The Art of Ordering in "Al Bar" ... (in English: “café”)

The art of ordering food or drink in cafes ("al bar" in Italian) or sandwich bars that are more stand-up, eat-on-the-run type affairs can be confusing. It's simple; you just need to know the process. It's essentially "backwards" from what one would expect in the US. You order your food and drink, pay for it, and then pick it up or wait for it to be prepared. If at a coffee bar and you're ordering a sandwich or pastry and a coffee ... for instance ... you'd order them at the cash register ("la cassa" ... follow the crowd) and receive a receipt. You'd either pick up your sandwich or pastry (or wait for it to be heated in the case of a grilled sandwich) and then go to the coffee bar area and put your receipt on the bar (or do this while the sandwich is being heated or grilled). The barista will then come, check your receipt, and make your coffee.

It's customary to leave a few coins (ten cents? twenty cents?) to get faster service or as a tip. Italians are not big tippers, so if you're a wild tipper, be prepared for some wild reactions. But, more on tipping in a future posting. That's a topic worthy of more exploration.