Italy, the home of art, culture, beauty and, without a doubt, delicious food.
For Italians, the pleasure of the meal is very important; it is a time for reflection, sharing, and gathering with friends and family, especially at dinners or weekend lunches.
Italians actually view eating as more than just a way to satisfy their appetite, rather, it is a ritual that should be savoured slowly, one course at a time.
While it is not required for a foreigner visiting Italy, whether temporarily or permanently, to eat like an Italian, it is unquestionably a wonderful experience to enjoy. A way of becoming fully immersed in the culture of the country you are visiting as well as better understanding its usage and customs.
In this article, we'll take you to learn the table manners of Italians so that you may get yourself oriented and be confident in your decisions. We'll look at the most popular foods to choose from, the typical Italian dishes to get from restaurants in Italy, and the customary dishes depending on where you are.
In the end, you'll have the most precise ideas about how to act to enjoy lunches and dinners like a true Italian.
What is expected on Italian restaurant menus
There are many restaurants in Italy that serve cuisines other than just Italian food, especially in the bigger towns. So, if you miss your own country, we are sure you will find whatever solution you are looking for.
In any case, eating local specialties like Italians do will enhance your experience in the boot-shaped peninsula.
Traditional Italian menus are divided into five sections:
- Apetizers: These are little servings that are served to begin with some tasting lunch or dinner. They can be prepared with meat, fish, or mixed, providing a range of cuisines. Traditionally, everyone at the table partakes of these tastings;
- First courses: typically, you can choose from risottos, soups, or pasta;
- Second courses: baked, pan-fried, or fried fish as well as grilled or stewed meats;
- Side dishes: grilled or pan-fried vegetables, mixed salads, or potatoes typically served with the second course;
- Desserts: It's typical to finish the meal with a dessert or piece of fruit before moving on to coffee and digestives.
A full Italian meal consists of all these dishes and is typically served for Sunday lunch or dinner, as well as on special occasions.
Water, wine, or beer, and soft drinks for the little ones are served as accompaniments to the main courses. Liqueurs and distillers at the end of the meal.
Where and when to dine in Italy
It's not necessary to order a five-course meal when dining out in Italy. If you're pressed for time or want to eat light during the week, you can find bars and restaurants where you can get a quick sandwich, salad, or first or second dish.
In fact, there are no age restrictions to access bars in Italy and they provide more than simply alcoholic beverages. People visit this location either in the morning for breakfast, coffee, or to buy savoury or sweet foods.
But bars are hardly appropriate settings for a traditional Italian meal, so where do you go?
To find Italian restaurants in which to eat typical dishes you will have to look for:
- Osterie or Trattorie: often casual settings with homemade cuisine;
- Specialized restaurants: they can also be in a modern / contemporary style or star rated;
- Pizzerias: focused solely on making pizza.
And what is the best time?
In Italy, the time you eat at the table varies a little depending on where you are. Usually, you eat a little sooner in the north and a little later in the south. The typical lunch and dinner hours are 12.30 to 14 and 19.30 to 22 respectively.
When Italians go out for dinner, the reservation time often varies between 20 and 21, with all the variations caused by personal obligations or the restaurant's availability.
However, restaurants are open and accessible at all times during the day in the more touristy districts, some kitchens are even open until late at night.
The best Italian dishes and local traditions
You may be overwhelmed by the variety of traditional and delicious meals available in Italian cuisine.
From the north to the south of Italy, you might travel along the routes of flavour, experiencing the local cold cuts, cheeses, pasta and risotto, polenta, meat, seafood, and wines. In summary, there are many different dishes to choose from according to where you are.
Let's see some of them!
Pizza
Known throughout the world, pizza is a symbol of Italianness. Even while the Neapolitan one is the first that comes to mind, it can be available in a variety of shapes and flavours. One of the best Naples' pizzas is the typical Margherita. It is made with just three ingredients—tomato, mozzarella, and basil—and is grilled in a wood oven. However, some people like to add a small amount of grated cheese.
La Bufala with buffalo mozzarella, Salsiccia & Friarielli, Marinara, and Pizza Fritta are just a few of the traditional Neapolitan pizzas that you simply must try at least once.
Smaller in size but with the same shape, we have the Caserta and the stuffed pizza, where the cornice is filled with a ricotta-based cream.
Those who prefer a more consistent pizza should opt for the Roman style pizza, which is much crispier and practically without a cornice. Not to be mistaken with the Pinsa Romana, which is shaped like a rectangle and is considerably taller and crunchier.
In conclusion, there is a wide range of pizza in Italy to suit any taste!
But the culture of food doesn't end there.
Food in Northern Italy
Let's start our food tour from northern Italy.
