As we all know, every culture has its differences. As today’s title may have already told you, we’re today going to focus on the culture in the US – and specifically what it means to you when you dine out over there.
Even though we speak the same language, there are some major differences with the way in which we approach food. No, we’re not talking about the fact that American soda somehow tastes much better than it does over here, but rather some of the practices which you need to get used to if you’re thinking about dining in restaurants across the pond. Let’s now get started.
Beware of portion sizes
Of course, all restaurants are different, but something that you will probably find on your trip is that portion sizes in the US do tend to be larger than average.
In fact, this is something that is becoming understood by the American population as a whole. It means that some people will actively look to split their meal with someone else – and this can be something that you don’t have to be ashamed to do.
Or, another alternative is to ask for half portions, which is also becoming more popular.
Learn the coffee lingo
This next issue probably won’t come as a surprise as in truth, every country in the world has its own different coffees.
For the US, the big beverage at the moment is the flat white. If you see the term “short black” branded around, this tends to refer to an espresso, while a “long black” is an Americano.
The rules on corkage
It would be fair to say that corkage culture is something that differs widely around the world. In some countries it’s really not understood and, in some regards, the US falls into this category.
In truth, it really depends on the restaurant, but be aware that a lot of restaurants are against the idea. To counteract it, they will charge huge corkage fees, with some surpassing the $70/bottle mark.
It has been found that Chicago tends to be a little friendlier in this regard, but if you venture over to Texas you are going to be met with some strict regulations that completely prohibit the practice.
A final word on tips
You’ve probably been eagerly awaiting this final point. In truth, tips and the US are completely synonymous. There is a huge tipping culture at bars and restaurants out there, and this is something you have to grow to accept.
Something which you don’t necessarily have to accept are tips that are presented to you digitally. In other words, you are asked to select your tip amount from a list of options on the billing screen on the tablet. Suffice to say, these options tend to be on the high side, and can really send your final bill to another level. Don’t forget that you are well within your rights to question a tip, even if the waiter won’t necessarily like it.
