My wife and I are heading to Rome - today - and are really looking forward to (among many other things) the wonderful Roman food. We're planning to eat at some very traditional places (Checchino dal 1887, La Matriciana). We're both light eaters and hate to be wasteful so we usually share most of a dinner.

Will this be okay ? Will people be put off or offended by it ? We usually tip as if we both ate a full meal.

Thanks
David

Portions in Europe aren't as big as in the US. Of course, tipping isn't as big either.

What part of the meal are you planning to share? A typical Italian meal comprises an antipasto, a primo piatto, a segondo piatto, and dessert, but of course most people, even Italians, can't handle all that, so it's fairly common for someone to just order, say, an antipasto and a primo piatto or a segondo piatto. Are you planning to just share one of those three? Two of those three? I have shared an antipasto with a dining companion and then we each got our own primo or segondo, and I've read about people who've asked for a primo or segondo to be split up, but personally I wouldn't do that. Very generally speaking, I think that when a nice restaurant gives you a table, they expect you to eat and order your own food. Maybe not so important in a more casual place.

And I don't think tipping has much to do with it, as a tip as it's known in America isn't the norm in Italy; rounding the bill up to the next couple of euros is more the norm. So if you ordered half the food an Italian ordered and tipped five times as much, it would be seen as kind of odd. I doubt you'd ruffle a whole lot of feathers, though.

I've not eaten at the places you mention but after walking around all day and having a very light lunch (perhaps a piece of fruit) you should be able to manage 2 courses each. No need to order every course. You could each have a salad or antipasto, one person could order a first course (pasta, gnochi, etc.) and the other a meat/fish course and ask to have them served together so you can taste each other's plates, and then share a dessert.

As kybourbon mentioned, the courses are small. A plate of pasta is not anywhere as large as it is in the US; it's more like a side portion as it's meant to be eaten before the next course of meat/fish.

I have shared salads and desserts in Italy without problem.

First, portions are much smaller than in the US - so don;t know that there will be enough to share.

Second, if you try to share an entire meal they will NOT be plesed. It's fine to share a specific course (appetizer or dessert) - or to order lightly if that's all you want - but 2 people can't just go in and buy 1 dinner.

I've eaten at Checchino several times. It is an elegant restaurant and I do not think they would be pleased if you split every course between the two of you. I agree with the other comments regarding portion size etc. What you tip isn't going to matter as a service charge is included in the bill already. After a long morning of sightseeing on coffee and a roll, you should be able to manage two courses at lunch. If you are planning on going to these places for dinner, just have a small sandwich at lunchtime.

I agree with Grinisa.In the US you are used to have huge portions that could actually feel 3 people with a light appetite,therefore I can understand that you want to share a meal.

In Italy especially in better restaurants, the portions are perhaps a third of what you are using to get in the US.

Even in the US, if one reserves at an elegant restaurant, there would be an expectation that each person would order his/her own plate with, perhaps, a shared first or dessert course.

Anna

La Matriciano (Via Viminale, right?) is not as fancy as Checchino. You should be okay with SOME sharing. However, if you do elect to share every course, you will NOT be made to feel very welcome.

Have you considered lunch rather than dinner at these very traditional places? Then you can just share pizza or something at dinner.

You cannot share an entire meal in a restaurant like Checchino. You each have to order at least one course; you can share others. The ones most often shared - uno per due, and it comes on two plates from the kitchen - are antipasto and primo (pasta or risotto). Contorni (side dishes) can also be shared.

Restaurant portions are not supersized. If you can't manage a half-portion of primo and a secondo, consider going to more casual places.