How to order food at the restaurant in Italian

In this lesson you will learn some useful phrases to order food at the restaurant.

At the restaurant: getting a table

When you enter an Italian restaurant, make sure to use the right Greeting first.
The following sentences can help you when it comes to getting a table.

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Ordering food and drinks in Italian

Il cameriere (The waiter) or La cameriera (the waitress) will now take your order.

If you are ready to order, just say your order introduced by Vorrei...(I would like) or Per me...(For me) or Io prendo...(I'll have) and the Food or drink you want.
Don't forget to politely add per favore (please)!

If you aren't ready yet, these sentences can be useful.

Useful words at the restaurant (fork, spoon, glass, salt, pepper)

The next set of sentences can be useful while you eat.

The following words can be useful at the restaurant.

Asking for the bill in Italian

You're finished with your meal and it's time to pay.
Use the following sentences.

Menu of an Italian restaurant

At the restaurant or on special occasions, like on Chirstmas or Easter, this menù is followed.

1. L'antipasto (Starter): something light to start the meal;
2. Il primo (First dish): it's always pasta or something similar, like lasagne;
3. Il secondo: (Second dish): it could be compared to the Main Dish in English, as it includes meat and vegetables;
4. La frutta (Fruit);
5. Il dolce (Dessert);
6. Il caffé (Coffee);
7. Il digestivo (The digestif): a liquor to end the meal.

Another important Italian tradition is l'aperitivo (happy hour) before lunch and especially before dinner, from 6 to 8 pm.
The most important drinks are Spritz, Martini, and white and red wines. They are usually served with some chips, popcorns, olives, little sandwiches, little pizzas.

To know more about Italian food, visit our page: Food names in Italian.

Daily dialogue

Take a look at the following dialogues.

Dialogue 1

Dialogue 2

Dialogue 3