It’s not a secret that one of the most compelling reasons why people from all over the world come to Italy is the amazing food. It’s adored just as much as priceless artworks, top fashion houses, gorgeous luxury cars, and the world-famous Italian band Måneskin, and the simple act of dining out in Italy can easily be the highlight of one’s day. However, it can also be surprisingly tricky, as this country has a few unique rules and restaurant fees that not everyone is aware of.
Tips on Dining Out in Italy
Prepare to Enjoy Late Dinners
One of the first things you need to know about eating out in Italy is that dinner in this wonderful country starts late. The crowds in restaurants usually begin to gather around 8 or 9 in the evening (and even later in the summer when the weather is calling for a nice evening out on a terrace of some cozy little place with a glass of wine). Many restaurants close after lunch and open again for dinner at about 7.30 PM, so you need to keep that in mind when making dinner plans. The pizzerias usually open a bit earlier, but not by much.
And if you see a restaurant that is open all day long right next to a famous sight, be careful. The thing is that a lot of restaurants, scattered around the most popular piazzas and sights and aimed specifically at tourists, work throughout the day. But they leave a lot to be desired in terms of food and service, and the prices are often higher than the quality justifies. Other signs of a tourist trap are a host standing outside the door and inviting you to come in, a special “tourist menu”, or big signs in English promising no service charge.
Know What You Do and Don’t Need to Pay for in a Restaurant
Let’s start with the bread. A waiter will bring a basket to your table almost immediately after you are seated. It’s not a gift from the restaurant: most restaurants charge a coperto, a cover charge per person for the bread, the tablecloth and the service, usually 1–3 euros. It is perfectly legal as long as it’s written on the menu (in Lazio, the region of Rome, it is officially banned, so there you may see bread charged separately instead). Declining the bread usually doesn’t remove the coperto. Water doesn’t come free either: Italians usually order bottled water, still (naturale) or sparkling (frizzante), and not every restaurant serves tap water.
If you have a food allergy or any other dietary restrictions, tell the waiter before you order. By EU law, restaurants must be able to tell you which of the 14 main allergens (including peanuts, nuts, gluten and milk) are in each dish, so don’t hesitate to ask for the allergen list. Or, ideally, ask about the menu when you make the reservation, as it might turn out that another place suits you better.
If your waiter asks if you would like an appetizer for the table, don’t just blindly agree. It’s much better to order from the menu rather than allow your server to decide for you, as sometimes the food they choose might turn out to be neither to your taste nor within your budget.
Another thing to keep in mind is that fish is usually charged by weight in Italy, so the prices listed on the menu are almost never a total. Make sure to double check with your server; otherwise, you risk spending more than you planned.
And, finally, if you order a digestivo after the meal, it will go on your bill, but if the waiter offers you one, often a glass of limoncello, it is usually on the house.
Tips About Tips
If you see servizio on your bill, know that it’s a service charge. If the menu didn’t say anything about the service charge being included (make sure to check the annoying small print at the bottom of the pages), you can politely ask to remove it and decide on the tip yourself. If the included service charge is legit, that is, one the menu mentions, keep in mind that this is the tip and you don’t need to pay anything on top.
If there is no service charge on the bill, you are welcome to leave the tip of your choice. Choosing not to leave any is a valid option, but if you decide to show your appreciation for the service, it’s customary to leave a few euros or just round up the bill as locals often do.
Bars in Italy
What Italians call a bar, the rest of the world would more likely describe as a cafe. It’s a great place to visit if you want a cup of coffee or a snack at any time of day. What you need to know is that you will have to pay extra (often twice as much, and even more on famous squares!) if you sit down at the table. That’s why locals prefer to drink their coffee quickly while standing at the bar. If your legs are tired, and you feel like a kidney is not too much of a price for a place to sit down for a minute, feel free to check out the prices. You will likely see two columns: banco and tavolo. The tavolo price is the one that includes the cost of sitting at the table.
How to Find the Best Gelato
Gelato is a must in Italy, even if you are visiting in the middle of winter. It’s just that good. Look for gelaterie with a sign saying produzione propria or artigianale, as it means that the heavenly treat is made on site with natural ingredients. If you don’t feel like searching the walls for signs that might or might not be there, there is a simpler way: just look at the gelato. Mountains of gelato piled high and bright, neon colors usually mean additives and food coloring. Look for a place where the gelato is kept flat in its tubs, often in covered steel containers, where pistachio is a muted olive green and mint is pale instead of neon green, as it’s a sign that it probably has no artificial colors or flavors.
Where to Look for Pasta Bolognese
We have no doubt that you have heard about spaghetti bolognese, served all over the world with a rich meat and tomato sauce. Well, in Bologna you won’t find it on the menu, except in places offering the tourist menus we’ve mentioned above. If you feel like enjoying pasta with a richly flavored meat sauce, go for tagliatelle al ragù, the dish the rest of the world knows as pasta bolognese. The official recipe, registered by the Italian Academy of Cuisine, uses beef, pancetta, onion, carrot, celery, tomato, wine and, if you like, a little milk, slowly cooked for hours, and no garlic at all. Every region of Italy has its own ragù, and all of them are delicious, but Bologna is the place to go if you are after the truly authentic experience.
Now you have some guidance on the basic dos and don’ts of eating in Italy and are all set to enjoy its terrific culinary scene. And if you want to take a deep dive into the exciting world of Italian cuisine, we will be happy to put together a food tour to Italy tailored to your needs and wishes.
