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Italy is the land of food and while you are there you should try to eat like an Italian. In Italy you don’t only eat to get full, but food carries meaning and history, and above all, is embedded in the way of being in a community. Italians really do spend time savoring their food and drinks, as well as their time around the table. They are generally not fans of rules but when it’s about food, it’s absolutely quintessential. At least according to them. If you don’t want to get condescending looks from the waiter, there are some things you should consider when eating out in Italy. Continue reading, and you’ll be eating like an Italian in no time. 

Things to know to eat like an Italian in Italy

Different types of establishments

Ristorante, Trattoria, Osteria, Enoteca, Bar, Café or Pizzeria? Yes, there are many different types of food establishments in Italy and you can’t expect the same type of food, experience, and service at all of these. Learning what to expect from different establishments is a good start to learning how to eat like an Italian.

Trattorias, Ristorantes and Osterias are sit-down restaurants where you can order several different dishes. Generally, sit-down you are actually expected to order at least two dishes, and to be honest, if you are in Italy you definitely should. Some years ago the ristorante used to be a more elegant and expensive establishment to eat at than a Trattoria or an Osteria, but nowadays these are generally in the same range and style. 

An Enoteca is however a sit-down place where it is okay to only order one dish. The menu of an Enoteca is more limited and typical things you can find there is a selection of cheese, cured meats, salads, and desserts but sometimes also soups and pasta dishes. A Pizzeria is very similar, as you actually only can order one type of dish there (mostly).

Bars, cafés, and pizza al taglio shops are the most inexpensive places to get a quick bite and these establishments usually offer less seating if any at all. A bar in Italy is where you order a quick coffee and a bite to eat, which is what we non-Italians would call a café. The difference between a bar and a café in Italy is that cafés offer more seating and bars more often serve alcohol. You would actually want to avoid sitting down at a bar as the prices often double when you do so. Pizza al taglio shops are where you can order a pizza by weight which you are supposed to eat on the go. Just point out which kind you want, how much of it, and then get out of there. 

Meal times and restaurant hours

Italians have a bit of a delayed schedule for eating than most western countries. Breakfast is usually served from 7.00 to 10.30, lunch from 12:30 to 2:30, and dinner from 7:30 to 10:00. You will find most restaurants full at 1.30 for lunch and around 9.00 in the evening so avoid these peak hours if you want a more relaxing meal. Restaurants are usually open daily for lunch and dinner, however, they might close in between. Enotecas will have the same opening hours as restaurants but is also usually open in the morning and in the afternoon, so there is where you can get a quick breakfast and snack. Most pizzerias will only open in the evening at around 8.00 and be open until midnight. Pizzeria al taglio shops will most likely be open for lunch as well. Bars and cafés usually have opening hours between 7.00 in the morning to 8.00 or 9.00 at night, some might be open longer. 

How to find a good and traditional restaurant in Italy

There are some tips and tricks to make sure you go to a true traditional restaurant in Italy. If you want to eat like an Italian you don’t want to spend a lot of money on food that isn’t good or authentic. Follow the steps below to make sure you end up at a true Italian restaurant. 

1. The restaurant closes between lunch and dinner. 

Closing between lunch and dinner is an old tradition in Italy. While the restaurant is closed to the customers, the staff gets ready for the evening. During this time the waiters will reset the tables and the chefs will prepare as much as they can before they welcome guests back to the restaurant. 

2. The restaurant will have a short menu

Some people might find this odd but true Italian restaurants only focus on a few selected dishes, to make sure they are as good as they can be. The cooking is also very seasonal in Italy and a menu that changes with the seasons is also good. However, this doesn’t mean that all restaurants with long and set menus are bad. 

3. The menu is not translated into many languages

A true Italian restaurant will not have its menu translated into many different languages. A truly good restaurant will attract its customers through the taste of the food and then the language is not important. 

4. The waiter won’t call for you on the streets

A traditional restaurant will never have a waiter call on you to try their restaurant. As mentioned above, a good restaurant doesn’t need to attract people.

The five Italian courses 

As mentioned before, Italian loves to eat and they can do it for hours if you let them. A full meal in Italy consists of not less than five courses, and even more unofficial ones. Here is a little run-through so you can prepare yourself on how to eat like an Italian.

Aperitivo

This is actually not a course itself but more a pre-meal drink and snack. Aperitivo is actually quite a new custom in Italy if you compare it with other food traditions which are interesting. Aperitivo is generally consumed at a café or bar around 6.00 to 8.00 in the evening. Be aware that how much food you get for Aperitivo can vary between regions. 

