Italian Restaurant Phrases

At A Restaurant In Italy? Say This.

You are at a restaurant in Italy. The waiter arrives and asks for your order.

You know what you want… but suddenly your mind goes blank.

A simple phrase can solve the situation:

“Vorrei una pizza.”
“I would like a pizza.”

Vorrei is a polite way to ask for something and is commonly used in restaurants, cafés, and everyday situations in Italy.

Examples:

“Vorrei una pizza margherita.”
I would like a Margherita pizza.

“Vorrei un caffè.”
I would like a coffee.

Learn practical Italian phrases for real travel situations and order with confidence.

Restaurant Reservations in Italian

Want to reserve a table in Italy with confidence? In this practical beginner Italian lesson, you’ll learn essential Italian restaurant reservation phrases and useful vocabulary for booking a table, asking questions, and communicating naturally in restaurants across Italy.

This lesson is ideal for travelers, tourists, beginners learning Italian, and anyone preparing for real-world Italian conversations.

Essential Italian Reservation Vocabulary

  • La prenotazione — The reservation

  • Prenotare — To book / reserve

  • Vorrei prenotare… — I would like to reserve…

  • Vorrei fare una prenotazione a nome di…
    — I would like to make a reservation under the name of…

Useful Restaurant Reservation Phrases

  • Vorrei un tavolo all’aperto / nel settore non fumatori.
    — I would like a table outside / in the non-smoking section.

  • Vorrei un tavolo lontano dalla / vicino alla finestra.
    — I would like a table away from / near the window.

  • Per quante persone?
    — For how many people?

  • Per quando?
    — For when?

  • Per quale giorno?
    — For which day?

  • A che ora?
    — At what time?

  • A che nome?
    — Under what name?

  • È possibile pagare con carta di credito?
    — Is it possible to pay with a credit card?

Useful Time Expressions in Italian

  • Domani — Tomorrow

  • Dopodomani — The day after tomorrow

  • Oggi — Today

  • Questo fine settimana — This weekend

Knowing how to make reservations in Italian helps you:

  • book restaurant tables confidently

  • communicate naturally while traveling

  • improve your conversational Italian

  • feel more comfortable in real-life situations

  • understand common questions from restaurant staff

Whether you’re planning a vacation in Italy or simply improving your Italian speaking skills, these phrases are practical and essential for everyday travel conversations.

Ordering Food and Drinks in Italian

In this practical Italian language lesson, you’ll learn how to order food and drinks naturally in Italian restaurants, cafés, bars, and trattorias. These beginner-friendly phrases are essential for traveling in Italy and communicating confidently while dining out.

Whether you’re ordering pasta, coffee, wine, dessert, or simply asking for water, this lesson will help you sound more natural and comfortable in real Italian dining situations.

Essential Italian Restaurant Phrases

  • Vorrei… — I would like…

  • Mi piacerebbe… — I would love…

  • Prendo… — I’ll have…

Useful Examples for Ordering in Italian

  • Come antipasto, vorrei…
    — For the appetizer, I would like…

  • Come primo piatto, prendo…
    — For the first course, I’ll have…

  • Come secondo, vorrei…
    — For the second course, I would like…

  • Per dessert, mi piacerebbe…
    — For dessert, I would love…

  • Prendo una birra, per cortesia.
    — I’ll have a beer, please.

  • Mi piacerebbe un bicchiere di vino rosso.
    — I would love a glass of red wine.

  • Posso avere un po’ di acqua?
    — Can I have some water?

  • Prendo un caffè, per favore.
    — I’ll have a coffee, please.

Perfect for anyone wanting practical Italian phrases they can use immediately in real-life situations.