Italians are as well-known for their strict adherence to table manners as they are for their delicious meals. While you may not have to worry too much about these etiquettes when eating Italian food in Sayreville NJ, it’s a different story in Italy. They don’t say ‘when in Rome, do as Romans do’ for nothing. Behaving like them will help you avoid dirty looks and give you a smooth experience.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you eat at a restaurant in Italy, whether a high-end one or a regular one:
Keep Hands On Table
You might have developed a habit of folding your hands under the table from your parents telling you to keep elbows off of it at restaurants in Sayreville NJ. When dining in Italy, it’s a good habit to keep your hands on the table with your wrists resting on it. This practice dates back to the medieval era when people did this to show that they aren’t hiding weapons under.
Keep Breakfast Simple
The classic Italian breakfast consists of a cup of cappuccino and croissant or biscuit. Anything beyond that is considered too heavy. They even avoid eggs during breakfast, reserving it for dinner.
Don’t Switch Knife And Fork
It’s not such a big deal when dining at restaurants in Sayreville NJ but might be if you dine at a high-end place in Italy. Italians are particular about how they hold the knife and fork. They always use the right for the right and fork in the left throughout the meal.
Drink Coffee After Meal
Coffee is meant to be drunk after you finish the dessert, not while you have your meal. Italians drink coffee to digest the meal and believe that drinking it during a meal is unhealthy. If you must have a cup, have it from a nearby cafe before arriving at the restaurant. Also, do not order a cappuccino with your meal, it’s meant for breakfast.
Stay Away From Condiments
If you’re used to adding condiments on your burgers in Sayreville NJ, chuck the habit in Italy. Chefs here take it personally when you use condiments on the meals they prepare. It’s because the condiments mask the dish’s real taste, and shows that you don’t like what they make. It’s only acceptable to use condiments on burgers and fries.
Avoid Public Intoxication
When in Italy, cancel your plan to drink until buzzed because people don’t do that here. Getting drunk in public is considered ill-mannered. People usually have beer or wine with the meal rather than for getting intoxicated.
Call Server When You Need To
Unlike at restaurants in Sayreville NJ, waiters at Italian restaurants don’t constantly hang around the diners to see if they need anything. They take orders, serve meals and wait at a corner. This is to ensure that diners have a good time without disturbances.
If you need anything, you should make eye contact with the server and call them to tell them what you need. On that note, you should call the waiter who served your food and not the one who took your order.
Request Check
At your local Mike’s Pizza, the check would normally arrive as soon as you finish your order. In Italian restaurants, you have to request the check because it’s normal for diners to order more items after they finish.
The Inviter Pays
It’s normal for the person who invites you for a meal to pay the bill. Of course, guests should make an effort to pay for the sake of politeness.
Don’t Eat Bread Before Meal
Unlike at the local Mike’s Pizza where the bread is an appetizer, in Italian restaurants, bread is meant to be eaten with the entree or leftover sauce from your pasta. On that note, don’t order olive oil or vinegar unless it's offered with the bread. You shouldn’t eat it with pasta, risotto or soup either.