Tall order: 1st time ever in USA, what do I HAVE to taste?

Hi Anne,

A couple of thoughts (hopefully you're still following the thread):

In the US resteraunts generally fall into two styles, those where you order at a counter, and then wait there and pick up your food (most fast food places), and those where you sit at a table, and a waitress takes your order and brings your food. Unlike Europe or the UK, you don't get many where you order at a counter, then go to a table and someone brings your food out to you.

At places where you get your food at the counter, you usually don't tip. Sometimes there will be a bowl at the register marked "thanks", and you can leave a dollar, but most people won't. Same goes for takeout (carryout).

If there's table service (a waitress), you are expected to tip. 15% of the bill is considered the minimum. 20% or more is appropriate if the service was good. Bear in mind that US diners tend to expect better service than Europeans do (at least at lesser places - everyone expects excellent service at the high cost places). In the US, most of a waitress's income is from tips, so generosity is appreciated. You can not tip, or short tip, if service was bad, but that is considered a fairly drastic sign of dissatisfaction, so only do so if service was particularly poor (in better places, a manager will ask you what went wrong if you don't tip, expect that).

In US restraunts, sometimes you pay the waitress, and sometimes you're expected to pay at a register - you can ask the waitress "do I pay you or at the register". If you are paying cash, you should leave the tip on the table if you pay at the register - it's OK to go to the register and pay, and then back to the table if you need to get small bills (it's polite, if there's more than one in your party, for the remainder to stay at the table while you pay, if you're coming back with the tip). If you pay with credit card, you can put the tip amount on the charge slip - in this case, the cashier will see that it's transferred to the waitress.

In some resteraunts you are expected to choose your own table, in others a hostess will guide you to a table. Usually there'll be a little sign ("wait here to be seated" or "seat yourself"), if not assume that there's a hostess until someone tells you to seat yourself (which will often be by saying "anywhere").

There are three categories in the US as far as alcoholic beverages are concerned: some places will have a bar attached, and will serve whatever you want. Some will only be licensed for beer and wine. And some will not serve any alcohol, so if that makes a difference to you, ask first.

Almost invariably you'll be given a glass of water. You can (and are expected to) order another beverage if you don't want water. If it's breakfast time, there may be a coffee cup upside down on the table, turning it right side up means you want coffee (if you want tea, leave it upside down until you can tell the waitress what you want). Whatever the beverage is (except for alcoholic ones) the waitress should refill the glass/cup when it gets low (but not before then - some waitresses can get annoying by perpetually fussing with the glasses). You don't pay for the refills as a rule.

US portions are often huge, enough for two meals. It's common to only eat part of the meal, and take the remainder home to eat later. If you want to do that, you should ask the waitress for a "box" (the phrase "doggy bag" is old fashioned), which will be a styrofoam container. The waitress may ask if you want a box if it looks like you're done and there's food left. In some places, the waitress will take the plate, and bring back the food already in the box; in others they will bring the box out, and you can put what you want to save in yourself.

If I remember any of the other things which confused/astounded my UK relatives, I'll post them.

John

true360north in Florida