Fairhope

So if I eat cichetti in Venice or a bollito in Florence and eat at the bar, am I standing at the bar or seated at the bar?
By the way these answers are helpful!!

Shanna

To ask for the bill (to the best of my recollection since all my books are bagged in prep for one hurricane or another): Il conti, per favore (ill contee pair fah-vor-ay). Roll that 'r' just a bit, not as much as a double 'r'.

Joelleinitaly04

""Getting the bill in an Italian restaurant can actually be an ordeal. I don't know why, but it can take forever - maybe because only the restaurant owner has access to the cash register, and he/she may be busy chatting with regular customers. ""

The reason they don't show up with the billt he minute you've put your fork down is because they expect you to enjoy your meal and the company and conversation. It does get some getting used to, but once you get into the groove of Italian meals, they really are wonderful. I so enjoyed those leasurely meals getting reaquainted with my teenagers while "waiting forever" for the bill.

I was just missing that way of eating the other night at Applebees while an anxious waiter stopped at our table every 5 minutes, interrupting our conversation "Everything okay, like your meal, want something else, do you like me?," like some kind of annoying lap dog. Ugh.

Joelle

cmt

Shanna, re your language advice: "I conti" is plural; "il conto" is singular. The "e" shouldn't really be pronounced as "ay," but that's OK, because it will be understood.

Budman

How about if you want the bill and can't seem to get your waiter's attention, you get up and start to walk out. Will that work?

cmt

Yes, that works. I finally had to do that in Stresa in one place. I DID ask for the bill. The waitress noddded and then continued to stand around staring into space, not waiting on tables, just standing around, not making eye contact with fellow humans. (By the way, there was more of this manner of not making eye contact in the Italian lakes area than in any area of Italy I've ever visited, and it was downright peculiar.) I can't stand smoke, and I'd been deliberately going to dinner early to avoid it. while I waited and waited for the check that I'd asked for, the place started filling up with smokers. I went outside in the drizzle to the unoccupied outdoor dining area to wait. The waitress zoomed out. I reminded her I'd asked for the bill ____ minutes ago and told her I was allergic to smoke and couldn't remain indoors any longer. I got the check.

nicegirl512

This is a really stupid question, but at a cafe for lunch or other casual occasion, do you seat yourself at an indoor or outdoor table? Or is there a hostess who seats you?

suze

I have seen both, although if there is a maitre'd usual a man not a hostess. Just stop for a minute at the edge of the patio or doorway to the restaurant & pause a second and look. You should be able to tell if people are being seated, or it is self-serve.