Now that we’ve shared a dozen things that you want to do when you eat in Italy, it’s time to share almost as many things that you don’t want to do when you mangia (eat in Italian) in cities like Rome and Venice. After all, respecting Italian food culture is part of the fun of eating in Italy.
Read on for some of our best tips, including one that involves not leaving tips:
1. Don’t Feel Compelled To Leave A Tip
One of the things we love best about living in Portugal is that most European restaurant employees are paid a living wage and aren’t reliant on tips to pay their rent. The pain is real when we return to America and feel obligated to leave 20% tip for adequate service.
In Italy, like much of Europe, both tax and service are typically included in restaurant bills. Some Italian restaurants charge a small fee called a coperto to cover the cost of bread and condiments, but these fees are always listed on the menu and shouldn’t be a surprise.
Like the rest of the world, Italian servers appreciate a little something extra in recognition of excellent service. We typically round up the bill to the nearest 5 or 0 when we eat out in Italy.
Be aware when the occasional server tries to take advantage of your Americanness by saying that “service is not included.” It’s a cheap line that’s been passed from server to server for generations all over the continent and should be ignored.
Pro Tip
Make your barista happy by leaving a small gratuity after you finish your morning coffee jolt. We’re talking about 5 to 10 cents. After all, caffés rarely cost more than a euro in Italy.
