How to Order Food in Italian: The ONLY 20 Italian Phrases You Need (FREE PDF 📚)

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Knowing how to order food in Italian is one of those skills that can make all the difference when dining in Italy. Whether you’re dreaming of twirling your fork into a plate of spaghetti or savouring a nice Neapolitan pizza, eating out in Italy is nothing short of an experience. But if you’re not quite sure how to interact with the waitstaff, you will only partly enjoy it.

So, to help you avoid the awkwardness of pointing at the menu and hoping for the best, in this guide I’ll walk you through 20 must-know Italian phrases for ordering food in Italian with confidence. From addressing food allergies to asking for the bill, these phrases are simple, practical, and will help you enjoy your meal like a local, not just a hungry tourist.

As always, we’re going to use my 80/20 method and approach to learning Italian. That means, we’ll focus on the top 20% of vocabulary you’ll need 80% of the time, so you won’t waste any time learning what you don’t need! Iniziamo! (Let’s get started!)

But first, make sure to download your free PDF cheat-sheet, which includes everything we’ll cover in this guide. Just enter your email below and I’ll send it to you straight away.

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Table to Contents

Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide. Click on any title to jump to each section.

• Basic Italian Restaurant vocabulary
• How to book a table in the restaurant in Italian
• How to order food in Italian
• Sample dialogue

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Watch this lesson on my YouTube channel

First, we’ll cover the key vocabulary you’ll need at a restaurant. Then, we’ll look at the main steps of dining out and learn the basic phrases for each. Then, we will put it all into practice with a real-world short dialogue so you can practice. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to say to enjoy a nice, stress-free meal in Italy!

Basic Italian restaurant vocabulary

Let’s kick things off with an overview of some essential words you’ll hear and use in Italian restaurants:

How to book a table in the restaurant in Italian

When you’re looking to dine in popular restaurants, it’s always a good idea to book a table in advance. You can do this by either walking in or calling ahead. Here’s how you can make a reservation in Italian:

Salve, vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due persone per domani sera.
(SAHL-veh, vohr-RAY preh-noh-TAH-reh oon TAH-voh-loh per DOO-eh per-SOH-neh per doh-MAH-nee SEH-rah)
Hi! I would like to book a table for 2 for tomorrow night.

The waiter will ask: Certo, per che ora? (Sure, what time?), and you can easily respond with per (at) + the time, for instance Per le 8 (At eight). The 12-hour format is the standard for casual conversations in Italian, and since the reservation is for domani sera (tomorrow night), it’s clear when you’re referring to. That said, Italians also use the 24-hour format, which is more formal and commonly used in professional contexts like timetables and travel schedules. If you’re unsure, my guide to telling the time in Italian will come in handy.

If you have any preferences about where you’d like to sit, here’s how to ask:
Posso avere un tavolo fuori / vicino alla finestra?
(POH-soh ah-VEH-reh oon TAH-voh-loh FWOH-ree / vee-CHEE-noh AH-lah fee-NES-trah?)
Can I have a table outside / by the window?

How to order food in Italian

Now it’s time to dive into the delicious part! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the key moments of ordering food, along with the perfect phrases to use.

Step 1: Arriving at the restaurant

Your Italian dining adventure starts the moment you step through the door. If you have a reservation, simply say:

#1 Buonasera, ho prenotato a nome.…
(BWOH-nah-SEH-rah, oh preh-noh-TAH-toh ah NOH-meh…)
Good evening, I have a reservation under the name…

Easy and polite. The host will check the list and respond with something like: Prego, seguitemi (Please, follow me).

If you’re feeling spontaneous and walk in without a reservation, greet the host with:

#2 Buonasera, siamo in due. Avete un tavolo?
(BWOH-nah-SEH-rah, SYAH-moh een DOO-eh. ah-VEH-teh oon TAH-voh-loh?)
Good evening, there are two of us. Is there a table available?

You can adjust the number depending on your group size, for instance:

Siamo in tre – There are three of us
Sono solo io – It’s only me

The staff will likely say: Prego, accomodatevi (Please, have a seat). However, if they’re busy, they might inform you of the wait time with: C’è da aspettare un quarto d’ora (There’s a 15-minute wait) or Ho posto solo tra un’ora (I only have space in an hour).

Tip: When speaking to waitstaff, always use the formal you (Lei) for politeness, unless the server is much younger than you, in which case using the informal tu (you) is generally acceptable and can feel more relaxed.

