At the Restaurant
When dining in Italy, knowing a few polite phrases will make your experience wonderful! In this lesson, you will learn how to ask for the bill, request items, and interact with the waiter.
Key Rules & Politeness
- Always use per favore (please).
- Use Vorrei... (I would like...) to order politely. It is much softer than saying 'I want'.
- To get the waiter's attention politely, you can simply say Scusi! (Excuse me!).
Common Phrases
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Il conto, per favore | The bill, please |
| Vorrei il menu | I would like the menu |
Common Mistakes
Don't just say 'conto' when asking for the bill. Always add Il (The) and per favore to be polite!
Words
il conto
the bill
Il conto, per favore.The bill, please.
il menu
the menu
Vorrei il menu.I would like the menu.
il cameriere
the waiter
Scusi, cameriere!Excuse me, waiter!
scusi
excuse me
Scusi, posso avere l'acqua?Excuse me, can I have water?
grazie
thank you
Grazie, arrivederci.Thank you, goodbye.
prego
you're welcome
Grazie! – Prego.Thank you! – You're welcome.
acqua
water
Un'acqua, per favore.A water, please.
caffè
coffee
Vorrei un caffè.I would like a coffee.
Lessons are prepared with the help of AI.
Patterns
___, per favore
Used to politely ask for something like the bill or the menu.
Il conto, per favore.The bill, please.
Vorrei ___
Used to politely say what you would like to order.
Vorrei il menu.I would like the menu.