Beverage menu/prices posted in Italy?

It depends on where you go. Most of the restaurants I went to in Rome had their beverage prices on the menu. The ones where I did not see the menu were covered by the tour I was on.

It seems strange to me that your parents had to pay so much. A couple possible factors involved that I can think of: the prices are, of course, listed in euro. Maybe there was some confusion in calculating the exchange rate? Also, Coke is going to be expensive in Europe. Much cheaper (and a more 'realistic' experience) to order the house wine or tap water. I only had one coke in Italy and it was provided free of charge by my hotel.

It's also possible they ended up in a tourist trap kind of place where the prices are outrageous and the food is not good. This can be avoided through guidebooks and suggestions from your hotel.

I never saw that free refills were offered, they way they are in the U.S., so they would have likely been charged for a new drink if ordering more.

Prices are posted by law. Usually in a window by the door or at the bar. It depends on what kind of place they were in. Even with a crummy dollar, the prices they said they were charged are excessive unless they were in a hotel. Also, cafes and restaurants must provide a receipt.

Be aware that most places do have a small cover charge, listed as "pane e coperto" on the menu. That pays for bread and the service. It's the same charge for table service regardless of how much you order.

I don't know where they were but I never paid more than 1.60 euros for a soda. It sounds like they got ripped off!!! That doesn't happen much in Italy so I guess it was just bad luck on their part. I have never heard of this before. Sorry!!!!

Part of this may be the "value" of the dollar. It appears they paid €5 each for a coke... and that IS overpriced. At €10 a sandwich, that's also high - but not that far out of line. If they ate at a touristy location - say Piazza Navonna, or in Piazza Della Rotunda (Pantheon) then you might pay some of these prices - Note, as discussed above, there are also bread charges, service charges, and other items added to bills...

Menus must be posted in Italy and they are always available. Drinks are almost always on the menus. Often wine IS cheaper than Coke, and water usually cheaper than both. There are NO free refills in Rome (or most of Europe - probably why my kids liked that Pizza Hut in London a few years ago???) so you will pay for your next "round."

Ask first, that won't offend anyone... and if you feel like you did, and YOU feel uncomfortable - go eat somewhere else... It's your money!

Ciao,
Ron

Thanks, everyone! I confirmed with Mom that they did pay 5 Euros each for 3 cokes, though it was it a touristy area. I know that I will be sticking with wine (at least after breakfast :)) but was looking out for my daughter.

I was in Rome last week and met up with friends for lunch. We went to a restaurant opposite the Pantheon as it was raining heavily and it was the closest haven. We had a bottle of mineral water, 3 coffees & 4 pizzas. The bill came to 80Euro. There was a 15% service charge added and the waiter harrassed me to leave him a tip. So basically what I'm saying is avoid the tourist areas and check the menus that should be displayed for prices.