Step 2: Browsing the menu

Now that you’re seated, it’s time to explore the menu. Italian menus are usually divided into distinct sections: Antipasti (Starters), Primi (First courses, like pasta or rice), Secondi (Second courses, like meat or fish), and Dolci (Desserts). You’ll also find a section called Contorni (Side dishes), which includes things like salads, vegetables or fries. These are listed separately because primi and secondi are typically served on their own, without sides. So, if you’d like vegetables or a salad, you’ll need to order them from the contorni section.

If you’re not sure what something is, don’t hesitate to ask the waiter for a little clarification:

#3 Che cos’è [il lampredotto]?
(keh koh-ZEH eel lahm-preh-DOHT-toh?)
What is the [lampredotto]?

If there’s a dish you’ve heard great things about, but it doesn’t seem to be on the menu, try asking:

#4 Avete [il baccalà]?
(ah-VEH-teh eel bahk-kah-LAH?)
Do you have the [salted codfish]?

And if you’re not sure what to order, Italian waiters are usually more than happy to help you choose the best dishes. Just ask:

#5 Cosa ci consiglia?
(KOH-zah chee con-SEEL-yah?)
What do you recommend?

Or, if you want something typical of the place, try:

#6 Qual è la specialità della casa?
(kwahl EH lah speh-tcha-lee-TAH DEL-lah KAH-zah?)
What’s the house specialty?

Tip: In many restaurants, as soon as you sit down, the waiter will bring you the menu and ask Porto qualcosa da bere intanto? (Shall I bring you something to drink in the meantime?) or Acqua liscia o gassata? (Still or sparkling water?).

You can respond simply with:

• Acqua gassata, grazie. – Sparkling water, please
• Un bicchiere di vino rosso, per favore. – A glass of red wine, please.
• Ancora niente, grazie. – Nothing for now, thank you

Step 3: Inquiring about specific dietary requirements

These days, many restaurants are better at accommodating different dietary needs. You’ll often find menus with symbols indicating opzioni vegetariane (vegetarian options), vegane (vegan) or senza glutine (gluten-free), as well as information about common allergeni (allergens). However, if you have specific intolerances or follow a strict diet, it’s best to double-check with the staff, especially in smaller, traditional spots where menus might not be as up-to-date.

Here are a few phrases to help you ask with confidence:

#7 Avete piatti vegetariani?
(ah-VEH-teh PYAHT-tee veh-jeh-tah-ree-AH-nee?)
Do you have vegetarian dishes?

You can say vegani (vegan), senza glutine (gluten-free), depending on your dietary needs.

#8 Sono intollerante [al lattosio].
(SOH-noh een-toh-leh-RAHN-teh ahl laht-TOH-syoh)
I’m [lactose] intolerant.

You can use this phrase for any intolerance by changing lattosio with anything else you’re intolerant to.

#9 Questo piatto contiene [peperoncino]?
(KWEH-stoh PYAHT-toh kon-TEE-eh-eh peh-peh-rohn-CHEE-noh?)
Does this dish contain [chili pepper]?

This is for when you’re unsure about a dish’s ingredients and want to make sure it’s safe for you.

To make it easier for you to communicate your needs, here’s a quick reference list of common dietary terms in Italian:

Tip: If you want to order a dish without a specific ingredient, the magic word to remember is senza (without). For example:

• Per me un’insalata senza [acciughe], grazie. – For me, a salad without [anchovies], thank you.

Step 4: How to order food in Italy

Menus have been studied, questions asked, and your stomach is probably starting to rumble. At this point, the waiter will approach your table and ask: Siete pronti per ordinare? (Are you ready to order?).

If you’re still deciding and need more time, just say:

#10 Non abbiamo ancora deciso. Cinque minuti, per favore
(Non ahb-bee-AH-mo an-KOH-ra deh-CHEE-zo. CHEEN-kweh mee-NOO-tee, pehr fah-VOH-reh)
We haven’t decided yet. Five minutes, please.

When you’re ready to order, the easiest way to do it is to use the structure Per me (For me) + dish, for example:

#11 Per me [una carbonara] e [i saltimbocca alla romana], per favore.
(pehr meh OO-nah car-boh-NAH-rah eh ee sahl-teem-BOHK-kah AHL-lah roh-MAH-nah, pehr fah-VOH-ray)
For me, [a carbonara] and [the Roman-style veal rolls], please.

