hermie

This might be a silly question but I was wondering if restaurants in Italy get frustrated/annoyed when customers split/share dishes.

I know how some meals are in Italy (starters, pasta, meat, dessert) and my husband and I were wondering what the reaction would be if we asked to share/split a dish. For example, if we ordered a couple starters but then just shared a plate of pasta or a meat plate, do restaurants get annoyed by that? We just know how much food there is to eat!! I know in the US some restaurants charge for a "split plate".

Thank you.

SeaUrchin

We solved that problem by not ordering separately. Have your husband order the list of what you both want to eat and then just take what you want from the plates.

If he doesn't want to do this just order and share the plates w/o making a big deal out of it.

We order wine, dessert and then with the shared meals it comes up to enough $ that the restaurant won't mind.

Mincepie

We have had no problem sharing meals in Italy. We will often share a pasta dish and then a meat dish.

ira

Hi H,

>I know how some meals are in Italy (starters, pasta, meat, dessert)...<

You don't have to order all of the courses.

Most menus are appetizer and main or main and dessert.

If you want just one item, that's OK, too.

SeaUrchin

Ira, in some restaurants she will get "the d--k eye" if she orders just one item.

fakemark

We were there in the busy summer season and never got any bad looks. We found it much more enjoyable to split, so we could try everything without spending too much money and without eating too much. We'd often order 1 appetizer, 1 main, and 1 dessert (with wine, of course). And with room for gelato an hour later!

indytravel

I ordered what I wanted in Sardinia and Sicily last month. If it was a starter and first, first and second, starter and dessert, just a second or almost obscene numbers of courses. I'd never notice whether or not a server gave me "a look." I'm not interested in what they think about what I'm ordering.

SeaUrchin

But the OP seems to be.

Pausanias

When in Rome . . . at least until your sense of entitlement kicks in. But then don't complain if the waiter obviously thinks you're uncouth. From his point of view you don't know how to live, or, at least eat. He's probably right. After all, he gets to live in Italy.

2Italy

Sometimes trying to explain to the waiter the fact that you wish to split may lead to confusion and "the eye", but we generally had no problem.
We would just order what we wanted and then eat off each other's plates. We never eat the full Italian meal.
Often we have an antipasto, which we often split, each get a pasta dish, a side dish, which we split, and wine. Never been much of a problem.

wlzmatilida

Hi Hermie,

Not a silly question at all, and in my opinion a great way to order! (I'm a big fan of dim sum and tapas).

We did this last month when in Italy because it's very difficult to know how much food you'll actually GET, and it's fun to share! My way of thinking is that you can always order MORE if necessary!

Some places you can get an antipasto that could feed four people and in others, just enough for yourself! What we tended to do was order a dish and say "una antipasto" (or whatever) and then stress "por dua". Many times the waiter would be a bit confused and repeat, "por dua?" and we would say "si".

Once we saw the size or the tastiness of the meal, we decide to order again. For example, in Southern Italy we ordered a seafood plate as an antipasto. It was delicious, so we ordered a second one and a pasta dish; that, the bread, and wine was enough for dinner.

Regards,

Melodie

Eloise

In Italian, the correct words to use - which may eliminate the puzzled expression on the waiter's face - are "uno per due."

viaggio_sempre

Wow, what a practical thread - thanks hermie. We will not have to wonder about this when we get there, instead we will concentrate on fun and food, relaxation and repast.

daisy58

not a silly question at all-glad you asked it cuz hubby and I split meals regularly, and on vacation it can save a bundle, since you can't "take it home"
with you. Personally, it's just food , and I would gladly subject myself to
d**k eye, then cave to the waiter's pressure of ordering, and spending, too much that would go to waste! Word to potential we**ied'd waiters--spare "the look", and you just might get a better tip!

Melissa5

Are you going to Rome? If so, you can avoid the whole problem at least 1 night by eating at Ristorante der Pallaro, within walking distance of the Pantheon. Our #1 favorite place to eat, it was 20 euros per person in June 2004 for an entire 5-course meal, no menus, no added taxes or fees, fun atmosphere eating home-cooked food in a family restaurant with lots of locals too.

I know June 2004 was a bit of time ago but we continue to talk about this place ad I have seen more recent reviews of it as well on this site and also on www.slowtrav.com Oh yea, the Ristorante der Pallaro doesn't have menus because everybody eats the samae food, whatever they have cooked up for you that day, it's wonderful! Good deal too.

Otherwise, in other restaurants, we sure weren't going to order all 5 courses for every one of our 5 family members, too expensive and too much food in other places. Mostly they understand.

One restaurant wanted us only to order course #1 first, and when that had been delivered to anyone who wanted it, then it was time to order course #2, and when that had been delivered to anyone who wanted it, then onto course #3, etc. but only one place was like that.

Have fun!

caroline_edinburgh

You sound like you've been to Italy before ? But in case not, be aware that generally European portions aren't as big as American portions. (Assuming you're American ?) In my admittedly limited experience of eating in the US (except at v. posh places), or in the Caribbean at restaurants aimed at Americans, the portions to me are massive and generally enough for 2. In Italy portions are usually a sensible size for one, except contorni which you'd be expected to share.

lobo_mau

Many years ago I went to a Roman restaurant and asked for a Spaguetti bolognaise. I remenber the waiter to be a very nice person. It was a huge amount of spaguetti. By the end, when he came and asked "what else?" I answered: "a coffe and the bill".
Oh boy, I felt the angered look of the waiter. I guess it was the d**k eye that other posters referred (I don't know what is means, and I believe I don't want to know)

kakalena

I just came back from Italy (Florence and Rome) traveling with a group of 5 Americans and if any of the waitstaff was driven mad by each of us having our own particular eating habits they didn't raise an eyebrow.

In a group of 5 we'd order several appetizers and plates were always provided to share of course. Some would order soup or salad. Some would order primi, secondi or both. Food flew around the table at that point. Maybe two of us would have coffee and one an apperitif. If we ordered a couple of desserts they often appeared with multiple spoons or forks without prompting. We always ordered a la carte because none of us was up to eating an entire multi-course meal.

The only faux pas we committed was one of the party insisting that we ask for butter with bread!! We were only given it ONCE during the entire time we were in Italy. : D

We were ignored, told that the waiter would ask the chef (and never returned), told bluntly No!, and we have no butter!!! I tried to explain to my group but it became a bit of a game to ask for butter to see the response.

I'd go with the don't ask don't tell approach to sharing. ; )

blissa

This is a very good question.

When I have eaten with a group or with another person in Italy, it often comes up, and I generally like to share. Explaining this to the waiter beforehand usually has worked out well, either with words mentioned above or sign language. I've never had that "d--k eye" happen yet. I'm sure it can happen, but I think they would still let you share anyway.
Once in Assissi I was dining alone, and was able to explain to the waiter that I wanted to order all the different courses, but only half portions, so I could taste a little of everything.
They did this without hesitation, it was an amazing meal, so I went back the next night and did the same with different dishes!

bill_boy

My wife and I shared courses in a few instances when dining in Italy. I'm noot sure if we got the look of disdain because I didn't really care. However, in most instances, the waiter even brought us an extra plate. These are the ones who are aware that not everybody in this world can eat as much as they can.