After dinner — a complimentary digestif?
cor-te-SI-a — four syllables, stress on third.
At the end of a satisfying trattoria meal, acknowledging if the owner offers a complimentary digestif — a traditional gesture of hospitality.
The 'amaro di cortesia' (complimentary bitter liqueur) offered at the end of a meal by the owner or host is a traditional Italian hospitality gesture. It signals the meal was a success and the guests are appreciated. The correct response is enthusiastic gratitude.
Offre la casa!
The house is treating!
What the owner says when offering something complimentary — you pay nothing
Un digestivo offerto.
A complimentary digestif.
What the waiter might say when bringing the offered drink
È il nostro amaro artigianale — lo facciamo noi.
It is our artisan amaro — we make it ourselves.
Many family trattorias produce their own house digestif
The 'amaro offerto' (complimentary amaro) at the end of a trattoria meal is one of Italy's most endearing hospitality gestures. It cannot be requested — it must be offered spontaneously by the host. When it arrives, it means you have been accepted as a valued guest, not merely a paying customer.