When Italians order a main course, they're typically choosing among cured meats, land animals, or fish. The most famous cured meat is il prosciutto, a dry-cured ham that appears in sandwiches, antipasti, and wrapped around melon or asparagus. Among land animals, il pollo (chicken) is a versatile everyday choice, il manzo (beef) shows up in slow-cooked ragùs and steaks, and il maiale (pork) anchors dishes from sausages to roasts.
Italian coastal cooking relies heavily on seafood. The general word for fish is il pesce, which you'll encounter on menus in dishes like pesce al forno (baked fish) or pesce alla griglia (grilled fish). Two specific varieties you'll see frequently are i gamberi (shrimp — note the plural "i" form) and il salmone (salmon), which can be served grilled, cured, or in pasta.
All of these meat and fish words take the masculine singular article "il" except for i gamberi, which is plural. Knowing this pattern helps you anticipate articles on unfamiliar menu items and ask follow-up questions when you're curious about a specific dish.