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Getting to eat authentic Italian food might be the best thing about being in Italy. (It’s hard to choose one best thing.)

If you’re planning a special night out or you’re expecting a lot of guests for dinner or you just want to make sure you definitely have a table, it’s important to know how to make a reservation at an Italian restaurant.

Here are some vocabulary words you’ll need:

– volere – to want
> specifically, the polite first person conditional tense: vorrei
– fare – to do, to make
– prenotare – to book, to reserve
> prenotazione – a reservation

You’ll also need to have some vocabulary for time-telling. Click here for a quick refresher on how to tell time in Italian.

– A che ora? – At what time?
– Alle… – At…
> Alle sei. – At six.
> Alle sette e mezzo. – At seven thirty.

You’ll need to tell them what day (and what time of day) you want to make the reservation:

– Oggi  – Today
– Domani – Tomorrow
– Mattina – Morning
– Pomeriggio – Afternoon
– Sera – Evening

What kind of meal do you want to have?

– La colazione – Breakfast
– Il pranzo – Lunch
– La cena – Dinner

Here is a sample Italian dialogue between you and the person taking the reservation:

 *il telefono sta squillando*

Cameriere: La pizzeria Il Labirinto, pronto?
You: Buongiorno. Vorrei fare una prenotazione, per favore.
Cameriere: Certo, per quando?
You: Domani sera.
Cameriere: A che ora?
You: Alle otto e mezzo.
Cameriere: E per quante persone?
You: Due.
Cameriere: Il suo nome, per favore?
You: [insert your name here]
Cameriere: Perfetto. Ci vediamo domani sera alle otto e mezzo allora.
You: Grazie, buona giornata.

In English:

*telephone rings* [In Italian, ‘to ring’ is squillare, which I think is the cutest-sounding verb ever.]

Waiter: Il Labirinto pizzeria, hello?
You: Good morning. I would like to make a reservation, please.
Waiter: Certainly, when?
You: Tomorrow evening.
Waiter: At what time?
You: At eight thirty.
Waiter: And how many people?
You: Two.
Waiter: Your name, please?
You: [insert your name here]
Waiter: Perfect. We’ll see you tomorrow evening at eight thirty then.
You: Thank you, good day.

This simple conversation will ensure that you have a table to eat a heaping bowl of spaghetti alla carbonara, una pizza margherita as wide as an eagle’s wingspan or un tiramisù so satisfying you’ll never forget it.

If you definitely needed this article while you get your Italian into shape for your upcoming adventure in Italy, you might also want to check out the Not Your Typical Tourist Workbook.

Do you have any questions about restaurants in Italy or how to make a reservation in Italian? Do you just want to talk about how good Italian mozzarella di bufala tastes? Let us know in the comments below!

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