Can I have the menu, please?
me-NÙ — stress on the last syllable. The accent is always written in Italian.
The first thing you say when you sit down at a table and the waiter has not yet brought the menu. Works in any restaurant across Italy.
Italian restaurants do not always leave menus on the table. You often need to ask. 'Posso avere' (can I have) is the polite standard request — more natural than 'voglio' (I want), which sounds abrupt. Adding 'per favore' is not strictly required but always appreciated.
Ci porta il menù?
Could you bring us the menu?
More natural in a group — 'ci' means 'to us'
Il menù, per favore.
The menu, please.
Shorter, perfectly acceptable
Avete il menù del giorno?
Do you have a daily menu?
Ask this for the cheaper fixed-price lunch option
In Italy, sitting at a restaurant table implies you intend to order a full meal. The 'coperto' (cover charge, €1–3) is standard and legal — it is not a scam.