Restaurants in Italy
Sunday June 25, 2006
Friday we had lunch in Portofino. We usually try to stay away from the main tourist area because you will often eat better and it will usually cost less. We chose a small restaurant away from the port where a couple locals were dining. They were joking with the waiters about some of the things tourists ask for with their meals. When traveling in Italy, as in most places, you will probably have a better dining experience if you put aside your own eating customs and try to eat as the Italians do. Here are some of the things you may find different in Italian restaurants.
- You won't get butter with your bread and you'll never find margarine or butter substitutes. Occassionally, you'll get some olive oil for dipping your bread.
- Your salad usually won't come with dressing on it and there are no dressing choices. You will get real Italian dressing - olive oil and vinegar - to put on yourself.
- Your main course may not include any vegetables or potatoes. Usually, vegetables, salad, and potatoes are available as a side dish, contorno, allowing you to choose what you want.
- You won't get catsup with your fries.
- Coffee and tea are not served with the meal. Italians drink coffee or sometimes tea in the morning, with an afternoon pastry, or following a meal. If you order coffee, you will get an espresso. If you want a different coffee drink, you'll have to ask for it specifically.
- Your bill, il conto, will not arrive until you ask for it.
- And finally, after a good 2 or 3 course Italian meal you might get a surprise - a complimentary digestivo. Friday the waiter brought a bottle of limoncello and 2 glasses and let us pour a drink for ourselves. A great way to end a meal.
Sunday lunch in Italy is a big time for Italian families to eat out. Today we had an excellent meal near our house in the Lunigiana. You can read James Martin's review of our lunch at Il Sicomoro, with pictures of our main courses.
For more about Italian restaurants, see Eating in Italy and my Italy Restaurant Recommendations. Buon appetito!
Comments
Thanks for the great information.
Don’t forget, in Italy your salad is generally served after your main course but before coffee and desert.
I’m italian and I come from “Viano” in east of Lunigiana (you can visit my web site http://www.pioero.it).
I know “Il Sicomoro” restaurant (www.ilsicomoro.it), it’s a very good restaurant in east of lunigiana, like “Da Remo” (http://www.hotelristdaremo.it) in Monzone, “Locanda del Lucido” near Aiola and “Da Felice” (http://www.ristorante-dafelice.it) in Equi Terme.
The article is ok, but remember, limoncino is not the best digestivo, I suggest “Branca Menta”, “Grappa” and the incredible “Centerbe” from Abruzzo.
Please, don’t drink capuccino after a meal….it’s a suicide
Nice Holiday in Lunigiana!
Great story with a lot of things I can relate to from my last visit to Italy. Especially the no butter with the bread was kind of confusing in the beginning for me. If you’d like to write a guest post on my blog http://www.restaurantsinitalyguide.com you’re welcome to do so.