How to Ask for the Check / Bill in Italian (Italian Restaurant Phrases – Part 3)

This is a three part series that describes all the most important phrases you can use at an Italian restaurant. Part 3 deals specifically with expressions you can use when asking for the check / bill in Italian. If you haven’t already visited Part 1 and Part 2, we suggest you check them out before proceeding!

Part 1 – How to Request and Reserve a Table in Italian
Part 2 – How to Order Food in Italian
Part 3 – How to Ask for the Check / Bill in Italian

Once you’ve finished your meal, it is customary to ask for the check in Italy, as the waiter rarely asks.

The waiter will normally bring a single bill to the table, and the customers will work it out for themselves, but in inexpensive restaurants and pizzerias, you may be able to request separate bills when it’s not overly crowded. In more expensive restaurants, on the other hand, the waiter could turn down your request, especially if it’s a large group.

If you’re feeling particularly generous, you can offer to pay for the entire meal yourself.

Two unfamiliar charges that are likely to make an appearance on your bill are called servizio (service charge) and coperto (cover charge).

The former is a mandatory charge designed to cover staff expenses, although it doesn’t go directly to the staff. This charge tends to be applied in very touristic areas of Italy and can easily increase your bill by 10-20%.

The latter is a fixed “per head” charge of around €1-3 (and sometimes more) that covers general management expenses such as linen, dishes, bread, olive oil and so on. Legally it must be written down somewhere, usually in small print on the menu.

Helpful hint: It is not customary to leave a tip (mancia) in Italy. This is because waiters do not live off tips and are paid a decent wage. If you feel so guilty that you cannot stop yourself from tipping, make sure it’s just a very small token of appreciation, such as the leftover change from your bill.

There are, of course, two mains ways you can pay for your meal: card or cash. Carta di credito is the name for a credit card, while bancomat is a debit card.

To conclude, here are a few other useful phrases you might need to use while you settle up.

What the Waiter Might Say to You

Here are a few phrases the waiter will probably say to you at the end of your meal. Don’t worry too much about memorising them, but do try to become familiar with how they sound.

This brings us to the end of our article about paying the check at an Italian restaurant. We sincerely hope that you have enjoyed this series, and that you feel more prepared for your visit to Italy. And remember to check out Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven’t already done so!

Heather Broster

Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.