Top 50 phrases to get by Italy: Dining out
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Key Phrases
Un tavolo per due, per favore.
A table for two, please.
Vorrei ordinare.
I would like to order.
Il conto, per favore.
The bill, please.
Skills You'll Learn
How to ask for a table and seating at a restaurant
Come chiedere un tavolo e dove sedersi al ristorante
How to order food and drinks politely
Come ordinare cibo e bevande con cortesia
How to ask to pay and handle the bill
Come chiedere di pagare e gestire il conto
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Un tavolo per due, per favore.
oon TAH-vo-loh pair DOO-eh pair fah-VOH-reh
A table for two, please.
Ha una prenotazione?
ah OO-nah preh-noh-tah-TSYOH-neh
Do you have a reservation?
💬 In questions, Italian often keeps the same word order as a statement: [Ha una prenotazione?] literally looks like [You have a reservation?]. The question is shown by tone of voice, not by changing the verb order.
See breakdown →Ho una prenotazione.
oh OO-nah preh-noh-tah-TSYOH-neh
I have a reservation.
A che ora è la prenotazione?
ah keh OH-rah eh lah preh-noh-tah-TSYOH-neh
What time is the reservation?
Possiamo sederci fuori?
pos-SYAH-moh seh-DEHR-chee FWOH-ree
Can we sit outside?
💬 [Sederci] includes [ci], meaning [there], so it's more like [sit there] than just [sit]. You'll see the same idea in [andarci] = [go there].
See breakdown →Possiamo sederci dentro?
pos-SYAH-moh seh-DEHR-chee DEN-troh
Can we sit inside?
💬 [Sederci] includes [ci], meaning [there], so it's more like [sit there] than just [sit]. You'll see the same idea in [andarci] = [go there].
See breakdown →Il menù, per favore.
eel meh-NOO pair fah-VOH-reh
The menu, please.
La carta dei vini, per favore.
lah KAR-tah day VEE-nee pair fah-VOH-reh
The wine list, please.
💬 [Dei] is [di] + [i], so [la carta dei vini] is literally [the list of the wines]. This kind of merge is very common: [del], [della], [dei], [degli], [delle].
See breakdown →Che cosa consiglia?
keh KOH-zah kon-SEEL-yah
What do you recommend?
🇮🇹 This is a normal, polite way to ask a server for a recommendation. In Italy you'll also often hear them suggest what's good that day without it feeling pushy.
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