How am I supposed to combine items from Italian restaurant menus?
I'm from the Netherlands, where we would typically have an appetizer (soup or something else) and a main dish (usually some kind of meat, served with fries and vegetables), and when that is finished, optionally a dessert.
Now in Italy, menus have antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, ... I know that if I order one of each type as usual, I get too much :-)
It seems there are several different ways to combine things to make a meal, but I don't know what to expect in terms of size, condiments, et cetera. Is there a "normal" way to order dinner? What happens if I order something from the "primi" list and my partner from the "secondi", well they be served at the same time?
Best Answer
Even for an hungry italian a complete menu is too much! In fact, lot of restaurant suggest some "touristic" menus and all of these menus exclude a part of complete menu; for example are Starter - First course and Dessert or First and Second course and Dessert. Restaurants manager know this so, when you eat "alla carta" (ordering what you want from menu) they usually take an ordination step-by-step, for example, for starter and first course then, when you finish your first course they ask you if you want a menù for seconds or dessert or if you want just a coffe. If you order a first course and your partner orders a second course you should ask if you want to receive all together or if you want two dishes to eat half and half of everything, there's not a rule on this...
For quantity of meal in the dish depends a lot from the restaurant, normally more the restaurant is elegant and expensive, less is the meal in your plat! Usually, when I go into a new restaurant, I check the dishes around me to understand their dish's size.
IMHO best restaurants are "osterie" which, usually are "rustic" restaurants in secondary streets with paper tablecloth and a restrict menu. Usually are cheaper restaurants with generous plat of local and fresh meal.
For condiments I've never had trouble, normally they all have a good measure...
For what to eat depends on what you like and where you are; for example, here in Bologna, we're strong with salumi, so starters, we've got a lot of good first courses and dessert but we're not particularly famous for seconds, so in Emilia Romagna I suggest you starters and first courses, in Napoli pizza, in Roma first courses again, ecc...
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How are meals divided in Italy?
Italian meal structure is typical of the European Mediterranean region and differs from North, Central, and Eastern European meal structure, though it still often consists of breakfast (colazione), lunch (pranzo), and supper (cena).Are you supposed to order primi and secondi?
You don't have to order every single course, but the general rule of thumb is to order at least two (and you can split one of them). So a couple, for example, might share one antipasto, order individual primi, and then share a secondo.What is the order of an Italian meal?
Typically an Italian meal consists of four courses (starter, first course, main course, and dessert), although this can be stretched to eight courses or more (starter, first course, fish main course, meat main course, cheese, and dessert).Can you split dishes in Italy?
It's rarely okay to share. Sharing plates, and saying \u201cwe'll order one plate of pasta for the three of us,\u201d just isn't done in Italy, though some places will prepare a mezzo porzione (half portion) if you ask nicely. The same holds for pizza.Everything You Need to Know About Italian Dining | Food Network
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