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What do 'etto' and 'S.Q.' mean on an Italian menu?

"All'etto" or "/hg" on an Italian menu means the price is per 100 grams, and "S.Q." (secondo quantità) means the price depends on the quantity you're served. Both are common for whole fish, shellfish and Florentine steak. Ask how much your portion weighs before it's cooked, or a "€6" dish can easily become €36.

Updated 8 October 2026

On the menu: all'etto (€/hg) · S.Q. (secondo quantità)
Meaning: Priced per 100 grams (etto) / priced according to the quantity served (S.Q.).

How it appears on the menu

Branzino al forno € 6/hg or € 6 all'etto — €6 for every 100 g.
Bistecca alla fiorentina € 55/kg — per kilo; Florentine steaks are often sold whole by weight, with a minimum size, and shared.
Aragosta S.Q. or secondo quantità — lobster priced by the amount served.
Prezzo secondo peso / a peso — priced by weight.
Prezzo di mercato — market price, which changes daily; see market price.

Etto is everyday Italian for 100 g, and hg is its abbreviation (ettogrammo). Deli counters use it too: un etto di prosciutto.

Working out the price

A whole sea bream listed at €6/hg that weighs 650 g costs 6.5 × €6 = €39. A Florentine steak at €55/kg weighing 1.2 kg costs €66 — usually for two people.

The bill should show the weight, for example Orata 0,65 kg × 60,00 — 39,00. Fish is usually weighed whole and raw, before cleaning and cooking, so the portion on your plate looks smaller than the weight suggests.

What to do

Ask before it's cooked: Quanto pesa? ("How much does it weigh?") and Quanto viene? ("How much will it come to?").
Ask to see the fish. Many seafood restaurants show you the whole fish first; you can ask for a smaller one.
Check the bill against the weight you agreed.

MenuGuide converts listed prices to your currency, but a per-weight price is per 100 g or per kilo — the total still depends on the weight of your portion.

Frequently asked questions

What does hg mean on an Italian menu?

Hg stands for ettogrammo, or etto, which is 100 grams. A price like "€5/hg" means €5 for every 100 g, so a 500 g fish costs €25. It's used for whole fish, shellfish and some meats sold by weight. Ask how much your portion will weigh before ordering so the final price isn't a surprise.

What does S.Q. mean on an Italian menu?

S.Q. means "secondo quantità", or "according to quantity". The dish has no fixed price because it depends on how much you're served, usually by weight. You'll see it next to lobster, langoustines, whole fish or truffle shavings. Ask the price per weight and the expected weight before you order.

Is bistecca alla fiorentina priced per person?

Usually not. Bistecca alla fiorentina is typically sold by weight, per kilo or per etto, as a whole thick T-bone that is cut and shared, often between two or more people. Many restaurants have a minimum weight. Ask what the steak will weigh and how many people it serves, then multiply by the price per kilo.

Is fish weighed before or after cooking in Italy?

Usually before. Restaurants typically weigh whole fish raw, before cleaning and cooking, and charge for that weight. That's why the fish on your plate can look smaller than the weight on the bill. If you want to know the price in advance, ask to see the fish and have it weighed before it goes to the kitchen.