Italia Travel

Helpful information and food rules

To walk around these cities is incredible, for me it’s like Disneyland! I love to take in all the smells, the people, shops and the architecture.

As far as restaurants, there is a saying in Italia: Stay away from Ristorante that have red and white checkered table cloths. Restaurant owners think it attracts American Tourists so the food must be authentic and good, but it’s not always true.

Business hours:

• For majority of stores and restaurants especially in smaller villages they are closed for Pronzo (Lunch) from 12:30-4p.m. So make sure you eat your lunch before 12:30 or you will probably have to wait until they start serving again when they open at 4pm.

• Typically Italians start to eat Cena (dinner) about 8pm. They usually know a foreigner if they want to sit down and eat earlier.

Tipping: 

• No tipping like America. However, if you want to leave a small tip it will be appreciated. Tax is built into the prices that you see. If something cost 25 euro, then you pay exactly 25 euro for it.

Il Café Bar:  

• The word “Bar” is more of a breakfast and evening place to stop with usually just coffee and small pastries and panino, sandwiches.

• Do not tip for coffee at the bar. The custom is standing at the bar, but if you sit down at the bar or a small table the prices will vary.

  
  

No Cappuccino after lunch or dinner. Ordering milk after breakfast time is a huge no-no!

Coperto: A cover charge, and not a tip for which pays for the items at the table, like bread, oil and salt or anything that you might be using.

Do not order: Caesar Salad, fettuccine Alfredo, spaghetti with meatballs, pizza with BBQ chicken or pineapple and ham. None of these exist in Italy.

Sprinkling Parmigiano? On your fish or pizza is considered a deadly sin!

Pane: (Bread) Expect to pay 1-1.50 per person for bread.

No doggie bags. Only Americans ask for food to go. Mangia Tutti!!

No eating spaghetti with a fork and a spoon!  This is an American thing!

Useful words and phrases:

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Ciao! Hello, Bye! Informal

Graize: (GRaTSee-a) Thank you

Prego: Your welcome or please 

Buongiorno: Good morning

Buonasera: Good evening

Arrivederci! Goodbye: See you later (more formal)

Piacere: my pleasure, pleased to meet you, please

Scusa, Excuse me, Scusi (more formal)

Mi Chiamo: My name is…

Aiuta- Help me!

Dove’ e’?  (Where is?): Il Bagno: bathroom, IL traino stazione

Vorrei: I would like….. un caffe’, bottiglia d’acqua ( glass of water), bicchiere di vino (glass of wine)

Un po’ (a little)

IL conto per favore: the bill please

Basta grazie: Enough, thank you

Cosa significa? What does something mean

Allora: Multiple meanings: Then, Now, Uhm, Uh are most common.

Non lo so: I don’t know

Pazzo: A Crazy person!

Words of Delight:

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Delizioso: Delicious!

Buonssimo! Very good!

Ottimo!  Excellent!

Al bacio! Perfect, excellent, exquisite!