The Rome IndexDining 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.