Ordering in Rome

[sutcher]

Is it seen as rude not to order three courses at a restaurant.? Say you and a friend want to share three or four. In a number of guidebooks that I have looked at it seems to be portrayed as proper to order three each.

Also what is the norm when it comes to finishing an entire plate? The portions in Rome can often be quite large, and room needs to be saved for other courses. But I don't want to stick out more than I already do as a foreigner.

What is a good sized tip to leave at restaurants?

[Parigi]

Unless I know the restaurant well and am sure that sharing is accepted, I would at least order my own main course, and perhaps share starters and desserts.
One does not have to order 3 courses. Again, if you order one course, let it be a main.
You do not have to finish your plate. (Except maybe North Korea!)
In Italy, monkey-see-monkey-do, I watch how my Italian friends tip and I do the same: 10%.

[sutcher]

Thanks, Great advice.

[summerUWS2008]

I think it's commendable of you to want to learn the local custom, but I would worry less about sticking out as a foreigner than enjoying your food, and your meal. I only order as much food as I anticipate I'll be able to finish. I ask if I course is large, and if the answer is yes, I either order it as a dish for two or skip it. I often order only one course. (A primo or a secondo.) I avoid fancy restaurants if I'm not hungry or in the mood for an extended meal. A lot of Italians frown on tipping. I tip when it makes me feel comfortable to do so, as I would in America, although when I'm in a small informal restaurant where the owner is also the server, I tend to tip minimally, because it feels too much like tipping in someone else's home. Roma in my experience is harder on tourists than other parts of Italy. I look for friendly places to eat, since I find even good food doesn't sit well if my stomach is agitated by scowls or poor treatment, and lesser food is just fine if I'm treated well.

[sutcher]

Thanks Summer that is definitely advice that I will weigh heavily. Often how comfortable one feels at a restaurant is undervalued. I agree that it is definitely an important factor as to how much I enjoy my meal.

[jen kalb]

its simply not necessary to order 3 courses. Order the amount of food you think you will like. While serving sizes are smaller than here and the service tends to be slower, you may still not want 3. Even for a relatively formal meal, we usually just have two courses and some salad or veg. Just be aware that the servers will try to make sure they dont bring out an item to one person leaving the other sitting there without food so you should try to balance.. I dont understand parigi's statement that you should order a main - there are plenty of people who will simply order eat an appetizer and salad and a plate of pasta for example; much of the time we skip the antipasto and dessert entirely Believe me no one is going to look at you ifyou chose to go on the light side.

[zerlina]

In most places, it is perfectly acceptable to share dishes; just ask for "uno in due". Less common but sometimes possible is a half-portion or "mezza porzione".

[sockster]

In regard to tipping in Rome, you are usually charged a cover charge per person (for bread usually) called a copertino. If you have great service, leave an extra two or three Euro on the table, and you're done. It;s that simple.

[miticodan]

First of all, most Italians eat larger (three courses) at lunch and dinner is usually meat/omlette and salad (low carb). I know I'm generalizing but I think it's fairly accurate. They can eat big lunch because they don't eat much for breakfast (pastry/capuccino) and don't eat lunch until 12:30 or so. That said, it's your money, eat as much or as little as you want. You don't have to clean your plate. .

You are a foreigner, you will stick out no matter what you do so I think you should 'own' it. Just be a good foreigner. Don't order Capuccino after 10am and never, never, never put any kind of cheese and seafood together (if you put parmagianno on your spaghetti alle vongole, the waiter will cringe).

Also, when you walk into a shop, catch the shop keeper's eye and give them a buongiorno or buona sera (whichever applies) and do the same on the way out. They usually won't jump on you to try and get you to buy something but they will be offended if you don't say acknowledge them

As for tipping, there is usually a cover charge included in your bill and wait staff are paid real salaries (not like the US). It is customary to leave a small tip which keeps the cashier from having to make change. So if you'r dinner bill is 67 Euro, leave them 70. Round it up to the nearest 5 Euro.

[summerUWS2008]

I don't see particularly "good" about not drinking a cappucino after 10 am. I know people -- including Italians -- will laugh at it, but there's no reason not to have one if you want one in the afternoon. (I don't drink cappucino ever, so I haven't got a dog in this fight).

One shouldn't be adding cheese to dishes unless offered it by the waiter, and one is unlikely to be offered parmagiano with spaghetti con vongole. But up in Liguria, a variety of seafood dishes arrive with a dollop of pesto (which has parmagiano in it) and some foccacie, tortes and pizza made with cheese get served with anchovies and other seafoods. Many places serve ravioli stuffed with branzino that is made with ricotta as the binder. Outside of Liguria I've had fish lasagne made with cheese at a well-regarded restaurant in Venice-- so what's with this "never, never, never put any kind of cheese and seafood together"?

[jen kalb]

agree wtth summer - dont put on cheese unless offered by the waiter. The waiter will bring you cheese if it is a normal accompaniment to the dish.
there are plenty of dishes that combine fish or seafood with cheese or other dairy, from seafood lasagnas to the spaghetti with anchovies and cheese we just had in Naples.. its just not appropriate for every dish

[vinoroma]

The only point about cappuccino is the milk in it, which is considered a food, something that fills you up, and they don't say 10 am or any other hour but after lunch - as you just ate and hopefully had enough, you shouldn't drink cappuccino bcs. of the milk in it.

[vincentinparisandrome]

In anything but the poshest places, there is certainly no problem in splitting dishes, antipasti (one for the table), primi (pasta) or secondi (mains). If you're not sure how to pace yourself, it is also perfectly acceptable to order your first course and explain that you'll decide about a secondo when you're done with your first.

Tipping, as others have pointed out, is much less widespread and proportionally much less than many people traveling from North America would expect. A couple of euro is considered generous. I recall a nice dinner last year that came to 384 euros. When I suggested leaving 400 on the table, my Roman friends looked at me aghast. A flurry of euro notes flew over the table and when the dust settled, we'd left 390 euros, a six euro tip.