Everything You Need to Know About Eating Out in Italy

Proper Eating Times

There are many similar ideas Italians have when it comes to eating. There are also some differences when it comes to eating in the south compared to eating in the north. Eating in the south usually results in a much later dinner around 10pm or so, while eating in the north occurs earlier.

Colazione, or breakfast, is usually eaten at 8am or in the mid-morning. Many people will usually have their morning cafe (or two) along with something particularly small and sweet. For example, you could make toast with jam or have a bowl of fruit. Having a croissant for breakfast every day is also not very common unfortunately since they aren't the healthiest option for one's diet.

Caption: Colazione/breakfast in the morning.

Merenda, or an afternoon snack, is usually then eaten around 10:30am. A small snack can include having either an apple, some nuts, or even a sandwich or panini! If ordering a panini, many will stand on the sidewalk or eat on their way back to work or school since it can be handled and does not require you to sit down.

Many people will have pranzo, or lunch, around noon to 2pm. Since many places close for lunch, it can be important to follow along with these times in case your favorite lunch spot isn't open when you want it to be. With school hours, it can be hard to go along with these times, but don't worry as you can always find a panini place around every corner!

Caption: Panini places are aplenty in Florence.

Later, around 5pm or so, one may probably have another snack. This is usually the time for when a student gets out of school and will like an evening snack before dinner since it's usually not until later.

Cena, or dinner, is eaten a bit late compared to the time many may be used to in the US. Around 7:30 to 9pm is when people will usually begin eating dinner. If you are going out to eat, some restaurants may not open until about 7, so make sure you plan and have your merenda!

Structure of a Meal

As I said before, breakfast is smaller and only includes a small dish and a cafe. Lunch is also not a large meal with multiple courses and is usually healthier to ensure a person gets their nutrients in before dinner.

Dinnertime is usually a very structured meal. One may most likely not have every step of these dishes each time they have dinner, however, this is the order that they should be eaten in. When ordering in a restaurant, it can be nice to know the order in which they will bring out certain dishes and what is considered a side dish, appetizer, main dish, etc. These dinners also typically take a long time since they are large because dining is a main event to be shared with others.

Antipasti is usually considered the same as an appetizer. My go-to order is the bruschetta, but other things you can order are dried ham with cantaloupe, pecorino jam, or crostini.

Caption: Bruschetta makes for a good antipasti.

The first course is then usually called the primi piatti. There are a lot of pasta options under this section, which is my go-to usually every time I go out to eat for dinner. You may also find pizza on the menu, but not typically under the same section.

Caption: Primi piatti choice of pasta.

The second dish or the secondi piatti, consists mostly of meat. You will usually never find a pasta dish with chicken or fish with it because restaurants have these second dishes such as chicken breast or beef tartare.

Contorno, also known as side dishes, will then be served next. This is when you will usually get your vegetable intake such as potatoes, sauteed spinach, or baked vegetables.

You might not always find it on the menu, but formaggio and frutta could come next. Formaggio is cheese and some places may serve cheese after dinner and before dessert. Whereas frutta, or fruit, may also be served.

And dessert finally comes. Many Italian desserts include tiramisiº, fresh fruit with mascarpone, or a very light lemon sorbet.

Caption: Finally, it's time for dessert.

If you are still looking for something to finish off your meal, you may end it with an espresso or macchiato. Another thing to finish off a meal with is a digestivo, which is usually a shot with high alcohol content to aid in digestion such as grappa.

Though this may sound like a lot, don't worry because you get used to it quickly! As long as you always stay respectful and try to understand the culture and lifestyle in Italy, you will do just fine. Buon appetito!