What time do you eat dinner in Italy
Jun 29th, 2006, 02:07 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
8 pm-ish. Anything prior to that is not customary. However, due to tourists in each city, many ristorantes open at 7-7:30 pm for those that are used to eating dinner earlier in the evening than the Italians.
Jun 29th, 2006, 02:55 PM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 894
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can find some restaurants in Rome that will serve you earlier than 8pm..especially if it is a restaurant that is open during the day for lunch. Some restaurants are only open for dinner and will open their doors no earlier than 8pm. I think you'll find the restaurants most busy between 8:30pm and 10pm.
Jun 29th, 2006, 03:10 PM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"she looked for restaurants that were empty at 7:30 (meaning they were favored by locals rather than by tourists)."
How did she know they wouldn't still be empty at 9:00, and not popular with either tourists or locals?
How did she know they wouldn't still be empty at 9:00, and not popular with either tourists or locals?
Jun 29th, 2006, 05:12 PM
#13
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know - it';s really weird. We used to have a client in the midwest (the whole company - not just one person) that would eat lunch at 11 in the morning and was out the door at 4:30 so they could be home for dinner at 5 in the afternoon.
I'm ecstatic if I'm out of work by 7 - and then have to coordinate with the beau how late he has to work - so we decide if we;re going to meet somewhere to eat - or if whoever gets home first will order in something - and we always do stuff that can be reheated - since who knows until you're actually out the door of the office.
(And not even then - I've had clients call me at 4 pm Sat afternoon for a crisis meeting for 8am Sunday morning - in a city 2 hours away by plane.)
I'm ecstatic if I'm out of work by 7 - and then have to coordinate with the beau how late he has to work - so we decide if we;re going to meet somewhere to eat - or if whoever gets home first will order in something - and we always do stuff that can be reheated - since who knows until you're actually out the door of the office.
(And not even then - I've had clients call me at 4 pm Sat afternoon for a crisis meeting for 8am Sunday morning - in a city 2 hours away by plane.)
Jun 30th, 2006, 08:29 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,052
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We usually eat dinner in Italy between 8-9 pm. Usually the later the better, as restaurants are still pretty empty at 7:30, depending on where you go.
nytraveler, I'm one of those Midwesterners you are talking about! I usually eat lunch between 11:00 and noon, and I start preparing dinner as soon as I get home from work, which is about 5:30. We usually eat within an hour after that. I have a job where its not necessary to stay late, though, so this is our routine. I work out about an hour after dinner, so I like to get it out of the way as soon as possible.
Tracy
nytraveler, I'm one of those Midwesterners you are talking about! I usually eat lunch between 11:00 and noon, and I start preparing dinner as soon as I get home from work, which is about 5:30. We usually eat within an hour after that. I have a job where its not necessary to stay late, though, so this is our routine. I work out about an hour after dinner, so I like to get it out of the way as soon as possible.
Tracy
Jun 30th, 2006, 08:42 AM
#16
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
nytraveler, Why is it 'weird' for somebody who works to want to get home so they can have dinner with their family?
Sure, 5:00 is early for me to eat but most people with families don't meet their beau for dinner or order delivery. Most people come home and cook for their kids or significant other and this takes some time.
Sure, 5:00 is early for me to eat but most people with families don't meet their beau for dinner or order delivery. Most people come home and cook for their kids or significant other and this takes some time.
Jun 30th, 2006, 09:12 AM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
We're one of those couples who eat early in Italy which is still later then we eat at home. Usually we eat around 7 -7:30 and when we're at home it's 5:30-6. When we're travelling we are exhausted by 11 and usually in bed...can't imagine eating dinner at 9 or 10 and going to bed on a full stomach. My DH has health issues too so eating late isn't good for him.
My husband and kids often had meetings/games/etc. in the evening...no way could we eat at 7 or later, plus when my boys were in school they were starving by 5:30.
My husband and kids often had meetings/games/etc. in the evening...no way could we eat at 7 or later, plus when my boys were in school they were starving by 5:30.
Jun 30th, 2006, 09:41 AM
#18
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since we had a business I always got home late so we usually sat down to eat around 8:30pm. I now eat about 7:30 to 8:00pm.
In Italy I eat around 9:00pm so that fits in with what I am use to.
I have had friends that eat dinner very early, around 5:30pm. I have suggested and they have found it works out perfect for them that when they go to Italy they eat their main meal at lunch time (around 1:00pm) and then just have something light to eat in the evening.
Along with some wine of course!
So for those that are use to eating dinner early at home you might want to see if this suggestion would work for you.
In Italy I eat around 9:00pm so that fits in with what I am use to.
I have had friends that eat dinner very early, around 5:30pm. I have suggested and they have found it works out perfect for them that when they go to Italy they eat their main meal at lunch time (around 1:00pm) and then just have something light to eat in the evening.
Along with some wine of course!
So for those that are use to eating dinner early at home you might want to see if this suggestion would work for you.
Jun 30th, 2006, 09:45 AM
#19
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to laugh - my FIL would arrive home at 5:00PM and expect dinner to be sitting on the table. He died 30 years ago and my MIL still has dinner every day between 4:30 and 5:00PM. Spouse and I, on the other hand, like to eat after 7:30PM.
On another note: 15 years ago I moved from NYC (where we ate lunch around 1PM) to Texas where the people in my office went out at 11:00 for lunch. To this day I kid my assistant about going out for a late breakfast.
On another note: 15 years ago I moved from NYC (where we ate lunch around 1PM) to Texas where the people in my office went out at 11:00 for lunch. To this day I kid my assistant about going out for a late breakfast.
