Whether studying abroad or taking a family vacation across the pond, you will notice that Europe as a whole differs in large and small ways from the States. Their restaurants may excel in culinary artistry, but they lack in ice cubes and heating and cooling.
Sampling the local cuisine ranks high on many people's to-do lists while traveling through Europe,
as it should. There are few other places in the world where so many distinctively different countries, cultures and flavors are located within just a few hours of train travel from one another.
Although the food selection may be vary greatly country to country, there are several characteristics that restaurants in Europe share that separate them from the their American counterparts. Here is a head's up on a few of these, so you don't wind up irritating your waiter with a barrage of inquiries.
Where's the Heating and Cooling?
Many buildings in Europe do not have any form of modern heating and cooling. This is because they believe in preserving older buildings rather than knocking them down and replacing them with new ones. Because heating and cooling systems had not yet been invented when many buildings were built, they simply rely on ceiling fans or fireplaces to make the climate a bit more comfortable.
Am I Supposed to Tip You?
As you should well know, waiters in the United States rely on the mercy of dining customers for almost their entire income. The standard rate of pay for a restaurant server is $2.13 an hour, well below a living wage. In Europe, restaurants factor in a gratuity charge of around 15 percent for each bill, which the server gets to keep on top of a small hourly wage. But is it strange to leave some money on the table anyway? Of course not.
Tipping a waiter in Europe is quite similar to tipping a coffee shop barista in the United States. It is a totally optional way to say "thank you" for exceptional service. And just as at Starbucks, a dollar or two — ahem, Euro or two — is the norm.
Do Y'all Have Free Refills?
When your plane lifts off of U.S. soil and heads across the Atlantic, you can look back and say "au revoir" to free refills and ice. The fountain drink machine, which is sometimes located in the dining room of American restaurants for easier access to unlimited refills of your favorite sugary sodas, is nonexistent over there.
In Europe, any non-alcoholic drink you order will likely be brought to your table in a small glass bottle with an empty glass in which to pour it. If you need a "refill," you must purchase another bottle of that beverage. So, before you down that whole first Coke in one gulp, keep in mind that you will be paying for each one you order.
Unlike the elusive fountain drink machine, ice cubes can be spotted in Europe but only in very small quantities. If your bottle of drink was not refrigerated beforehand, you may be able to find a couple of ice cubes in the glass they bring you.
The differences may take a bit of adjusting to, but that is just part of the fun of experiencing other cultures. The most important thing is to keep an open mind and an appetite for adventure.
