A culture trip: How to order food in Italian
![](https://preply.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/How-to-order-food-in-italian-820x470.png)
You don’t need to go to Italy to know that Italians take their food very seriously. But if you do travel or move to Italy, you’ll come to understand just how inextricably linked Italian cuisine is to their way of life.
Every dish is a creation, every meal is an event – and discussions about food are an enjoyable part of everyday life. The disputes over pizza toppings and the appropriate time to drink a cappuccino are well documented, after all.
So, when learning the Italian language, you’re going to need to know your way around these rules and rituals, so you can order food with confidence – and without offending the locals.
From the first pastry in the morning, until the last digestivo at night, here’s a day in the life of an Italian foodie!
Colazione (Breakfast)
If you’re after a cooked breakfast (‘colazione all’inglese’), think again. While you’re sure to find brunch style options in most Italian cities, you’d be breaking from tradition.
The most common Italian breakfast is a quick affair, usually consumed standing at the counter of the local bar and featuring coffee, in all its glorious forms:
- Un caffè – if you don’t specify otherwise, coffee is an espresso.
- (Un caffè) macchiato – literally ‘stained’ (with milk), this is an espresso with a dash of frothy milk.
- (Un caffè) macchiato freddo – the same, but with cold milk, if you’re not a fan of the froth!
- Un cappuccino – you know what this is, but where does the name come from? It’s the diminutive of ‘cappuccio’, which means ‘hood’. But, the name actually refers to the color of the hooded robes worn by monks and nuns of the Capuchin order.
Un caffè americano– forget it!- Un caffè corretto – this is espresso ‘corrected’ with a glug of strong licor, usually grappa. Not an advisable choice for breakfast!
Ordering coffee in Italian is fairly straightforward, but you have a few options:
More formal: “Vorrei un caffè…”
More frequent: “Un caffè, per favore…”
Then you’ll need to specify whether you want it “con o senza zucchero” (with or without sugar).
Generally speaking, English speakers overdo the pleases and thank yous. It’s not that Italians are rude, they just express formality in other ways. If you get tired of “per favore” (please), you can always throw in a “per piacere,” which does the same job.
At home Italians tend to have something sweet with their morning coffee. Milk and biscuits or, the family favorite, nutella on bread.
If they’re having breakfast al bar, they’ll usually go for a cornetto semplice (a plain croissant), or a cornetto alla marmellata, alla crema o al cioccolato (a jam, custard or chocolate croissant).
Pranzo (Lunch)
Now, let’s explore some Italian restaurant phrases to make sure you get a proper lunch. You should remember that not every Italian lunch is a medieval banquet. But lunch is certainly considered the most important meal of the day. And on special occasions it’s easy to lose track of the number of courses.
Ragazzi, a tavola! (People, to the table!)
Antipasto: Italian appetizers
It all starts with the antipasto. Don’t get this mixed up with “pasta”. The word “pasto’” simply means “meal”. So, antipasto is something that comes before the meal.
These appetizers can take on many different forms, but here are a few classics to look out for when ordering in an Italian restaurant:
- sottaceti – a selection of pickle vegetables (e.g. olives or gherkins)
- affettati misti – a mix of cold meats (‘salumi’) and cheeses (’formaggi’)
- zucchine ripiene – stuffed zucchini
- bruschette – Tuscan toasted bread with delicious toppings
- zuppa – soup, especially in the winter months
Primi piatti: First course
Now, it’s time for the real meal to begin! We’re going to learn how to order spaghetti in Italian, among other types of pasta and rice.
The primi piatti (first course dishes) are the big hitters of Italian cuisine. We’re talking pasta, gnocchi, risotto, polenta, etc.
The next fundamental rule: order the right sauce for the right type of pasta. Here’s your quick guide of pasta sauce combinations:
Category of pasta | Type of sauce |
Rods (e.g. spaghetti and linguine) | Oily, tomato-based sauces (e.g. salsa napolitana). |
Ribbons (e.g. pappardelle) | Something heavy like a creamy mushroom sauce. |
Tubes (e.g. penne and rigatoni) | Hearty, thick sauces (e.g. ragú) to fill the crevices. |
Gnocchi | Cheese works well – gorgonzola e noci is a firm favorite! |
If in doubt check out recipes on Giallo Zafferano. This is the absolute reference for Italian cooking. If you don’t find it there, it’s not a recognized dish!
Secondi: Main course
On to the secondi (main course dishes). Here you’ll find different types of meat or fish dishes. Depending on the region and the season, they might be grilled, roasted or in a stew. Thankfully, these are usually quite simple dishes, with moderate portions. They typically come with a contorno (side dish) of vegetables or potatoes.
Dolce: Dessert
Of course, no meal is complete with a dolce (sweet, dessert). Regulars on the menu are panna cotta, literally “cooked cream”, and tiramisu, which actually means “pick me up!” due to the coffee-soaked biscuits it contains.
Another coffee and you’re on your way. But, remember – no cappuccini after midday, or the waiters will be laughing at you in the kitchen!
Merenda (Mid-afternoon snack)
Italians aren’t big snackers. They tend to save themselves for the serious business of lunch and dinner. That said, there’s nothing stopping you having something in your bag for emergencies. Frutta fresca (fresh fruit), frutta secca (dried fruit and nuts), semi di girasole (sunflower seeds).
If that all sounds a little too healthy, you always have gelato. The first question you’ll hear when ordering an ice-cream is cono o coppetta (cone or tub) followed by quante palline (how many scoops?)
Aperitivo: Aperitif
You’re going for dinner with friends, but you decide to kick things off with a pre-dinner drink. Dai, facciamo un aperitivo! (Come on, let’s have an aperitif!)
The etiquette changes from city to city, but a glass of wine, prosecco or a spritz are all safe bets for your aperitivo. This will invariably come with olives, crisps or nuts to tempt you into ordering a second glass.
In the big university cities, like Turin or Bologna, the aperitivo has become an elaborate affair. Some bars put on vast buffets of finger food, making it a cheap alternative to dinner for their clientele of cash-strapped students.
Cena (Dinner)
Formal dinners follow pretty much the same structure as lunch. More often than not though, you’ll be spared the high-carb first courses and go straight to the secondi. Of course, a popular alternative is pizza!
When ordering in a pizzeria, the menu is normally split into pizze rosse (with tomato sauce) and pizze bianche (without). Both are delicious, but ordering a pizza bianca by mistake can lead to severe disappointment.
While wine is present at most dinners, beer is usually the drink of choice when going for pizza. There’s a thriving craft beer scene across Italy, so I’d always recommend something local. But for mainstream options, look no further than Ichnusa, originally from Sardinia, or Menabrea, from Piedmont.
Digestivo: After dinner drink
The perfect way to finish off a day of restaurant hopping? A digestivo. This is a glass of grappa, amaro, limoncello or other fruity/herby liqueur to ease the digestive process.
With a full stomach and a glass of something cold, this is the perfect moment to break the language barrier and practice your Italian.
For real fluency, you need to learn from real Italian speakers, so why not take the plunge? Check out our talented tutors on Preply to learn Italian online.
Next article
![](https://preply.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Basic-italian-words-and-phrases-384x256.png)
90+ Basic Italian Words and Phrases Every Tourist Needs
Starting to learn Italian language? Check this list of 90+ basic Italian phrases for any situation, and feel comfortable with the locals. Common words for greetings, shopping, airport and more.
Previous article
![](https://preply.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/thank-you-in-italian.jpg)
13 Ways to Say Thank You in Italian
We discuss the many Italian phrases you can use to express your thanks in different situations and for different reasons.