"The bill (check), il conto, usually includes extras such as servizio (service). Iniquitous cover charges (pane e coperto) have now been outlawed, but some restaurants still try to get around the regulations. Only pay for bread (pane) if you have asked for it."That's the first time I've heard that the coperta has been outlawed, yet Walks in Italy in a 2011 blog posting said the same thing. Concierge in Umbria in their blog, Post Cards from Italy, explains the coperta as a cover charge that is determined by the restaurant's management and tends to be higher in touristy areas. However they go on to say:
"Some areas in Italy have banned the coperto (including Lazio, where Rome is located), but it still routinely appears on menus."They say the coperta (€1 to €2 per diner), as well as the servizio (10-20%), must be listed on the menu, where it is generally in very tiny print at the top or bottom.
Oh, and they also say: "Doggie bags. They are taboo."
