Avoid these Mistakes when Dining in Italy

1. Drink cappuccino after 10am

Italians take their coffee very seriously. They drink it often and frequently, but there are rules to the types of coffee drinks that are acceptable throughout the day. A cappuccino after 10am is not one of them.

Cappuccino is considered a breakfast drink and should be enjoyed with a cornetto or other breakfast pastry in the morning. Once the day approaches 10am, breakfast has long ended and those who need another morning pick me up are drinking espresso or an Americano to get them through to lunch.

If you need your coffee with a little milk and foam, a macchiato is acceptable too. And please do not order a cappuccino after a meal like lunch or dinner, especially if you are dining at a local, non-tourist restaurant. You will get strange looks from your server and set off all the red flags that you are a tourist who does not know the coffee rules. 

2. Walk into a restaurant to eat without a reservation

Can not stress this enough, if you want to make sure you eat when and where you would like to, a reservation is a requirement. This is mostly for dinner but is recommended for lunch at very popular places too. There are a few reasons why having reservations in Italy are so important:

The first is because of staffing. The restaurant will want to properly prepare how many staff to have working that day depending on how many diners they can expect. This is similar to at home in the U.S.

The second is to make sure there is enough food available at the restaurant to feed those coming in to dine that day.  In Italy, most ingredients are bought fresh that very same day from local markets or shipments that come in from nearby farms. The food is fresh and because of the lack of preservatives and long shelf lives of the ingredients (Hi,  America) the food must be cooked and served quickly. Restaurants need to gauge how much food to order and to cook for their guests.  They rely on reservations to make these predictions. 

Another reason is that in many cities and towns locals take priority. That's right, if a local wishes to dine at a restaurant they will often (secretly) receive preferential treatment and guaranteed a table over tourists that do not have reservations. So it is better to not take the chance of walking in without one to guarantee your place.

3. Eat the bread on your table before the main course

Americans do this! We tend to be very hungry when sitting down for a meal and use the bread basket as a way to "hold us over" until our main course arrives.

In Italy, the bread offered when you sit is not meant to be a warm-up to the meal, but to accompany the primi (usually a pasta) or secondi (meat), and side dishes like vegetables or salads.

A great example of how bread is eaten with a meal is the act of sopping up the remaining sauce on a dish, called scarpetta. It's not considered polite to do, but Italians do it, and happily.

To avoid sticking out like a sore thumb, wait for your pasta or secondi to arrive before diving into the bread offerings. 

4. Ask the server for salt and pepper

This can be seen as an insult to the chef by suggesting that the food does not taste as good as it should because it is not properly seasoned.

To get around this, try adding more cheese to pasta which the server might offer, or red chili flakes for spice, which could come on the side with a salad if you have ordered one. 

5. Order wine by the glass

This is more so a personal choice, and if you don't want to drink more than one glass that is completely fine. However, if your plan is to have more wine throughout the meal, this is why you should avoid ordering just one. 

It is usually cheaper to order a bottle than multiple glasses of wine (I know, it's awesome) especially if you can split the bottle with someone.

Drink orders are typically taken once at the start of the meal and not again until dessert, so it might be more challenging to order a second glass.

Unlike in America, servers will not come to your table to ask if you want another drink if they see your glass is almost empty. In Italy, you either order a single glass for the duration of your meal or a bottle for the table. 

It's more fun to get a bottle, so I recommend that : )

6. Order just one dish (like just an entree or appetizer)

At a sit-down restaurant (Osteria, Trattoria, etc.) it is not custom to order just one thing. Most diners are there for the full experience (antipasto, primo, secondo, and dolce).

If you aren't that hungry, a restaurant like this might not be the best option and you could try an enoteca (wine bar) that will serve smaller places like snacks to accompany your wine. 

If not interested in having a full meal, consider ordering a combination of antipasto and primo, or antipasto and secondo etc. to be polite.

7. Wait for your server to bring your check

Another difference from America — Italian servers will not be coming by your table after a meal to ask if you "need anything else" or to proactively bring you your check for "whenever you are ready."

In Italy, it is custom to linger over dessert and any remaining wine as you begin to digest your meal and enjoy the conversation with those at your table. Your server does not want to interrupt this and will only bring your check once you have asked for it.

Don't make the mistake of waiting for the server to come around with the check and getting frustrated if you are sitting there for some time!

You can ask either by getting their attention in the dining room and saying "il conto per favore" or you can ask at the front of the restaurant where someone will likely be behind the bar and can print your check for you, or you can settle there. 

8. Ask for a to-go container to take food away

No such thing as bringing home leftovers in Italy. The food is typically perfectly proportioned and it can be seen as an insult to not finish your food at the table. You may receive an odd look if asking for a to-go container or possibly just told "No." Restaurants may likely not have any kind of to-go container to give you because it is not common to offer this. The food will be delicious. I'm sure you won't have any issues finishing!

9. Not tip at all

Although not a cultural requirement to tip, Italians do appreciate it! If the service is good, why not share a few extra euros? For many servers, bartenders, and baristas in Italy, these are their full-time careers so any additional tips are appreciated.