Cafe and restaurant in Italian
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen. Play the ten Italian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Italian phrases in this lesson
- Un tavolo per dueoon TAH-vo-lo pehr DOO-eh
- A table for two
- Il menù, per favoreeel meh-NOO pehr fah-VOH-reh
- The menu, please
- Cosa mi consiglia?KOH-zah mee kon-SEEL-yah
- What do you recommend?
- Non mangio...non MAHN-joh
- I don't eat...
- Sono allergico a...SOH-noh al-LEHR-jee-koh ah
- I'm allergic to...
- CarneKAR-neh
- Meat
- PolloPOL-loh
- Chicken
- PescePEH-sheh
- Fish
- È buonissimoeh bwoh-NEES-see-mo
- It's delicious
- Salutesa-LOO-teh
- Cheers
In popular restaurants it is worth booking ahead, especially on weekends. Italians rarely eat before 8pm for dinner.
Many trattorias have a fixed-price menu (menù del giorno or menù fisso) that offers excellent value and changes daily.
A woman says "allergica".
Use "buonissima" for feminine dishes. Complimenting the food is important in Italy. Cooks and hosts take genuine pride in what they serve.
Also means "health." Make eye contact when clinking glasses. Italians consider it bad luck not to. Used in formal toasting and informal moments alike.