Italian · Restaurant
Italian phrases at a restaurant
Ten sentences that cover a whole meal: getting a table, ordering, handling an allergy, and paying. Say them out loud before you go.
- Free forever plan
- No card needed
- 77 languages
Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team
Italian · lesson preview
Step 4Vorrei un tavolo per due.
I would like a table for two.
- Order
- Translate
- Listen
- Speak
Say it out loud. Green landed, yellow was close.
Start free10 Italian sentences at a restaurant
| # | English | Italian |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A table for two, please. | Un tavolo per due, per favore. |
| 2 | Could I see the menu, please? | Posso avere il menù, per favore? |
| 3 | What do you recommend? | Cosa mi consiglia? |
| 4 | I would like the chicken. | Vorrei il pollo. |
| 5 | I do not eat meat. | Non mangio carne. |
| 6 | I have a nut allergy. | Ho un'allergia alle noci. |
| 7 | Water, please. | Acqua, per favore. |
| 8 | How delicious! | Che buono! |
| 9 | The bill, please. | Il conto, per favore. |
| 10 | Can I pay by card? | Posso pagare con la carta? |
Three phrases that save you
You will not always understand the reply. These work in every situation, so learn them first.
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Could you repeat that, please? | Può ripetere, per favore? |
| Please speak more slowly. | Parli più lentamente, per favore. |
| I do not understand. | Non capisco. |
Tips
- Waiters speak quickly. Keep the three rescue phrases at the bottom ready, and use them without apology.
- Order with the polite form (I would like...) rather than a bare demand. It is warmer and it is what locals say.
- Learn your own dietary phrase well. It is the one that matters most.
These sentences use Lei, the polite form, which is right with anyone you do not know. Use tu with friends, children and people who offer it.
More Italian phrases by situation
How do you say “A table for two, please” in Italian?
“Un tavolo per due, per favore.”.
What are the most useful Italian phrases at a restaurant?
“Un tavolo per due, per favore.” (A table for two, please.) “Posso avere il menù, per favore?” (Could I see the menu, please?) “Cosa mi consiglia?” (What do you recommend?) “Vorrei il pollo.” (I would like the chicken.) “Non mangio carne.” (I do not eat meat.)
What should I say if I do not understand the answer in Italian?
Say “Non capisco.” (I do not understand.), then “Parli più lentamente, per favore.” (Please speak more slowly.) or “Può ripetere, per favore?” (Could you repeat that, please?).
How do I learn these Italian phrases quickly?
Say each sentence out loud, not just read it. Ten sentences a day for a week is plenty before a trip. 4ToSpeak has you hear each one, build it, and say it aloud with feedback.
Related guides
More Italian to learn
More
Useful Italian sentences
Everyday sentences for beginners.
Read morePlan it
How long does it take to learn Italian?
Hours, weeks and a daily plan for English speakers.
Read moreChoose
Best way to learn Italian speaking
What to look for in an app, and where 4ToSpeak fits.
Read moreVocabulary
How many words to speak Italian
Milestones from 100 to 3,000 words.
Read moreSpeaking
Learn to speak Italian
A 30-day speaking plan.
Read more
Free · no card · 77 languages
Be ready to speak Italian
Ten phrases are a start. Practise them in full Italian sentences, out loud, with feedback. Free, no card.