#1 Antipasto

This is the first of the five courses and serves as an appetizer course. This is generally your first official course and should be chosen to complement your main course or courses rather than overpowering it with flavor. An antipasto can take shape in many different ways like plated flans, meat/fish carpaccio, cheese and conserves, charcuterie plates, and a rustic selection of bruschetta or crostini.

#2 Primo

The first main course in Italy is always the carbohydrate-heavy one. Here is where you will find both dry and fresh pasta, including stuffed pasta like ravioli or cappelletti, risotto, and gnocchi, as well as grain and legume soups. Don’t be scared though since the size of this course is customized to fit in a several-course dinner, it is therefore not too big or too filling. 

#3 Secondo 

This is the second main course and this one is more focused on protein. On this part of the menu you will find meat, poultry, fish, and seafood dishes. Nowadays, you will also find some vegetarian options here as well since it is more and more adopted in Italy. Also here, portions are a bit smaller so it is very well possible to order several courses. 

#4 Contorno

These are the side dishes that can accompany your second main course. These dishes are almost always vegetables cooked, grilled, or served raw in salads. It can also be roasted or mashed potatoes or a dressed bean salad. 

#5 Dolce

This is the dessert course which can include cakes or pastries, desserts needing a spoon like tiramisù or custards, fruit dressed, plain, or crisp cookies, and vin santo, which is a sweet dessert wine.

Caffé and Digestivo

When you have finished all of that you will be asked if you want a coffee, usually in the form of an espresso or espresso macchiato, and a digestivo, which is a drink to recalibrate digestion after overindulgence. These recipes of herbs, roots, plants, and spices macerated in alcohol were originally intended as healing elixirs, but have come to be used as a help to your stomach. 

Well, as you can see, there is no shortage of courses to eat during a meal in Italy but you should know that you are not obliged to eat a full five-course meal when at a restaurant in Italy. Actually, Italians themselves rarely eat a five-course meal aside from very formal occasions. So feel perfectly free to tailor your order to your hunger and diet. Most commonly, meals tend to be composed of two courses, which can be mixed and matched between the different courses. Also, there is nothing wrong with shifting dishes between their categories. So if you’d rather start your meal with grilled vegetables, then enjoy a pasta dish, then move on to a cheese selection listed with the antipasti, it is totally okay. Waiters are usually very helpful and will help coordinate the dinner with your fellow diners. 

Food norms and habits

Although visitors do not have to eat like an Italian when they travel to Italy, they can try if they wish. If you have an overall understanding of the habits, it can be easier to understand what you will come across when there. Here is a little guide to Italian food habits. 

The typical Italian breakfast 

Breakfast for Italians is usually sweet and very light, so they can save up some space for lunch and dinner. A normal breakfast usually includes a cappuccino, which is a big cup of milk-infused coffee, and a Cornetto, which is a croissant-like pastry with filling. Breakfast is often eaten at a bar where they rarely even sit down, or at home. 

The typical Italian lunch

Lunch for Italians is supposed to be the most sustaining meal of the day and Italians often prefer a full sit-down and full-cooked meal. If not in a rush, Italians sit down and enjoy their lunch for at least an hour, either at home or in a restaurant or bar. A traditional Italian lunch actually includes all five courses, but this is not as common in modern Italy today. However, they do like to have several courses and time seems to pass by too fast.

The typical Italian dinner

Italian dinner is another time that Italians enjoy sitting down together and socializing. However, the meal is not as filling as the lunch but is often just the right amount to keep you full during the night. A typical dinner might include soup, cold cuts, or a small plate of pasta, served with vegetables and a small piece of cheese. A reason why they can keep dinner this light is the Aperitivo that is enjoyed before dinner. 

Coffee culture

Drinking coffee in Italy should be done in the right way. Yes, Italians have a very strict culture for drinking coffee and if you don’t follow these unwritten rules you will for sure get a frown look from your waiter and surroundings. In the morning, which is until 11.00, you should order a cappuccino, which is a bigger cup of coffee. This coffee is actually only accepted to order during breakfast, as bigger cups of coffee kind of are forbidden to drink after 11.00. The coffee you usually order after noon is espresso, cafe macchiato, or other smaller coffees, preferably without milk. The coffee you order for breakfast is also okay to drink during the meal, which you shouldn’t do any other time of the day. After 11.00 you should only drink coffee after your meal is finished, this means even after dessert. 

