At the Bakery & Deli
Use these essential phrases to confidently order bread, pastries, and deli items at a typical Italian bakery or deli.
Key Phrases
Prendo questo pane, per favore.
neutralI'll take this bread, please.
Using 'prendo' (I take) is the most natural way to order using only the present tense.
Due cornetti.
casualTwo croissants.
Just stating the item and quantity is very common and perfectly acceptable.
Quello lì, per favore.
neutralThat one there, please.
Un etto di prosciutto.
neutralOne hundred grams of ham.
Deli meats in Italy are almost always ordered by the 'etto' (100 grams).
Un po' di più, grazie.
neutralA bit more, thanks.
Un po' meno.
casualA bit less.
Quanti cornetti ci sono?
neutralHow many croissants are there?
Desidera altro?
politeWould you like anything else?
Uses the formal 'you' (Lei); very common for staff to use with customers.
Altro?
casualAnything else?
Basta così, grazie.
neutralThat's all, thanks.
The standard, polite phrase to signal your order is complete.
Quanto costa il formaggio?
neutralHow much does the cheese cost?
Quant'è in tutto?
casualHow much is it in total?
Often used at the cash register to ask for the final sum.