What do Italians Eat for Dinner?

Italians place a lot of importance on dinner. It's the time when you gather with your loved ones or friends for a larger meal than lunch. In Italy, people choose to eat a pizza or go to an osteria if they are planning to go out for a fairly casual dinner (casual dining with lots of options). A trattoria is a level-up of the osteria option, offering a more elegant but yet informal dinner at a restaurant. However, some people prefer to go directly to the restaurant for an exquisite meal.

The full Italian dinner is a multi-course feast. You begin with antipasti, which are both warm and cold appetizers. The following dish is a "primo," which is a soup, risotto, or pasta first course. The next course is "secondo," a beef- or fish-based dish. Always served alongside the secondi are some "contorni," which are side dishes like salad, potatoes, or other vegetables. After that you receive a digestivo, followed by coffee and dessert.

Although it is customary, Italians do not always order the whole Italian supper when they eat out. It is customary for Italians to do this when celebrating special occasions, including Sunday meals with their families. It is more common for Italians to split an antipasti, primi, and secondi between two individuals when they go to a restaurant.

As a demonstration of respect, Italians often eat everything on their plate. While ordering meals to go may be commonplace in other nations, it is usual in Italy to consume the entire meal in the local.

Additionally, Italians often do not begin dinner before 9 o'clock. Even informal dinners will last at least two hours. It is generally advisable to call and make a reservation for supper in advance if you are traveling to Italy during the busiest time of the year.