Here, the local cuisine is diverse and has a wide variety of dishes. If you visit Venice during the spring, you will undoubtedly see the dish Risi e Bisi, which is a traditional risotto with peas, on the menus of the best restaurants in Venice. You may taste the regional specialties at places like Al Gazettino, Alla Rampa, and Dalla Marisa while sipping a delicious glass of wine. While in the city of Romeo and Juliet you can order Pastissada de caval and Risotto al Tastsal. The Osteria Il Ciottolo, Punto Rosa, and Osteria Sottoriva are among the best restaurants in Verona.
The Polenta, another characteristic delicacy, is found in Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto, Trentino and upper Lombardy.
In this regard, if you happen to be in Milan, you must, at least once, eat the traditional Milanese cutlet by Da Martino 1950, commonly known as Elephant's Ear (Orecchio di Elefante). Along with Risotto alla Milanese and Ossobuco, it can be found on the menus of the best pasta restaurants in Milan, including, for instance, Osteria dell'Acquabella and Ristorante Il Cestino.
Food in Central Italy
We move to the centre of the peninsula, where there is no shortage of good food.
Bologna restaurants offer a wide selection of first courses: Lasagne alla Bolognese and Tortellini in Brodo are the most popular, which may be preceded by some Crescentina con Mortadella, a traditional Bolognese cured meat.
We travel to Florence and its surrounding areas. The Bistecca alla Fiorentina, immediately springs to mind, which is between 5 and 7 cm high and must be consumed rare. It is typically paired with a glass of Chianti Classico or a Rosso di Montalcino. In general, Tuscany is more likely to provide grilled or baked meats and first courses with additional meat, including wild boar, deer, and wild game.
Read more about the must restaurant in Florence you can't miss.
This time we move to Rome, the capital, to savour additional superb first courses that are also well-known internationally such as Spaghetti alla carbonara, Bucatini all'Amatriciana, and Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe which are some of the best options. No matter what cuisine you choose, don't forget to request the Pecorino Romano, one of the best cheeses around.
Food in Southern Italy
Even in the south, there is a huge variety of meat and fish main courses in addition to pizza and pasta dishes but save some space for dessert! The selection of sweets is very wide-ranging and of the greatest calibre.
Sfogliatella is the strength and a worldwide representation of Naples. Try those from Pasticceria Madonna or Antica Pasticceria Cerraturo, maybe with a delicious espresso coffee. Delizia al Limone and Babà Napoletano desserts are further options to try after lunch or evening, which you can find in most of the city's restaurants.
Let's take a trip to Puglia, the home of the world-famous Pasticciotto Leccese. Although cream is the traditional filling, there are many different options available: chocolate, black cherry, pistachio, and combinations of cream and either chocolate or cream and black cherry to make it even more delectable.
If you visit Sicily, you have to taste the renowned Cannolo and other local delicacies like the Cassatella, Granita con la Brioche. You might find it unusual at first, but once you give it a try, you won't be able to live without it!
Michelin Star Italian restaurant
There is a broad range of restaurant available for every price bracket. From neighbourhood trattorias and taverns, street food for people on the go, to Michelin-starred restaurant for remarkable culinary adventures.
Starred restaurants can be found in all major Italian cities or in some locations that are distant from the bustle of the city and surrounded by greenery, such as those that have a view of a lake, the ocean, or the snow-capped Alps.
Within these menus, you can find traditional meals that have been updated for the modern era, dishes that combine Italian ingredients with flavours from other cultures, like Asian cuisine, or authentic chef-created unique recipes.
To name a few, Enrico Bartolini al Mudec and Innocenti Evasioni in Milan, Il Desco and Casa Perbellini in Verona, while in Rome we find La Pergola and Il Pagliaccio, respectively 2 and 3 Michelin stars.
Italian Aperitivo
Another true Italian tradition is that of the Aperitivo.
This pre-dinner snack and drink are typically served between 6 and 8 p.m. It is more than just a meal, it is also a time of relaxation to enjoy with colleagues after work or with friends on the weekend.
Depending on the time of year and where you are, different drinks may be appropriate. From Turin's vermouth-based drink to Veneto's Aperol Spritz or a Campari in Milan's bars and clubs. In some situations, the Aperitivo turns into a full dinner using the Happy Hour formula. For instance, in Milan, there are places that specialise in the creation of full buffets, including everything from appetisers to sweets, where you can enjoy a drink of your choice and unlimited access to the buffet while paying a set amount for consumption.
But you can also choose to pair a good red wine with a tray of cheeses and cured meats from Emilia or Tuscany in the colder months, while bruschetta with fresh tomato and basil is more enjoyable to eat in the hot months, giving a touch of freshness to the palate.
In fact, wherever you are in Italy, eating out is really a gastronomic experience.
