Italy from the Inside

Time to eat

What time Italians eat- Italy from the Inside

Photo by Francesca Tosolini

In Italy, lunch is usually between noon and 2pm, while dinner is between 7:30pm and 9:30pm. The further south you go, the later you eat.
Try to get to the restaurant before 2pm (or 9:30pm), because if you order your meal before 2pm (or 9:30pm), then you can stay in the restaurant as long as you want, but if you arrive after 2pm (or 9:30pm) you risk being turned away.

{This is an excerpt from chapter 3 “Italian cuisine and food establishments” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. To buy our eBook click here}

8 things you’ll find on the tables of every (respectable) Italian restaurant

Italian restaurants- Italy from the Inside

Photo by Paolo Tosolini

On every restaurant table you’ll find a set of olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and toothpicks. Bread and grissini (special thin breadsticks) will already be on the table or come right after you order. If you order a primo, then some grated Parmesan cheese will be served. If the waiter doesn’t bring you the cheese it means that it doesn’t go with that particular dish. For example, Italians never put cheese on fish dishes.

{This is an excerpt from chapter 3 “Italian cuisine” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”. To buy the eBook click here}

The secrets of dining in Italy- Part 2

Servizio- Italy from the Inside

A menu showing the cost of the servizio and the cestino di pane (small bread basket)

In Italian restaurants many times there is a charge called servizio, which is a percentage for the service provided. In other words the tip (mancia) for the waiter (cameriere). This charge is automatically added to the bill (conto), and when this happens it’ll say servizio incluso or servizio compreso. If not, it will say servizio non incluso or servizio non compreso.

If the servizio is included and it’s more than 15%, then the tip is not necessary (unless you want to double-tip the waiter since he has been bravo). On the other hand, if it is not included, adding a 10% to 15% tip (mancia) will make the waiter very happy. You’ll find this information either on your bill or on the menu (see photo above).

Remember also that the tax is always included in the bill.

***DID YOU KNOW?
As the coperto, also the servizio also originated from the past when employment contracts didn’t exist and the restaurant staff was paid in percentage on orders from customers and tables that were served. The servizio was, in fact, the salary of the waiter, but this item remains even today, despite the waiters are paid regularly. ***

This is an excerpt from Chapter 3 “Italian cuisine and food establishments” of the eBook “Italy from the Inside. A native Italian reveals the secrets of traveling in Italy”}