loncall

I am wanting to book some italian restaurants via email prior to our trip. We are not sure what the normal greeting woulld be for an email communication would be [as opposed to a letter] . Can anyone offer us a suitable translation for an email asking the following :-

"Hi

We would like to book a table at x time on y day for three people.

If the weather permits we would like to sit outside if possible.

Many thanks"

zeppole

In my view, you should never send an e-mail in a language if you aren't going to understand the reply. So I recommend that you begin your e-mail with a polite Buon giorno but make your request in English. You can follow that by repeating your request in Italian.

Are these restaurants so famous you need to book very much in advance? Even though a lot of Italian restaurants have created fancy websites and offer an e-mail contact address, nobody actually looks at the e-mails. If you are leaving very soon, and these are famous restaurants, and you really want to go there, you would do better to telephone.

If your trip is months away, the chances of your e-mail and reservation getting lost in the shuffle (especially during August) is pretty high. Unless you are planning to dine at the most famous Michelin-multi-starred restaurants, I would wait until after August and much closer to your trip before contacting the restaurant.

Finally, if you decide to go ahead with the e-mails and you don't get a reply, don't hold it against the restaurant or think they don't want you. It is still the case that many Italians just don't think to check their e-mail because so few people send e-mails. It could still be a great restaurant with great customer service.

zeppole

PS: I meant to add that if these are pretty much local restaurants you've picked because they are near your hotel, wait until you get to Italy and ask your hotel to make the reservation by telephone for you. It's more reliable, plus you'll have a chance to ask your hotel if they think the restaurant is good.

nochblad

We would like to book a table at x time on y day for three people.

If the weather permits we would like to sit outside if possible.

Many thanks

Buongiorno

Vorrei prenotare un tavolo il y (day/month) per x persone alle zz.zz (use a 24 hour clock - i.e. 20.00 for 8 p.m.)

Se il tempo si permette vogliamo mangiare fuori.

Cordiali saluti

My Italian is not perfect but this should be good enough.

J62

What is your definition of "If the weather permits we would like to sit outside if possible."?

I've been in Italy when it's been over 40C/104F. The weather certainly permits outside dining, but common sense does not.

franco

nochblad's attempt is basically fine, but not the last sentence. It's considered grossly impolite to say "voglio" in Italian if you want somebody else to do something - only use "voglio" if YOU are the only one concerned. "Voglio smettere di fumare" - I want to stop smoking. BUT:

In caso di bel tempo, preferiremmo mangiare all'aria aperta. = If the weather is nice, we'd rather like to eat outside.

But of course, zeppole is right: don't be surprised if you never get a reply. Italians typically don't communicate by email, whatever their websites may claim. If a restaurant doesn't answer, and you really think it's necessary to make that reservation, call them by phone.

Jean

I just ask my hotels to make these reservations. I give them a couple of dates, our preferred time and any other requests. I usually do this after we've arrived, but sometimes it's nice to have a reservation in advance for the day you arrive in a city.

loncall

Many thanks for everyone's help and the translations. We are staying in an rented apartment hence will not have access to anyone in a hotel to make local phone calls for us, hence the plan for email booking.

maitaitom

We booked a couple of restaurants before we left for Rome. Just like zeppole stated above, we started with "Buon giorno" and then stated our request in English. The restaurants emailed back in English within a couple of days.

franco

maitaitom, I'm afraid that says more about the restaurants you chose than about Italian habits. Osteria dell'Angelo for example, which is arguably Rome's best restaurant, doesn't even seem to have an email address, at least, there is none traceable on the web.

janisj

I wouldn't use e-mail. Phone, ask if someone on staff speak English, and then book over the phone

StCirq

I get about a 2% response rate on emails to hotels and restaurants in Europe. It's not worth it to me. I just call before I leave home, or fax, but that doesn't get much of a response rate either.

maitaitom

"I'm afraid that says more about the restaurants you chose than about Italian habits....Osteria dell'Angelo for example, which is arguably Rome's best restaurant, doesn't even seem to have an email address"

well Franco, then I wouldn't email Osteria dell'Angelo if they didn't have an email address. I would call. Hostaria Costanza (Zabaione heaven and a damned good steak) and Ditirambo (decent restaurant that just forgot to put the lamb on my chops) both had email addresses, so I emailed them and they replied. That's what the OP asked. I guess my question is; if a restaurant in Rome accepts email, does that mean the restaurant sucks, in your opinion? Just asking.

franco

Not at all, heavens! Even if they ANSWER emails, it doesn't say the place is bad. I just wanted to point out just HOW unusual email still is in Italy...

franco

Or to put it more precisely: no, I don't fear the restaurant sucks if they have, and answer, email. But yes, I think it's a positive sign if they have no website and no email address. The email restaurant group, so to speak, is likely to be a mixed bag of posh restaurants (top quality or just pretending), touristy rip-offs, and traditional trattorie where perhaps daughter or son are a bit more up-to-date, electronically, than usual in Italy; while the no-website no-email places (or those who have a website but never check their email) will, with a high probability, be those very traditional places that are with an even higher probability providing an extremely satisfying dining experience.

maitaitom

Thanks franco. It's interesting. I wonder in the future if the no website restaurants will get one, or if it will stay the status quo?

alihutch

I've never booked a restaurant in advance for a holiday trip in my life. I like to explore and see where I fancy going when I get there.

franco

maitaitom, one day, I guess all of them will have websites, step 1. I even think that one day, step 2, they will all read their email. But I'm not sure whether anybody of us will live to see step 2. Italians have been surprisingly resistant to the temptations of web & email so far.

zeppole

loncall,

I don't know where you are going, but most historic centers are pretty compact. Even if you send an e-mail, if you are really keen on a particular restaurant, stick your head in if it's open when you are passing by during the day to secure your reservation.

And? Most apartment landlords will not mind making a reservation for you before you arrive.

I recommend traveling with at least one cell phone.

LoveItaly

Lonecall, zeppole and I are on the same page. I too was going to suggest that you make your reservations after getting settled into your apartment. If there is a restaurant that is known for always being booked and consequently reservations are very difficult to obtain I would call them before your trip or secondly send them a fax. My experience has been that generally Italians pay more attention to a fax than an email. And if your apartment landlord would make reservations for you, it would cost nothing to ask, that would be helpful. Best wishes and enjoy your time in Italy and their wonderful food.