Italian restaurants don’t always have "kids menus" because Italian children eat normal food.
Plan your trip →The truth: Italian children eat pasta al pomodoro (plain tomato sauce), cotoletta (breaded cutlet), and pizza margherita. They don’t eat chicken nuggets because Italian restaurants don’t serve them. What to order: pasta in bianco (plain pasta with butter/olive oil and Parmigiano, €5–8 — every restaurant will make it even if it’s not on the menu), pizza margherita (€5–7, easily shared), riso in bianco (plain rice). High chairs (seggiolone): most restaurants have them. Ask: "Avete un seggiolone?" Portions: ask for a mezza porzione (half portion, half price or slightly more). Most restaurants happily accommodate. Timing: Italians bring kids to restaurants at 8–9pm. Nobody judges. Italian kids are expected to be at the table (well-behaved restaurants) or running around (casual trattorias). Gelato: the universal post-dinner bribe. Works every time.