Whether you’re twirling spaghetti carbonara at a rustic trattoria in Rome, tucking into a hearty steak in Florence, or devouring a steaming pizza margherita in Naples, dining out is one of the great pleasures of traveling around il Bel Paese (the beautiful country). But just because you frequent Italian restaurants in the U.S., that doesn’t mean you’ll be prepared for the way menus are structured and the terms used in Italy.

As a Rome-based journalist, I’ve learned the customs around ordering here, from how to ask for coffee (and get what you actually want) to the etiquette for savoring multi-course meals among friends and family. Here’s what you need to know.