Text 32 Dine in different kinds of restaurants

The rules and practices are different in different kinds of restaurants. If you know what to expect, you will feel more comfortable. Here are some of the things you can expect:

· Fast-food Restaurants. In a fast-food restaurant, you walk up to a counter and order your food from a server/cashier. There may be a line-or several lines if there are several cashiers. Just stand at the end of the line and wait until it is your turn to order. The menu is usually hanging on the wall near the counter. You pay for your food when you order it.

The server may give you your food right away, or he may give you an order number. If you get an order number, just step away from the counter and wait for your number to be called. Usually you must go back to the counter to get your food, but some fast-food restaurants bring it to your table. Your food will be on a tray, unless you ordered it to go. If you eat at the restaurant, it is good manners to throw away your trash when you are finished.

Many fast-food restaurants have drive-in windows where you can order your food to go without leaving your car.

· Restaurants. When you first walk into some restaurants, you will find a sign that says “Please Wait to Be Seated.” Just wait. Someone will come and lead you to table. In many cities, restaurants offer smoking and non-smoking sections. The person who seats you may ask if you want smoking or non-smoking. In other restaurants, you can walk in and sit down at any table or booth you want.

When you are seated, a waiter will come with a menu and ask what you want to drink. Be sure to notice signs around the restaurant advertising the daily specials, which are special low prices that day for certain meals. While the waiter gets you drinks, you can read the menu. If you have not decided what you want to eat when the waiter returns, ask for more time. If you want to know how a certain item is cooked, or if you want special combinations not on the menu, ask the waiter.

Usually, everyone at a table is served at the same time. An exception is when one person orders only an entree and another orders a full dinner. The dinner may have two parts: a salad or other appetizer served first and the entree served second. The person who ordered a full dinner would eat his or her salad while the other person waits. Then both people would get their entrees at the same time.

During your meal, your waiter should come by your table once or twice to ask if you need anything. If you need help during the meal and the waiter is not there, try to catch his eye by raising one hand slightly. The waiter should immediately come to your table.

After you finish eating, the waiter should clear away the dirty dishes and ask if you want dessert. If you don’t want dessert, then he should put your bill on the table. If you do want dessert, then he should put your bill on the table after he clears away your dessert dishes. You may stay and talk as long as you want, even after the waiter has left your bill on the table. However, if the restaurant is very busy and people are waiting for a table, it is polite to leave when you are finished eating.

A waiter’s job is to serve you. You will pay for that service. When the meal is finished, you are expected to pay a tip for service. Standard tips are 15 to 20 percent of the total bill before tax. If the service is very bad, you may choose not to leave a tip or to leave only 10 percent. A 20 percent tip tells the waiter he did an excellent job. Tips do not need to be exact amounts. Leaving pennies in the tip is an insult to the waiter.

If you pay your bill with a credit card, you may add the waiter’s tip to the bill. If you pay with cash, put the tip on the table as you leave. The waiter will pick it up.

· Cafeterias. In cafeteria, you will usually find a line of people trying to choose their food. If so, then get in line behind them. You’ll pick up a tray and silverware wrapped in a napkin before you come to the food.

As you walk through the food line, tell the food servers what you want. They will put your choice on a dish and hand you the dish to put on your tray. The prices for all the food items are usually listed on a sign behind the food servers.

At the end of the line, a checkout clerk will give you a bill that adds up your food cost. Most often, you then take your tray to a table and sit down to eat. Afterwards, your leave your dirty dishes on the table and take the bill to the cashier. You must pay your ticket to get out of the restaurant. You do not pay tips in a cafeteria. Most of them don’t take checks or credit cards.

· F ancy Restaurants. Food and drink at fancy restaurants are usually expensive. They offer the best in food and service. The decor is appealing. People dress up and make the meal a special event.

For fancy restaurants, you must make a reservation. That means you must call ahead to say:

1. What day or evening you are coming.

2. How many people are coming.

3. What time you are coming.

The restaurant will save a table just for you.