Ordering food and dining out
Ordinare cibo e mangiare fuori
- Ask food from the menu.
- Reserve a table in a restaurant.
- The polite form: vorrei
Learn to order food and make reservations in Italian using polite expressions like "vorrei" to say "I would like." Practice key vocabulary such as il menù (menu), il conto (bill), and la bevanda (drink) for dining out scenarios.
Vocabulary (12) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Classify these words based on the place where you eat or the actions and phrases used during dinner.
Luoghi e oggetti nel ristorante
Azioni ed espressioni per ordinare e comunicare
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
La pizzeria
The pizzeria
2
Possibile
Possible
3
Il vino
The wine
4
Buon appetito!
Enjoy your meal!
5
Il conto, per favore!
The bill, please!
Esercizio 5: Conversation exercise
Istruzione:
- Order what you want from the menu. (Order what you want from the menu.)
- Play a dialogue in the restaurant. (Play a dialogue in the restaurant.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Posso avere il menu per favore? Can I have the menu please? |
|
Vuoi fare un ordine? Do you want to order? |
|
Voglio un'insalata come antipasto. I want to have a salad as a starter. |
|
Voglio i profiteroles per dessert. I want profiteroles for dessert. |
|
Posso prenotare un tavolo per quattro persone alle 8? Can I reserve a table for four people at 8 o’clock? |
|
Voglio una pizza come piatto principale. I want a pizza as my main dish. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Vorrei _______ un tavolo per stasera, per favore.
(I would like to _______ a table for tonight, please.)2. Vorrei _______ una pizza margherita dal menù.
(I would like to _______ a Margherita pizza from the menu.)3. Oggi non _______ vino, grazie.
(Today I don’t _______ wine, thank you.)4. Vorrei _______ una bevanda fresca, per favore.
(I would like to _______ a cold drink, please.)Exercise 8: Ordering at the restaurant
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Prenotare - To book
Presente
- (io) prenoto
- (tu) prenoti
- (lui/lei) prenota
- (noi) prenotiamo
- (voi) prenotate
- (loro) prenotano
Portare - To bring
Presente
- (io) porto
- (tu) porti
- (lui/lei) porta
- (noi) portiamo
- (voi) portate
- (loro) portano
Volere - To want
Presente
- (io) voglio
- (tu) vuoi
- (lui/lei) vuole
- (noi) vogliamo
- (voi) volete
- (loro) vogliono
Ordinare - To order
Presente
- (io) ordino
- (tu) ordini
- (lui/lei) ordina
- (noi) ordiniamo
- (voi) ordinate
- (loro) ordinano
Chiedere - To ask for
Presente
- (io) chiedo
- (tu) chiedi
- (lui/lei) chiede
- (noi) chiediamo
- (voi) chiedete
- (loro) chiedono
Pagare - To pay
Presente
- (io) pago
- (tu) paghi
- (lui/lei) paga
- (noi) paghiamo
- (voi) pagate
- (loro) pagano
Tornare - To return
Presente
- (io) torno
- (tu) torni
- (lui/lei) torna
- (noi) torniamo
- (voi) tornate
- (loro) tornano
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Ordinare to order Share Copied!
Presente
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| (io) ordino | I order |
| (tu) ordini | You order |
| (lui/lei) ordina | he/she orders |
| (noi) ordiniamo | we order |
| (voi) ordinate | You order |
| (loro) ordinano | they order |
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Introduction to Ordering Food and Dining Out in Italian
This lesson focuses on practical language skills for ordering food and dining out in Italy. It is designed for beginner learners (A1 level) who want to confidently communicate in restaurants, cafés, and pizzerias. You will learn key vocabulary related to places, objects, and polite expressions, as well as common phrases for making reservations, ordering meals, and asking about the menu.
Key Vocabulary Groups
- Places and Objects at the Restaurant: il ristorante (restaurant), la pizzeria (pizzeria), il menù (menu), il conto (bill), la bevanda (drink)
- Actions and Polite Expressions: ordinare (to order), la prenotazione (reservation), buon appetito! (enjoy your meal!)
Polite Requests Using "Vorrei"
The form "vorrei" is a polite and courteous way to express desires or requests, essential when ordering or communicating at a restaurant. Examples include:
- Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due, per favore. (I would like to reserve a table for two, please.)
- Il menù, per favore, vorrei vedere cosa offre il ristorante. (The menu, please, I would like to see what the restaurant offers.)
- Vorrei ordinare una pizza margherita e una bevanda. (I would like to order a margherita pizza and a drink.)
Typical Restaurant Dialogues
The lesson includes simulated dialogues for common situations such as booking a table by phone, ordering food at the restaurant, and politely asking questions about the menu. These dialogues help you practice everyday conversations using natural expressions and courteous language.
Verb Practice
You will find exercises to reinforce present tense conjugations of important verbs like prenotare (to reserve), portare (to bring), volere (to want), ordinare (to order), chiedere (to ask), pagare (to pay), and tornare (to return). These verbs are essential when interacting in dining contexts.
Mini Story Example
The short story allows you to see vocabulary and verbs in context:
Stasera io e Maria prenotiamo un tavolo in una pizzeria vicino a casa. Quando arriviamo, il cameriere ci porta il menù. Io vorrei una pizza margherita e una bevanda...
Notes on Differences Between English and Italian in Dining Contexts
In Italian, polite requests often use the conditional form "vorrei" (I would like) rather than the simple present "voglio" (I want), which sounds more direct. This is important to remember when ordering or making reservations. For example, Vorrei ordinare una pizza is more courteous than Voglio una pizza.
Additionally, in Italian restaurants, the menu is "il menù" and the bill is "il conto." When asking for the bill, saying Il conto, per favore is a polite and common phrase.
Some useful expressions include:
- Buon appetito! – Enjoy your meal!
- Il conto, per favore. – The bill, please.
- È possibile riservare un tavolo per stasera? – Is it possible to reserve a table for tonight?
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