Unofficial Italian food rules to follow

Reserve a table 

I always recommend that you reserve a table, whether for lunch or dinner. Most Italian restaurants, especially in summer, can get busy. Book your table in advance, either online if possible, or by calling the restaurant. Be aware that the staff in many restaurants unfortunately might not speak English. Try to learn the phrases for booking a table and do your best, they will for sure appreciate it. If talking over the phone feels intimidating or even impossible, then just walk up to the place earlier that day or some days earlier. In-person, your body language can help you understand each other. Nowadays most restaurants are connected to an app where you can book a table as well. The Fork, Quandoo, Resdiary, and Opentable are the most used ones. Arriving late is tolerated, but not over 20 minutes — drop a call to let the restaurant know if you are running late. 

Never drink only alcohol

Do only order alcoholic drinks with your meal. Italians do not have a culture of sipping cocktails or chugging pitchers of beer. Drinking heavily in public is not a part of Italian culture but instead you should savor your alcoholic drink with a good meal. Wine is the most ordered drink and house wine is always a good bet. 

Always ask for recommendations

Do ask your waiter for their recommendations on local specialties. Waiters in Italy put great stress on the quality of your meal and will happily guide you through the local specialties.  

Ask for the check

Do ask for the check when you’re ready for it. Italian servers think it’s rude to rush you from the table, so it could be hours before they do. Politely call on the waiter when you feel ready to leave. 

Tip or not?

Do leave a small tip. Leaving a tip for the waiter is not compulsory, as service can be included in the price, but it is a nice gesture, especially if the waiter was particularly friendly and helpful. Look for servizio on the bill and if you can find it, you don’t have to tip. If you can’t find it or if you decide to leave a tip anyway, always leave cash and never tip more than 10% of the bill. Adding up to an even number is totally okay and is very common in Italy. 

Get used to coperta

Coperta is a cover charge that every restaurant in Italy charges the customers. It’s essentially the cost for them to offer bread for free and do your dishes. If there is a sign outside that says“No cover charge” this is for sure a tourist trap. 

No sugary drinks with your meal

Don’t order a soda for your meal if you want to eat like a true Italian. Italians rarely drink soda as it takes too much attention away from the food. Order water, wine, or beer instead. 

Bottled water, please!

Don’t order a bottle of tap water for your meal. Although the water in Italy is totally drinkable, the custom is to never order it at a restaurant. Order either normal bottled water or sparkling water.

No cutting the pasta

Don’t cut your pasta with a knife. You are supposed to twirl the pasta around your fork, preferably with the help of the side of the plate. If you can’t seem to get any pasta on your fork it is okay to use a spoon to spin it on. Just be aware that in Italy only children use the spoon as an aid. 

Never ask for salt

In Italy, many consider it rude to ask for salt or any spices for that matter. The chef is always right and if you think it tastes too little, that is how it is supposed to be. Remember that Italians cook very simple food with a focus on quality ingredients. 

Bread is included in the dish 

Don’t butter your bread. Instead, eat it with your meal and use it to sop up leftover marinara. This is called fare la scarpetta and is actually a sign of appreciation, not bad manners. The bread that you are offered will be charged on the bill as pane e coperto and this is very common in Italy, even Italians pay for bread. The price for bread is often charged per head as you are expected to eat it with your meal since it is a staple in Italian cuisine. So since you are being charged for it anyway, make sure you eat it!

Don’t put Parmigiano everywhere 

Parmigiano should not be added to pasta dishes with seafood, pizzas, or salads. If the waiter doesn’t offer or bring you Parmigiano, it means that it isn’t necessary with your dish. 

Be careful slurping your spaghetti

Italians cook with their hearts and combine fine ingredients into a dish and it should be eaten with respect. Always have good etiquette in the restaurant. 

Don’t ask for a doggy bag

Unfortunately taking your food home is a little bit taboo in Italy which is a bit sad for the environment. However, with the extensive menus and several courses to choose from you have all prerequisites to order the right amount of food that you can handle.

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Of course, all information listed above is just tips. If you want to cut your pasta or drink a cappuccino in the afternoon there is nothing stopping you. After all, you are a tourist. But do it at your own risk and expect some frown faces or salty comments. I hope this guide at least gave you some points to consider for your first meal experience in Italy and that you feel more confident in how to eat like an Italian.

If you want some more tips about road-tripping Italy, read this post.

Enjoy your time in Italy!

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