Italian Restaurant Vocabulary and Useful Phrases

Traveling to Italy and want to enjoy its world-famous cuisine without any confusion when ordering? In this practical guide, you will find the most important Italian restaurant vocabulary and essential survival phrases to reserve a table, order your favorite dishes and ask for the bill correctly.

Listen to the attached audio recordings to perfect your pronunciation before sitting down to eat.
Buon appetito!

If you want to learn real Italian, you can find a teacher suitable to your needs in the list of native Itailan tutors via videoconference. This is the best way to immerse into the Italian language and culture.

 

Essential words at the restaurant

m = maschile f = femminile

 

Useful Phrases to survive at the restaurant

1. Arriving at the restaurant (Al ristorante)

• Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due persone per stasera.
  I would like to reserve a table for two people for tonight.
• Abbiamo una prenotazione a nome di...
  We have a reservation under the name of...
• Un tavolo per quattro, per favore.
  A table for four, please.
• Possiamo sederci fuori / dentro?
  May we sit outside / inside?

2. Ordering your meal (Ordinare il cibo)

• Il menu, per favore.
  The menu, please.
• Siete pronti per ordinare?
  Are you ready to order?
• Cosa ci consiglia?
  What do you recommend?
• Qual è il piatto del giorno?
  What is the daily special?
• Per me, come primo / secondo, ...
  For me, as a first / second course, ...

3. Ordering the drinks (Ordinare le bevande)

• Da bere, un litro di vino della casa.
  To drink, a liter of house wine.
• Una bottiglia di acqua frizzante / naturale.
  A bottle of sparkling / still water.
• Vorrei una birra, per favore.
  I would like a beer, please.

4. Dietary restrictions (Restrizioni alimentari)

• Sono vegetariano / vegano.
  I am a vegetariano / vegan.
• Sono celiaco. Avete piatti senza glutine?
  I am celiac. Do you have gluten-free dishes?
• Sono intollerante al lattosio.
  I am intolerant to lactose.
• Questo piatto contiene lattosio / noci?
  Does this dish contain lactose / nuts?

5. Requesting the bill (Chiedere il conto)

• Il conto, per favore.
  The bill, please.
• Possiamo pagare separatamente?
  Can we pay separately?
• Possiamo pagare alla romana?
  Can we divide the total in equal parts?
• Accettate carte di credito?
  Do you accept credit cards?
• Grazie. Tenga il resto.
  Thank you. Keep the change.

 

Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ)

What does "il coperto" mean on an Italian restaurant bill?

The coperto is a fixed cover charge per person (usually between 1.50 and 3 euros) applied by almost all sit-down restaurants in Italy. It covers the table setup, cutlery, tablecloth and the bread served at the beginning. It is completely legal and mandatory to pay if you dine in.

How are the courses structured in a traditional Italian meal?

Unlike many other countries, a formal Italian meal is split into multiple courses: antipasto (appetizer), primo piatto (first course like pasta, risotto, or soup), secondo piatto (second course like meat or fish) accompanied by a contorno (side dish), and finally the dolce (dessert).

How do you order sparkling or still water in Italian?

To order still or tap-style bottled water, ask for acqua naturale (or acqua liscia). If you prefer carbonated or sparkling water, you should ask for acqua frizzante (or acqua gassata).

Is tipping mandatory in restaurants in Italy?

No, tipping in Italy is not mandatory nor is it calculated as a mandatory fixed percentage. Since table service is already included by the coperto, leaving a tip (la mancia) is voluntary to reward exceptional service. Leaving a few coins or rounding up the bill is standard.

 

Related Vocabulary

To supplement your learning (and ensure a flawless trip from start to finish), don't miss our other thematic vocabulary guides with audio:

• Restaurant Vocabulary in Italian with images
• Food in Italian with images
• Airport Vocabulary in Italian
• Hotel Vocabulary in Italian
• Means of Transport in Italian

 

<<<< Vocabulary Lists by Topic

Recommended books (Ad)