General Terms
mangiare/bere to eat/to drink colazione breakfast pranzo lunch cena dinner ristorante/trattoria formal/casual restaurant enoteca wine shop (often sells by the glass and bottle, with food) conto check	cameriere/cameriera waiter/waitress pane e coperto standard fee for bread and place setting aperto/chiuso open/closed prenotazione reservation piatto plate, dish, or course coltello knife forchetta fork	cucchiaio spoon bicchiere glass tazza/tazzina cup/espresso cup tovagliolo napkin menu a prezzo fisso set-price menu antipasto appetizer primo piatto first course: soup, risotto or pasta	secondo piatto main course: usually meat or fish contorno side dish dolce dessert (literally "sweet") bollito/lesso boiled fritto fried arrosto roasted alla griglia grilled	al sangue/cottura media/ben cotto rare/medium/well done piccante spicy affumicato smoked forno oven fatto in casa homemade caldo/tiepido/freddo hot/warm/cold in umido stewed vegetariano vegetarian
Staples
pane/panino bread/sandwich or roll sale/pepe/peperoncino salt/pepper/hot pepper olio di oliva olive oil aceto vinegar pasta fresca/di grano duro freshly made pasta/durum wheat flour pasta pasta ripiena/all'uovo stuffed pasta/egg pasta riso rice carne meat	pollo chicken anatra duck manzo beef vitello veal tacchino turkey agnello/abbacchio lamb/spring lamb maiale/cinghiale/maialino pork/wild boar/suckling pig bistecchina/bistecca beef, veal, or pork chop/steak salumi cured meats	prosciutto crudo/cotto salt-cured (e.g., Parma) ham/cooked ham salame salami salsiccia sausage pesce fish merluzzo/baccalà/stoccaf isso fresh cod/salt cod/stockfish sgombro mackerel branzino/spigola sea bass pesce spada swordfish polpo octopus calamaro squid	vongole clams cozze mussels gamberi shrimp aragosta/astice spiny/clawed lobster frutti di mare seafood verdure vegetables insalata salad greens, or salad pomodori tomatoes peperoni bell peppers melanzane eggplants cipolle onions funghi mushrooms	patate potatoes cavolo cabbage cime di rapa broccoli rabe latte intero/latte parzialmente scremato whole milk/skim milk burro butter formaggio/formaggio fresco/stagionato cheese/fresh cheese/aged cheese

Popular Dishes
bruschetta toasted bread typically seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and salt antipasti misti/affettati misti mixed appetizers/mixed cured meats ragù alla bolognese meat sauce made with ground beef sugo all'amatriciana zesty tomato sauce with guanciale/pancetta pesto Ligurian pasta sauce with garlic, basil, pine nuts, grated cheese, and olive oil spaghetti alle vongole spaghetti with clams spaghetti alla carbonara spaghetti with eggs, cheese, and guanciale/pancetta pappardelle alla lepre/al cinghiale wide tagliatelle with hare/wild boar	tortellini/agnolotti/cappelletti/ravioli stuffed pasta risotto rice cooked with meat, fish, or vegetables insalata di riso/pasta fredda chilled rice salad/pasta salad minestra/zuppa/minestrone soup/thick, hearty soup/hearty vegetable soup gnocchi bite-size potato dumplings involtino a thin slice of meat rolled around a filling grigliata mista di carne/di pesce mixed grilled meats/fish costoletta alla milanese/alla bolognese breaded, fried veal chop/veal Parmesan	saltimbocca veal cutlets topped with prosciutto and sage cacciucco/brodetto/ciuppin hearty fish stews scampi alla piastra grilled shrimp scampi frittura di pesce mixed fried fish insalata caprese tomatoes and mozzarella, seasoned with olive oil, salt, and basil melanzane alla parmigiana eggplant parmesan caponata Sicilian-style stewed eggplant patate fritte/patate arrosto/purea di patate fried potatoes/roasted potatoes/mashed potatoes polenta cornmeal mush

Drinks and Desserts
acqua naturale/gassata still/sparkling water vino bianco/rosso/rosato white wine/red/rosé spumante sparkling wine passito/vinsanto sweet dessert wines amaro after-dinner digestive	limoncello lemon liqueur bottiglia bottle caraffa carafe birra in lattina/in bottiglia/alla spina beer, canned/bottled/on tap birra chiara/rossa/scura lager/red ale/stout	frutta fresca/secca fresh/dried fruit fragole al limone/al vino strawberries with lemon juice/wine noci/nocciole/castagne walnuts/hazelnuts/chestnuts	biscotti di Prato almond biscotti gelato/sorbetto/granita ice cream/sorbet/shaved ice flavored with syrup budino pudding zuppa inglese English trifle	crostata alla frutta shortbread tart topped with fresh fruit torta cake macedonia fruit salad pera al vino pear simmered in spiced wine amaretti almond macaroons