Italia Travel
- Pasta Girl
- Jun 6, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
Helpful information and food rules
To stroll through Italian cities is amazing. For me, it feels like Disneyland! I adore absorbing all the scents, the people, the restaurants, shops, and architecture.
Stay away from restaurants that have red-and-white checkered tablecloths. Some Italian restaurant owners think it attracts American tourists and that the food must be authentic and good, but that's not always the case.
Business hours:
Most stores and restaurants, especially in smaller villages, close for pranzo (lunch) from 12:30–4:00 p.m. So make sure you sit down for lunch before 12:30, or you will likely have to wait until they resume serving at 4:00 p.m. Typically, Italians begin to eat cena (dinner) around 8:00 p.m. They can usually tell if someone is a foreigner and may want to sit down and eat earlier.
Tipping
There is no tipping culture like in America. However, if you choose to leave a small tip, it will be appreciated. Taxes are included in the prices you see on the menu. If something costs 25 euros, you pay exactly 25 euros for it.
Il Café Bar:
The word "Bar" indicates more of a breakfast-mid-day place to stop, usually just for coffee, small pastries and panini (sandwiches). Standing at the bar and having a quick caffè or bite to eat is standard from morning to evening. It's customary to order at the register, pay, present your receipt to the barista, and enjoy your beverage or snack while standing at the bar. However, avoid ordering a cappuccino after 11:00 am. It is considered a huge no- no!
Coperto:
A cover charge, often encountered in European restaurants, is a per-person fee covering items placed on the table for general consumption. This typically includes things like bread, oil, salt, or other accompaniments. Expect to pay approximately €1.00-€1.50 per person specifically for the bread component of this charge.
Do not's!
When dining in Italy, avoid ordering dishes like Caesar salad, fettuccine Alfredo, spaghetti with meatballs, or pizzas with BBQ chicken or pineapple and ham, as these are not authentic Italian dishes.
Additionally, refrain from using a spoon to twirl spaghetti, as this is an American practice. Sprinkling Parmigiano cheese on fish is considered a culinary blunder because it overpowers the delicate flavor of the fish.
Finally, it is uncommon to ask for "doggie bags" in Italy; the expectation is to finish your meal at the restaurant.
Useful words and phrases:
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:
Delizioso: Delicious!
Buonssimo! Very good!
Ottimo! Excellent!
Al bacio! Perfect, excellent, exquisite!
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