The process of dining out can be quite different depending on whether you're in Spain or the United States. From how you order to paying the bill, there are distinct cultural customs that shape the restaurant experience in each country.
Ordering in Spain
In Spain, you usually won't be rushed to order right when you sit down. Servers let diners settle in, review the menu thoroughly, and simply let them know when they're ready to order drinks or food. It's common to start by ordering a few small plates or tapas to share amongst the table, rather than individual main courses. Popular tapas include patatas bravas, croquetas, cheese and meat platters, and seafood like gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp).
As you're enjoying your tapas, feel free to call the server over to order additional small plates to keep sampling more of the menu. The pacing is relaxed, with food arriving whenever it's ready from the kitchen over an extended period. Spaniards often linger for hours, ordering fresh tapas along with bread, wine or sangria.
Ordering in the USA
The ordering process is quite different at American restaurants. You'll be greeted promptly by a server who will likely start by asking for your drink order before you've even had time to open the menu. Drink refills also come frequently throughout the meal.
Rather than small plates, American diners tend to order individual appetizers and then a single main entree per person like a burger, pasta, steak or seafood dish. Servers will take your full order all at once – appetizer, main course and dessert. You can expect the courses to arrive one after the next in quick succession once the food is ready.
Throughout your meal, servers keep checking on you to see if you need anything else. This attentive service is something to get used to compared to the more laidback approach in Spain.
Paying the Bill
When you're ready for the bill (or "la cuenta") in Spain, you'll need to request it from your server as it won't automatically come before you ask. Tipping is also less customary, as service charges are already included. However, leaving a 5-10% tip for good service is appreciated.
In the USA, the check is typically brought automatically when it seems you've finished eating. While service charges are built into the bill at some restaurants, tipping 15-20% of the total bill amount is expected.
Settling the bill is also a smoother process in Spain, where it's common for each diner to just pay their share directly to the server. At American restaurants, separate checks are often complicated, so the group figures out the payment distribution themselves before putting it all on one card or bill to pay.
So while you'll encounter fantastic food in both countries, the overall dining experience can be quite different in Spain compared to the USA – from the leisurely tapas-style ordering and pacing to the tipping customs and payment responsibilities. No matter which country you find yourself in, it's worth slowing down to savor each bite!
Quiz
- Describe the typical ordering process in Spain.
- What are some common tapas dishes you might find in Spain?
- How does the pacing of a meal typically differ between Spain and the USA?
- Explain the expected ordering process in a restaurant in the USA.
- Describe the service style differences between dining in Spain and the USA.
- When do servers in Spain typically bring the bill to a table?
- How does the typical tipping custom differ between the two countries?
- How do Spanish diners usually handle paying the bill?
- What is a common method for splitting a bill in an American restaurant?
- Summarize the overall dining experience differences between the two countries, according to the text.
Essay Questions
- Compare and contrast the dining experience in Spain and the USA. How do cultural norms influence the way meals are enjoyed in each country?
- Discuss the role of tapas in Spanish dining culture. How does this practice reflect the social and communal aspects of eating in Spain?
- Analyze the differences in service styles between Spanish and American restaurants. What cultural values might explain these differences in approach to hospitality?
- Explore how payment and tipping customs vary between Spain and the USA, and how these practices reflect each country's approach to service and economy.
- Based on the text, what conclusions can you draw about how different dining experiences can contribute to a country's overall cultural identity?
Glossary of Key Terms
- Tapas: Small, savory dishes or appetizers in Spanish cuisine, typically served to be shared.
- Patatas Bravas: A popular Spanish dish consisting of fried potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
- Croquetas: A small fried roll of breadcrumbs and a filling, often potato, cheese, or meat.
- Gambas al Ajillo: A Spanish dish consisting of shrimp cooked in garlic and olive oil.
- La Cuenta: The Spanish term for "the bill" in a restaurant.
- Sangria: A beverage traditionally made with red wine and chopped fruit.
- Service Charge: A fee added to a bill in some restaurants, often intended to cover the cost of service.
- Tipping: The act of giving a gratuity, typically in the form of money, to a service worker in addition to the cost of their service.
- Main Entree: The primary course of a meal in an American restaurant.
- Course: Refers to a particular section of a meal, such as an appetizer, main entree, or dessert.
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