The Rome Index
Dining etiquette in Rome
How Italian restaurants work, and what not to do at the table.
How the meal works
A traditional Italian meal has courses: antipasto, primo (pasta or soup), secondo (meat or fish) with a contorno (side vegetable) ordered separately, then dessert. Ordering just a pasta and calling it a main is perfectly acceptable in a trattoria — no one will judge you.
The bill
You'll need to ask for it — waiters don't bring the check unsolicited, as lingering is expected. A coperto (cover charge, typically €1–3 per person) is standard and legal. Service is rarely included; a small cash tip is appreciated but not obligatory.
Things not to do
Don't ask for a doggy bag (unusual in traditional places). Don't add parmesan to seafood pasta (genuinely offensive to many cooks). Don't sit at a table in a busy bar expecting counter service — table and counter have separate pricing.
The bread basket confusion
Bread served at the table isn't accompanied by butter or olive oil for dipping as in some other countries — it's meant to be eaten plain alongside the meal, or used to soak up remaining sauce (fare la scarpetta), a gesture actually considered a compliment to the kitchen rather than poor manners.
Requesting the bill without awkwardness
Making eye contact and a small writing gesture in the air, or simply saying 'il conto, per favore,' is the standard way to request the bill — waiters won't bring it unprompted since lingering after a meal is culturally normal, not a sign you're overstaying.
