Learn to understand spoken Italian better with Miss Valerie and Shannon series.
ORDINARE IN UN RISTORANTE (=to order at a restaurant)
We are going to start with a dialogue and let's pretend with us that you are now in an Italian Restaurant. If you are in Venice, go to their typical restaurants called TRATTORIA or OSTERIA for elsewhere.
HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS: listen to the dialogue for next class exercice and write all the new vocabulary on your Italian Notebook:
Cameriere:
Allora, avete deciso?
Don Smith:
Per cominciare, io vorrei gli spaghetti alle vongole.
Cameriere:
Anche Lei, Signora?
Signora Smith:
No, io vorrei della pastina in brodo.
Cameriere:
E per secondo?
Don Smith:
Non so. Vediamo. Cos‘ è il fritto misto?
Cameriere:
Calamari, gamberi, e triglie. È molto buono.
Don Smith:
Va bene, lo prendo.
Signora Smith:
Io una bistecca. No, un momento. Invece vorrei del pesce in bianco.
Cameriere:
E per contorno? Abbiamo patate fritte, spinaci al burro, zucchine saltate.
Signora Smith:
No, preferisco dell'insalata verde.
Don Smith:
Io prenderei uno di quei carciofi che ho visto lì.
Cameriere:
Che bevete?
Don Smith:
Mah. Ci porti una bottiglia di acqua minerale e un litro di vino bianco. Cameriere, per antipasto ci porti due prosciutto e melone, per favore.
Translation:
Waiter:
So, have you decided?
Don Smith:
To start, I'd like spaghetti and clams.
Waiter:
You also, ma'am?
Mrs. Smith:
No, I'd like some pasta in clear broth.
Waiter:
And for the second course?
Don Smith:
I don't know. Let's see. What is the mixed fried seafood?
Waiter:
Squid, crawfish, and mullet. It's very good.
Don Smith:
OK, I'll take it.
Mrs. Smith:
I, a steak. No, [wait] a moment. Instead I would like some poached fish.
Waiter:
And for a side dish? We have fried potatoes, spinach with butter, sauteed zucchini.
Mrs. Smith:
No, I prefer some green salad.
Don Smith:
I'll take one of those artichokes that I saw there
Waiter:
What are you drinking?
Don Smith:
Hmmm. Bring us a bottle of mineral water and a liter of white wine. Waiter, for antipasto bring us two prosciutto and melon, please.
Notes on conversation
1. Pastina, "small macaroni." Many forms of pasta are served with different sauces, and in the north, you can also find risotto, "rice," polenta, "corn meal," and a variety of seafood.
2. Fritto misto, "mixed fried seafood."
3. Ho visto, "I saw" and "I have seen." This is the past tense of vedo, "I see."
4. "What" in Italian can be che, cosa, or che cosa. Cosa in front of a vowel becomes cos‘.
5. Ci porti, "Bring us."
6. At a restaurant, if you are not familiar with the wine of a region, then order the house wine, red or white, If you don't wish to drink wine, simply turn your wine glass upside down. You may order mineral water, acqua minerale, which comes carbonated or noncarbonated.
7. Each regione, "region," offers specialita', "specialties." Southerners cook with oil, tomatoes, and spices, and northerners use a lot of butter, milk, cream, and cheese.
8. Italians don't drink coffee with their meals. Restaurants and bars do not serve American coffee.
______________________________________
Miss Valerie and Miss Shannon's tips: Here are other useful phrases you need in restaurants:
Ha/avete un tavolo per due?Do you have a table for two?Potrei vedere il menù?May I see the menu?
"Avete un tavolo per due persone?"—Do you have a table for two people?
When you enter a restaurant, after you greet the host, you can tell him how many people are in your party using the above phrase. You may be asked if you want to dine all’aperto (outside) or all’interno (indoors). If you are dining with more than two people, swap out due (two) with the number you need.
If you are looking for somewhere to eat and you’re unsure which restaurant is best, ask for the menu in advance so that you can decide before you sit at a table. Usually, however, the menu will be displayed outside for everyone to see.
"L’acqua frizzante/naturale."—Sparkling/natural water.
At the start of each meal, the server will ask you if you prefer sparkling or natural water. You can answer with l’acqua frizzante (sparkling water) or l’acqua naturale (natural water).
After you sit down to eat, ask the cameriere (male waiter) or cameriera (waitress) what they would recommend. Once your waiter has made a recommendation, say “Prendo/Scelgo questo!" (I’ll take/choose this!).
Ordering wine is such an important part of the Italian dining experience that it counts as a survival phrase. While you can order a fancy bottle of wine, usually the house wine—both white and red—are quite good, so you can stick to those by using the above phrase.
If you want red wine, say, "Un litro di vino rosso della casa, per favore." If you’re looking for white, you would replace rosso (red) with bianco (white). You can also order un mezzo litro (a half liter), una bottiglia (a bottle), or un bicchiere (a glass).
"Vorrei…(le lasagne)."—I would like…(the lasagna).
After the waiter asks you, “Cosa prendete?" (What will you all have?), answer with “Vorrei…" (I would like) followed by the name of the dish.
If you have dietary restrictions or preferences, you can tell the server you’re a vegetarian. Use the phrase ending in “o” if you’re a male and use the phrase ending in “a” if you’re a female.
This is a great phrase to use if you happen to drop a utensil and need a replacement. If you want to ask for something that you don’t have, say "Mi può portare una forchetta, per favore?" (Can you bring me a fork, please?)
"Il conto, per favore."—The check, please.
In Italy, you typically have to ask for the check; the waiter does not simply drop off the check in advance, as in most American restaurants. Use the above phrase when you’re ready to pay. If you're in a small town and you're unsure if the restaurant will take a credit card, you can ask "Accettate carte di credito?" (Do you accept credit cards?)
If you happen to have some dietary restrictions and cannot enjoy the wide variety of flavors of an Italian culinary extravaganza, you may inform the waiter or waitress beforehand.
See some example phrases you could use below:
Sono vegano/vegana.I’m vegan.Sono vegetariano/ vegetariana.I’m vegetarian.
Sono celiaco/aI have celiac disease.
Seguo una dieta senza glutine.I follow a gluten-free diet.
Sono intollerante al lattosio.I’m lactose intolerant
Or you could even be more specific by stating the food you cannot consume.
Non mangio…I don’t eat……la carnemeat…il pescefish…le uovaeggs...il formaggiocheese
Another way is to instruct the waiter or waitress to hold a particular ingredient.
Senza _____, per favore. Without ______, please.
Senza formaggio, per favore. Without cheese, please.