How to Read an Italian Menu Like a Local

An Italian menu is built like a story, and once you know the chapters, ordering becomes easy and a lot more fun. Meals are served in courses, and nobody expects you to eat all of them.

The classic order

• Antipasti are small starters such as bruschetta, cured meats or marinated vegetables.
• Primi are the first courses: pasta, risotto or soup.
• Secondi are the main dishes, usually meat or fish, served on their own.
• Contorni are the side dishes you order separately, like roasted potatoes or sauteed greens.
• Dolci close the meal with tiramisu, panna cotta or gelato.

You do not need to order every course. A very common lunch is simply a primo and a contorno, and many locals skip straight to a pasta and a glass of wine.

Look for the specials

The short handwritten list on the board or the waiter's recommendations usually show what is freshest that day. A good trattoria keeps its menu small, and a small menu means everything is cooked with care.

Finally, remember that cappuccino is a morning drink. Ask for an espresso after dinner and you will blend right in.