In most restaurants in Italy is it acceptable/allowable to wear shorts to dinner? We are going this weekend and given the temps I would prefer to avoid pants!

It depends on the restaurant, the location, and the type of shorts. Running shorts, etc.. are unacceptable but "dress" shorts are acceptable in resort areas and at informal dining establishments. In larger cities (esp. Milan) and finer restaurants, slacks would be in order.

In Rome one just doesn't wear shorts out in public. It is not bella figura to do so.

I agree with what was posted above. I would not wear shorts to dinner in Milan or Rome, but would in Como or Garda.

I think it is basically the same thing in the US -- you wouldn't go to dinner in shorts in Manhattan but it would be okay in Fort Lauderdale.

...if you don't mind the people thinking of you as "Americans, as usual", you can do so withouth problems...

At McDonald's.......

The Italians are some of the most elgantly dressed people worldwide. You usually distinguish very easilly between Italians and Americans or Germans when you're in the street in an Italian city. To the question: for an Italian, it would not be normal to go to dinner in shorts.

IMHO, the answer to OP's quwey is: No way in Hell.

.. unless you *really* want to stand out. Likely ok if you'll be near the coast. But don't even think about flip-flops or sneakers.

An evening look that is quite popular among women here in California at the moment is shorts with heels. Not cut-offs or anything that you'd consider wearing to a picnic, but nice, tailored shorts made of quality material.

Slightly off-base from the OP's post regarding Italy, but I'm wondering what all of you think about the shorts with heels look in general?

I would argue the point, having worn a US Navy officer's uniform, "Tropical White Short" (white ss shirt with shoulder boards & ribbons, white "Bermuda" shorts, white web belt, white knee sox and white "buck" shoes), to dinner at the Italian Navy Officers' meeses in Livorno and Taranto and the old NATO mess in Bagnoli on several occasions. I seem to recall wearing the uniform at Casserta, a quite formal sort of establishment.

I would certainly not hesitate - especially in the current heat wave - to wear "dressy" shorts with a suitable shirt (Guayabera or the equivalent Phillipine shirt come to mind) to upscale resturants in most Southern coastal cities, the Bay of Sorrento, Taormina, Bari, Brindisi, Taranto - not on many tourist maps, Siracusa, but maybe not Palermo (especially with the current "heat wave").

Just don't wear a "gimme" cap (straight, canted left or right or reversed)and flip flops....

Fine, if your "heels" are the clear acrylic sort with little gold fish swimming in them. I guess you could wear tight jeans and stilettos....

But then you are from California where Britney, Lindsey and Paris, the Desperadas/Desperate Sisterhood, are the arbiters of approriate fashion...

But a Navy Officer mess doesn't equal a public, fine dining establishment elsewhere in Italy.

As for women wearing shorts w/heels - it has become quite popular here in Italy for attractive young women to do so, but when they do, they wear shoes that cost about 1000Eu/pair and shorts by Armani. It has nothing to do with Britney, Lindsey - who thankfully don't merit press mention here..

Let me assure you that the Italian Navy officers' messes in Livorno and Taranto required considerably greater formality of dress than most "fine dining establishments" elsewhere in Italy. The Italian Navy remains a bit formalized among the higher ranking officers, at least. As for Casserta, the old NATO establishment, the mess there was fully as formal as any 5 star hotel resturant in Rome, too formal for comfort, all those foreign general and flag officers.

I'll accept some level of current popularity, having not been to Italy in 18 months and having learned to expect anything these days. On the other hand, I recall several establishments from my "Old Days" in Italy, where one might find young women in shorts and heels. With names like the "Kit Kat Klub", their general nature was close to Californian, I suupose, at least as close as Nevada's Mustang Ranch is to LA. On my next trip, I'll try to avoid "fine dining establishments" in which the middle aged men in dark suits silver ties are accompanied by young women in shorts and heels.

Then I suppose I could ask the traditional question....
"What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"

We only ate at casual trattoria's versus any nice ristorantes during our trip this May. I wore shorts to about six dinners in Siena, Florence, Vernazza, & Manarola and never encountered a "problem" with it. (Well, I don't think they spat in our food...) It's not like we were going to be able to disguise the fact that we were tourists. Did I look "uncool" in my shorts to the locals? Probably, but I didn't feel too out of place because the place we went to were probably used serving tourists and were casual enough. It never seemed to hurt our conversations with the waitstaff about our travels, their upcoming travels, etc.