I just came across on an excellent article which helps to clarify your "restaurant bill" in Italy and explains about tipping culture
http://ciuitaly.com/blog/files/coperto-italian-restaurant-cover-charge.php
I just came across on an excellent article which helps to clarify your "restaurant bill" in Italy and explains about tipping culture
http://ciuitaly.com/blog/files/coperto-italian-restaurant-cover-charge.php
Can I just clarify... Are the table cover and bread fee usually wrapped into one charge? And do they automatically bring bread out to the table without it being ordered? Is it acceptable to say no thank you (to the bread) and not be charged for it? The reason I ask is I am diabetic and unfortunately one of the things that sends my blood sugar sky high is starchy carbs :( if I have pasta and bread it won't be good news!
Except in Lazio, if the restaurant has a "pane e coperto" charge, you have to pay it even if you don't eat the bread. It is just part of the total cost of the meal.
Here in Australia, there is often "free" bread with a meal, which means that the cost of the bread is wrapped into the charges for the main course.
That's good to know, thanks sydneynick. You're a fountain of knowledge on these forums!
what is strange to me is that I lived in southern Italy for 2 years, and I had never seen the "pane" part of "pane e coperto" until I got on here......all the restaurants I go to have coperto, and it literally is "cover" so it makes sense that it is the base cost of providing the means to eat at one of the tables.....never been charged for bread in my town.....or really...in any others that I visited....
I have found it varies from place to place I have had it where the bread comes covered and you don't open it I haven't been charged. I have had every other permitation as well keep your eyes open and you will know what your going to be charged in my experience
The kind of restaurant you go to makes a lot of difference too.
A "ristorante" usually has clean cloth napkins and tablecloth for each set of guests. You will typically pay a "coperto", "pane e coperto", and/or "servizio" (service, so why tip on top of this...). You are charged for the table setting, the cost of washing a lot of linens, the bread ( which we Italians eat a lot of, usually more than one basket), and the general cost of serving you the meal.
A trattoria, which is a less formal place, might or might not charge any of the above charges, might or might not have nice tablecloths and napkins.
An osteria, usually doesn't charge for any of those, but you might eat on a paper place mat.
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