Short answer: Romans eat late — dinner starts from 8:30pm — the cover charge is normal and tipping is not expected. Here is how an evening in a Roman restaurant actually works.
The hours, which surprise most visitors
Dinner starts late. At 7:30pm dining rooms are almost empty; at 9pm they are full. Before 7:30 most kitchens are not even serving.
Before dinner there is aperitivo, which fills the 6 to 8pm slot: a drink with something to eat, sitting down. It is not a starter, and it is the most sociable hour of the day.
Lunch is a narrower window: 12:30 to 3pm. Outside those hours most kitchens in the centre are closed.
The coperto, which is not a tip
Almost everywhere in Italy the bill carries a fixed per-person line. Ours is 2 euro. It covers bread, table service and the cover, and it is printed on the menu.
It is not a scam and it is not optional: read it as part of the price, not as a surprise addition at the end.
Tipping, which really is optional
There is no expected percentage in Italy. Staff are on a salary, and leaving something is a gesture rather than an obligation. If you enjoyed the evening, a few euro or rounding up is plenty. Nobody will look at the bill.
How to order, and in what order
The classic sequence is antipasto, first course, main with a side, dessert. Nobody expects you to do all of it: having only a first course, or only a steak with a side, is completely normal.
Sides are ordered separately. A meat main arrives on its own — potatoes or vegetables have to be asked for. It is the single thing visitors get caught out by most often.
Water is ordered — still or sparkling — and coffee comes after dessert, never during the meal. Asking for a cappuccino after dinner is not a crime, but you will be the only one.
Practical guide to the Circus Maximus area · The dinner and grill menu · The aperitivo menu
Frequently asked questions
What time do people eat dinner in Rome?
From 8:30pm onwards. At 7:30 dining rooms are nearly empty and several kitchens have not opened. We serve until late, closing at 1am and at 2am on Friday and Saturday.
What is the coperto on an Italian bill?
A fixed per-person charge covering bread and table service, printed on the menu. Ours is 2 euro. It is standard across Italy and it is not a tip.
Do you have to tip in Rome?
No, it is optional. Staff are salaried and there is no expected percentage. Rounding up or a few euro is more than enough.
Do I have to order every course?
No. Having just a first course, or just a steak with a side, is completely normal. Nobody expects the full sequence.
Do I need to book?
At the weekend and on the evenings of a Circus Maximus concert, yes. On other days usually not.
Is the menu available in English?
Yes, and the staff speak English. The whole menu is on this site in English, allergen by allergen.
More practical questions — hours, parking, dogs, accessibility — in our FAQ.
