When visiting an Italian restaurant, eat as the Italians do.

Aldo’s Restaurant is the best Italian restaurant in Bergen County, and we’re proud to hold that title. What makes us stand out from the rest isn’t just our delicious, freshly made food, but the interest we take in our customers. We’re a restaurant that really cares about its customers, and we want you folks to have a great time when you visit us.

So, today we want to share some tips on eating the Italian way. Here’s a quick guide on Italian table etiquette – the next time you visit us, feel free to use it for an authentic Italian dining experience.

Seating

From Etiquette Scholar: “The most honored position is in the middle at each side of the table, with the most important guest seated immediately to the right of the host (women to the right of the host, and men to the right of the hostess). If there is a hosting couple, one will be seated on each side of the table.”

Starting your meal

Don’t start until the host says “Buon appetito!”, which is Italian for bon appetit!

The order of meals

Formal Italian meals usually follow the same order, which is: antipasto, followed by soup, pasta, main dish, salad, cheese, dessert, fruit, and finally espresso (or other after-dinner drinks).

Toasting

Most commonly, people toast to their health. You can also toast to your general well-being, or to a great meal. Humorous toasts such as “May you be in Heaven in fifteen minutes” will make your guests laugh, and get the party moving.

This isn’t Italian etiquette, but when toasting, keep your speech brief, and don’t make it formal. You don’t want to bore your guests, after all.

Take your time

From Tableside NYC: “When dining in Italy remember one rule–take your time. It is not uncommon for an Italian restaurant to take up to an hour preparing your meal. Additionally, the Italian culture appreciates when the customer takes their time and truly enjoys the food prepared for them. Here in America, it is typically hurry up and eat so we can get more customers in. This is not so in Italy.”

Your place setting

Be careful about your place setting when visiting an Italian restaurant in Bergen County! From Etiquette Scholar: “The fork and spoon above your plate are for dessert. There are often many additional pieces of cutlery: if you’re unsure of which utensil to use, always start from the outside and work your way in, course by course. There will be separate glasses provided at your setting for water and white and red wine (after-dinner drink glasses come out after dinner). If you have a small plate as well as a larger one, plus a bowl, most likely the small plate will be for antipasto (salad plates will come out later), and the large plate for the main course: the bowl will be for soup if a soup spoon is present, or for pasta if a soup spoon is not present.”

Utensils

Etiquette Scholar educates us on this subject: “Italians do not switch knives and forks. The knife remains in the right hand, and the fork remains in the left. When the meal is finished, the knife and fork are laid parallel to each other across the right side of the plate, with the tines of the fork facing downward. If you put both utensils down on the plate for any real length of time, it is a sign to the waitstaff that you are finished, and your plate may be taken away from you. Alternately, if you lay your cutlery down on either side of the plate, it means you haven’t finished.”

Your hands

When you’re not holding utensils in your hand, keep them (your hands, that is) visible above the table. Rest your wrists atop the table. Avoid resting your elbows on the table. That isn’t just an Italian thing – it’s a worldwide thing!

Eating bread

When you visit an Italian restaurant in Bergen County, bread will usually be served without butter – which means you won’t have a butter knife. You’ll usually be given olive oil for dipping the bread into. If you aren’t, just place the bread to the side of your plate or on the table.

Eating pasta

Never use a spoon to eat pasta, or to assist your fork. You can use your fork and the sides of the plate and the bowl to get the forkful ready. And of course, remember that your fork is a piercing instrument, not a shovel. Don’t load pasta onto your fork – instead, use the teeth to pierce the pasta. Don’t slurp your pasta while eating. Also don’t eat bits – place the entire forkful into your mouth at once.

Gravy or sauce

Etiquette Scholar says: “If there is gravy or sauce, you can generally use your bread to soak some of it up, but do so carefully, and don’t mop the bread around the plate.”

Eating salad

Italians don’t cut the lettuce in their salad. Instead, they fold it using their knife and fork, make a little bundle, spear it with the fork and put it into their mouth in one neat go.

Drinking

While you can order any wines you’d like at an Italian restaurant in Bergen County, traditionally during an Italian meal you’d be served a finer red or white wine first so you can appreciate it best, and a sweeter wine may be served with dessert. Usually, you will be offered several different wines (both white and red).

Tableside NYC says: “When dining in Italy you will find especially when it comes to dinner, they will serve either water or wine with your meal. Cocktails are served before and after dinner. However, there are no refills because it spoils the food. Italians take their dining seriously and overdrinking can be a sign that you don’t fully appreciate the food. Avoid asking for refills.”

Talking during the meal

When you’re dining with close contacts or friends, it is generally inadvisable to talk about business. Keep the conversation light and informal, discussing subjects of general interest. If you aren’t sure whether you should broach business topics, take your cue from your Italian friends.

Paying the bill

Pay the bill the correct way when you go to an Italian restaurant in Bergen County. Etiquette Scholar suggests: “Usually the one who does the inviting pays the bill, although the guest is expected to make an effort to pay. Sometimes other circumstances determine the payee (such as rank).

Some do’s and don’ts

Here are some important do’s and don’ts of Italian dining etiquette, courtesy of Rachael Ray In Season. Make sure you follow these when eating at an Italian restaurant, or at an Italian friend’s house!

Do always bring a gift (chocolate, wine, etc.) if you are a dinner guest.

Do wait until your host sits or announces, “Buon appetito!” Before digging into dinner.

Don’t cut your pasta with a knife. A fork is the only utensil that should touch your ’roni.

Don’t slurp your spaghetti. The only noise your mouth should make during a meal is “Mmm.”

Don’t butter your bread. Instead, use it to sop up leftover marinara.

Don’t season your food at the table. In Italy, the chef is always right.

Don’t ask for salad dressing—oil and vinegar are all you need.

Do order an espresso—but after dessert, not during it.

Do fill up your neighbor’s glass, always, before topping off your own.

Do ask for the check when you’re ready for it. Italian servers think it’s rude to rush you from the table, so it could be hours before they do.

Aldo’s – the best Italian restaurant in Bergen County

So now that you know Italian dining etiquette, it’s time to put your newly-learned skills to the test. Come over to our Italian restaurant, and we’ll spoil you with freshly-made Italian meals that’ll have you asking for more – which we’re happy to provide!

A little about our restaurant:

For more than 30 years, Aldo’s Italian Restaurant has supplied his customers with high quality food, great service and good prices.

Open 7 days a week, this newer location will provide a wonderful space for family dining or special intimate gatherings, featuring 3 separate dining rooms plus an outdoor patio, and private dining rooms.

As one of our new additions, customers will be delighted with a well prepared and fresh brick oven pizza.

Under the same roof you’ll find pane & vino wine bar, a welcoming full bar and liquor store where patrons will enjoy great food and an extensive selection of wine and drinks. Customers may purchase at retail prices and enjoy at Aldo’s restaurant or you may bring your own.