If you’re dining solo, another simple structure is Prendo (I’ll have) + dish, like:

#12 Prendo [un risotto ai funghi], grazie.
(PREHN-doh oon ree-ZOT-toh eye FOON-yee GRAHT-tsyeh)
I’ll have a [mushroom risotto], thank you.

The waiter might ask if you want to add anything to your meal, like a starter or a side dish by saying: Volete qualche antipasto? (Would you like a starter?) or Desiderate un contorno? (Would you like a side dish?). You can respond with something simple, depending on what you prefer:

• Sì, volentieri. – Yes, gladly.
• No, grazie. – No, thank you.

If you’re not sure about the full meal yet, and want to see how hungry you feel after the first dish, you can say:

#13 Per il secondo vediamo dopo.
(pehr eel seh-KON-doh veh-DYAH-moh DOH-poh)
We’ll see about the second course later.

And if you suddenly remember that you’d like to add something, just say:

#14 Posso avere anche una insalata, per favore?
(POH-soh ah-VEH-reh AHN-keh OO-nah een-sah-LAH-tah, pehr fah-VOH-reh?)
Can I also have a salad, please?

Tip: In some restaurants, you may find special menus like il menù turistico (the tourist menu) or il menù a prezzo fisso (set-price meal), which are typically available at lunchtime. These can often be pleasant surprises, offering great value for money and a chance to sample a full Italian meal at a reasonable price.

Step 5: How to order drinks in Italian

Now that your food order is sorted, it’s time to choose something to drink. At this stage, the waiter will usually ask: Da bere cosa vi porto? (What can I bring you to drink?).

If you’re going for something basic, just say:

#15 Solo una bottiglia di acqua naturale, grazie.
(SOH-loh OO-nah boh-TEE-lyah dee AH-kwah nah-too-RAH-leh, GRAHT-tsyeh)
Just a bottle of stills water, thank you.

You can easily replace una bottiglia di acqua with something else, like una Coca Cola (a Coke), una birra (a beer), etc. Additionally, it’s important to know that in Italian restaurants, water is almost always bottled. You might occasionally be offered filtered water, but you’ll still be expected to pay for it.

On the other hand, if you’d like some help choosing the right wine to match your meal, ask:

#16 Che vino ci consiglia?
(keh VEE-noh chee con-ZEEL-yah?)
Which wine do you recommend (to us)?

For solo diners, just change the indirect object pronoun ci (to us) to mi (to me): Che vino mi consiglia? (Which wine do you recommend (to me)?)

Tip: In many places, especially the more casual or traditional restaurants, the vino della casa (house wine) is a perfectly good choice: affordable, local, and surprisingly good. If you want to try it, ask: Avete vino della casa? Do you have house wine?

It’s usually served in small carafes, and you can order:

• Un quartino – A quarter liter
• Mezzo litro – Half a liter
• Un litro – One liter

Step 6: During your meal

Your order’s in, your drink is poured, and now, the moment you’ve been waiting for: your food arrives. The waiter will likely set your dishes down with a cheerful: Buon appetito! (Enjoy!).

If you need anything while you’re eating (maybe another bottle of water or some more bread to do the scarpetta – mopping your plate with bread), the verb potere (can / be able to) will come in handy.You can say:

#17 Possiamo avere [olio e aceto], per favore?
(pohs-SYAH-moh ah-VEH-reh [OH-lyoh eh ah-CHEH-toh], pehr fah-VOH-reh?)
Can we have [oil and vinegar], please?

Tip: Need to find the bathroom mid-meal? Make sure to check out my guide on how to ask for the bathroom in Italian for the essential phrases (and a few tips) about Italian toilet etiquette!

Step 6: Finishing your meal

Once your dishes are empty, the waiter will come by to check in and say: say: Tutto bene? Posso portare via? (Was everything ok? Can I clear the plates?). A polite and positive way to respond is: Tutto buonissimo, grazie (Everything was delicious, thank you).

After that, they might ask: Gradite qualcos’altro? (Would you like anything else?) or Vi porto la carta dei dolci? (Shall I bring you the dessert menu?).

If you still have room for something sweet, or fancy rounding off your meal with a classic espresso, you can use this phrase:

#18 Vorremmo due caffè e un tiramisù, per favore.
(vohr-REHM-moh DOO-eh kah-FEH eh oon tee-rah-mee-SOO, pehr fah-VOH-reh)
We would like two coffees and one tiramisu, please.

Here are some variations:

• Un caffè e un limoncello. – A coffee and a limoncello.
• Solo un caffè, grazie. – Just an espresso, thank you.
• No, siamo a posto così, grazie. – No, we’re fine like this, thank you.

