The food came out fairly quickly but not in any kind of hurry. But I thought I had indicated that I was interested in the check (that had been promptly delivered to the non-Italian speaking table next to me (where they ordered a bit less)) and may have spent half the time in the restaurant after the last plate was taken away. I'll gladly accept Perche's idea that it was a compliment to my savvy ordering (including a willingness to eat and drink a reasonable quantity) and my reasonably fluent Italian.