Italian Phrase
Che ne dici del ristorante italiano?
Meaning
Literally, "What do you say about the Italian restaurant?" In everyday speech it means "What do you think of the Italian restaurant?" It’s a friendly way to ask someone’s opinion or to propose a place for a meal.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversation when you want to gauge a friend’s opinion about a specific restaurant, or when you’re suggesting a place to eat and want confirmation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chenedicidelristoranteitaliano?
Che (interrogative)
Used to ask "what" or "which"; here it starts a question asking for an opinion.
ne (pronoun)
A clitic pronoun that replaces "of it/about it"; it refers to a previously mentioned topic.
dici (dire, 2nd person singular)
The verb "dire" (to say) conjugated for "tu"; in this idiom it means "what do you think".
del (di + il)
The preposition "di" (of/about) combined with the masculine singular article "il"; introduces the noun phrase.
ristorante italiano (noun phrase)
A masculine singular noun followed by an adjective; the adjective follows the noun in Italian.
🗨In Conversation
Che ne dici del ristorante italiano?
What do you think of the Italian restaurant?
Mi sembra ottimo, adoro la pasta fatta in casa!
It looks great to me, I love the homemade pasta!
✕Common Mistakes
Che ne dici di ristorante italiano?
You need the contracted form "del" (di + il) before a masculine singular noun.
Che ne dici del ristorante italiano.
Missing the question mark or intonation makes it sound like a statement rather than a question.
Che dici del ristorante italiano?
Leaving out "ne" changes the meaning; it no longer asks for an opinion about something previously mentioned.
↔Alternatives
Cosa ne pensi del ristorante italiano?
What do you think of the Italian restaurant?
Ti va di andare al ristorante italiano?
Do you feel like going to the Italian restaurant?
Che ne dici di provare il ristorante italiano?
How about trying the Italian restaurant?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, "ristorante" usually refers to a more formal dining establishment, while "trattoria" or "osteria" are more casual. When suggesting a place, Italians often add a personal touch, e.g., "Il ristorante ha una buona pizza". Also, using "ne" is very natural in spoken Italian; omitting it can sound stiff.