy must be able to tell you the allergens in each dish, so it is fine to ask.
Biglietto · Try it
What does it mean?
Question 1 of 5: Il conto, per favore.
Verba prints lessons like these as train tickets out of Florence, and Selene, its AI tutor, talks them through with you out loud.
