Reading menus in Italy....
 

Just wondering how much Italian I need to learn to read the menus. I assume most are not in English??????

We found almost all restraunts had english menus, but it's a good idea to take a phrase book that includes food for those times when english isn't offered.

also depends if you speak another language. im fluent in spanish and french and had little to no problems.

SOME restaurants in major metropolitan areas may have menus in English, but I certainly wouldn't count on it. I don't think I encountered a single menu in English in 5 weeks in Umbria last year.

How much Italian you need to learn depends on how much you care to know about what you're eating. If you're happy with pizza and pasta types that you already recognize and sauces like pesto and bolognese and such, you don't need to learn any. Other words you can probably figure out on your own - insalata mista, e.g. But if food's important to you, I'd get a phrase book.

Hi LJ,

See www.travelersmenureader.com

I have found their pocket-size translater helpful.

((I))

I like the menu translator called Eating and Drinking in Italy by Herbach and Dillon. The foods are listed in alphabetical order and there were very few menu items that I could not figure out with this book. It is small, fits in a pocket or small purse.

I do like the menus with English translations, mostly for the humorous translations. One favorite was "beef wrapped in lard"...

I have always relied on the Marling Menu Master for Germany. I purchased one for Italy for our trip this month. But now that you mention it, I haven't heard anyone recommend the Marling for Italy. Anyone use it? Or, have problems with it?
Thanks,
H

cls2paris, my favorite remains "cooked leg bone of dead baby cow". Made me never want to eat Osso Bucco again. At least the baby cow was dead before they cooked its leg.

Neo - that's not very appetizing, is it?! Have you had the "back of a baby pig" or "pig knuckles on stick" - I sampled both in Vienna? Yum!

I like to have little themes on my trips and I think the next one I will write down funny food translations. I've done funny signs, funny pub names in the U.K. and keeping track of the all the different ways to flush a toilet.

In my favorite restaurant in Rome the English menu listed a dish called "skilled brains." I always request the Italian menu because I find them easier to understand than some of the odd English translations.

I think the real meaning of the odd dish mentioned was supposed to be "skillet brains" meaning sauteed brains.

If you are concerned, do get one of the recommended phrase books or translators.

Thanks again everyone. Another task checked off with all your help.