Reading Italian Menu

Traditionally, meals in Italy usually contain 3 or 4 courses. Meals are seen as a time to spend with family and friends and can last for hours. Probably explain why certain tourist attractions will just close for a few hours during lunch time.


Menu wise:
L'antipasto, which literally means "before the meal" and includes hot and cold appetizers such as crostini, bruschetta, and mozzarella in carrozza.

Il primo: first course usually consisting of pasta, minestrone, risotto, or zuppa (soup).

Il secondo: second course and is the main course - often meat, poultry, game, or fish.

Il contorno: side dish which consists of vegetables such as melanzane (eggplant), spinaci (spinach), or insalata mista (mixed salad).

Il dolce: dessert which includes such favorite sweets as tiramisù, torta della nonna (custard shortbread pie), or zabaglione (custard of egg yolks with wine and brandy).

An affogato is a caffeinated dessert is a scoop of vanilla gelato topped with freshly brewed espresso. This is the best choice if you cannot decide if you want a drink or a dessert.

Sometimes you will see in the menu these 2 phrases:
il servizio: service charge/tip
il coperto: cover charge—for bread and water. In this case, you will be given a basket of bread.

When you want to ask for the bill, say: Il conto, per favore.
If you want the waiter to keep the change, say: Tenga pure il resto.

Source:
About.com - How to decipher Italian Menu
Wiki - Italian cuisine