Attenzione! Never order a cappuccino after a meal! In Italy, cappuccino is strictly a morning drink, usually enjoyed with a pastry for breakfast. It’s one of those important Italian customs to know if you want to blend in like a local.

Tip: At the end of the meal, the waiter might offer you a small complimentary digestif by saying Posso offrirvi un digestivo? (Can I offer you a digestif?). This can also happen when you’re paying at the cash register—sometimes the owner will offer you a small digestivo while casually chatting about your experience. A digestivo is an after-meal drink that is meantto help you digest the food, ranging from the classic Limoncello to a variety of herbal liqueurs. If you like a little something strong after your meal, go for it… it might be a delicious discovery!

Step 7: How to pay in Italy

In Italy, waiters won’t bring the bill unless you ask for it, because it’s considered a bit impolite or rushed—it’s all about enjoying your meal at your own pace, without being pushed out the door. When you’re ready to pay, just get the waiter’s attention with a little wave or polite eye contact, and say:

#19 Posso avere il conto, per favore?
(Pohs-soh ah-veh-reh eel kohn-toh, pehr fah-voh-ray?)
Can I have the bill, please?

They’ll either bring it over or say: Può pagare alla cassa (You can pay at the cashier), which means you’ll need to head to the front desk to settle the bill.

If you’re dining with friends and everyone wants to pay for their own food, you can ask:

#20 È possibile fare conti separati?
(Eh pohs-see-BEE-leh fah-reh KON-tee seh-pah-RAH-tee?)
Is it possible to have separate bills?

However, many Italian restaurants don’t do this, especially casual spots or when they’re very busy. Some might even have a little sign up that says Non si fanno conti separati (We don’t do separate bills).

When that happens, an alternative could be splitting the total evenly among your group. In Italian, this is called pagare alla Romana (to pay Roman style) and you can ask the cashier Possiamo dividere il conto per tre? (Can we divide the bill by three?). Just adjust the number based on your group size.

Tip: Would you like to leave a small tip? Italians usually say Tenga il resto (Keep the change). If you’re unsure whether it’s appropriate to leave a tip or how much to give, check out my guide to tipping in Italy for tips on how to do it.

Sample dialogue

Now let’s see how to apply these words and phrases in a real-life conversation at an Italian restaurant:

B: Buonasera. Avete prenotato? – Good evening. Do you have a reservation?
A: Buonasera. Sì, ho prenotato a nome Smith. – Good evening. Yes, I have a reservation under the name Smith.
B: Certo, ecco il tavolo. Intanto vi porto dell’acqua? Liscia o gassata? – Of course, here’s your table. In the meantime, shall I bring you some water—still or sparkling?
A: Sì, dell’acqua gassata per favore. – Yes, sparkling water, please.
B: Ecco l’acqua. Torno tra poco per le ordinazioni. – Here’s the water. I’ll be back shortly to take your order.

[later]

B: Siete pronti per ordinare? – Are you ready to order?
A: Sì! Per me i gnocchi alla romana, per mia figlia una pizza capricciosa senza olive e mio marito prende le scaloppine. – Yes! For me, the Roman-style gnocchi, for my daughter a capricciosa pizza without olives, and my husband will have the veal scaloppine.
B: Perfetto, vuole un contorno con le scaloppine? – Perfect. Would you like a side dish with the scaloppine?
A: Sì, un’insalata grazie. – Yes, a salad, thank you.

B: Da bere cosa vi porto? – What can I bring you to drink?

A: Un’altra bottiglia di acqua gasata e mezzo litro di vino rosso della casa. – Another bottle of sparkling water and half a liter of house red wine.

[later]

B: Andava tutto bene? – Was everything good?
A: Benissimo, grazie. Possiamo avere due caffè, per favore? – Excellent, thank you. Could we have two coffees, please?
B: Desiderate un dolce? – Would you like a dessert?
A: No, siamo a posto così. Solo il conto, per favore. – No, we’re fine like this. Just the bill, please.
B: Potete pagare alla cassa. – You can pay at the cash register.
A: Perfetto, grazie! – Perfect, thank you!

[later]

C: Sono 57 euro. Posso offrirvi qualcosa? Un bel digestivo? – That’s 55 euros. Can I offer you something? A nice digestif?
A: Sì, grazie. Un digestivo è perfetto! Ecco, tenga il resto. – Yes, thank you. A digestif sounds perfect! Here you go, keep the change.

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