Dinner at a restaurant in Italian, from booking to bill
Vorrei prenotare per stasera alle otto, siamo in due.
“I'd like to book for tonight at eight, there are two of us.”
When: On the phone, before anything else
The moment
You book a table by phone for tonight, arrive and get seated, order for two, and one plate comes out wrong. You fix it politely, then ask to split the bill.
A2 · Unit 1 · Eating out · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
The booking line
Open every reservation the same way: Vorrei prenotare per stasera alle otto, siamo in due. Day and time, then how many of you, then your name when they ask for it.
Vorrei prenotare per stasera alle otto, siamo in due.
“I'd like to book for tonight at eight, there are two of us.”
When to use it: On the phone, before anything else
What you’ll hear back: Certo, a che nome? (Of course, under what name?)
Fixing a wrong plate
When the wrong dish lands, stay on the order and off the person: Scusi, io avevo ordinato l'amatriciana. A friendly grazie afterwards keeps the table happy.
Scusi, io avevo ordinato l'amatriciana.
“Excuse me, I ordered the amatriciana.”
When to use it: As soon as you see the mistake
What you’ll hear back: Chiedo scusa, glielo cambio subito. (I do apologise, I'll change it right away.)
Words for this scene
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Abbiamo prenotato a nome Rossi | ab-BYAH-moh preh-noh-TAH-toh ah NOH-meh ROS-see | We have a booking under the name Rossi |
Buonasera, abbiamo prenotato a nome Rossi. Good evening, we have a booking under the name Rossi. Tip: Say it as you walk in, before anyone asks you anything. | ||
| Prendiamo qualcosa da dividere? | pren-DYAH-moh kwal-KOH-zah dah dee-VEE-deh-reh | Shall we get something to share? |
Ho fame: prendiamo qualcosa da dividere? I'm hungry: shall we get something to share? Tip: Antipasti and fried starters are the dishes Italians share. | ||
| Facciamo alla romana | fat-CHAH-moh AL-lah roh-MAH-nah | Let's split the bill evenly |
Siamo in quattro, facciamo alla romana? There are four of us, shall we split it evenly? Tip: The go-to line the second the bill lands among friends. | ||
Your objective
Book a table for two, order for both of you, sort out the dish that comes out wrong, and ask to split the bill.
- a table for two
- the wrong dish
- splitting the bill
Lines that get it done
- Vorrei prenotare per stasera alle otto, siamo in due.
- Scusi, io avevo ordinato l'amatriciana.
- Siamo in quattro, facciamo alla romana? · There are four of us, shall we split it evenly?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You walk in with a reservation under Rossi. What do you say to the host?
- Abbiamo prenotato a nome Rossi.
- Abbiamo prenotato al nome di Rossi.
- Siamo prenotati per Rossi.
- Abbiamo un tavolo di Rossi.
Show the answer
Abbiamo prenotato a nome Rossi.
The fixed expression is a nome plus the surname, with no article in between.
2. On the phone the restaurant asks 'A che nome?' What do they want?
- The name to put the booking under.
- The time you want to eat.
- How many people are coming.
- Whether you want to sit outside.
Show the answer
The name to put the booking under.
A che nome? asks whose name goes on the reservation list.
3. Dinner is over and everyone wants to pay the same amount. What do you say?
- Facciamo alla romana.
- Facciamo alla milanese.
- Facciamo il conto romano.
- Paghiamo alla romana la metà.
Show the answer
Facciamo alla romana.
Fare alla romana is the standard Italian phrase for splitting the bill evenly.