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More Differences in Dining
Credit card for bar tab and bar ID policies
Want to sit at the bar and keep ordering drinks? Be prepared to hand the bartender your credit card. For some reason, you'll usually only see this in more upscale establishments. Essentially, it is their way of preventing you from walking off without paying.
Also, unless you look like you are pushing 70, don't bother ordering alcohol without bringing ID. The legal age for drinking in the US is 21, and bars get in a ton of trouble if they are caught serving underage patrons. For this reason, they usually have very strict "carding" rules for their staff, and some places simply "card" everyone - regardless of age.
Yes, this is a real hassle, as you will have to carry your drivers license or passport everywhere you want to drink. If your license does not include English, you'll need to carry your passport. The same rules also apply to purchasing alcohol in retail stores - in fact, the law is so strict, that underage checkout clerks will have to call for someone over 21 to scan your alcohol purchase.
Opening hours and breakfast
Restaurants are open when people are hungry, so don't be too surprised if you find a Taco Bell or McDonalds serving people 24/7. In fact, if you are in a major metropolitan area, you should be surprised if you can not find somewhere to eat in the middle of the night. The only downside is that many of these 24/7 places only serve people at the drive up window.
Breakfast is big here - forget the British with their fried breakfast; the US is where you'll find fried chicken, gravy and steaks on the menu at many breakfast establishments. Oh, and for those of you visiting from the UK - bacon is served fried and crispy, not raw and dripping in grease.
The bathroom crack
Filled up on free Diet Coke refills and need to visit the bathroom? If you step into a stall, don't be alarmed by the large crack in the walls and door. Most US bathrooms are made of privacy unfriendly panels, and the gap between the wall and door is often half an inch or more. Most of them are only high enough to reach your shoulders, so if you value your privacy, I suggest doing your business, and getting out of there as soon as you can.
Yes, the same country that freaked out over seeing half a nipple during the Super Bowl, has no problem with people being able to see you poop. Ironic eh?
The good news? Bathroom access is almost always free in the US, and when compared to some countries, our facilities are generally clean.
Choice is king!
Be prepared to be overwhelmed when it comes to ordering your meal - most places work hard to offer a large number of dishes. Don't be surprised if you are presented with a 16 page menu and a separate wine list.
Tea is a drink served cold
If you order "tea", be prepared to be served with a cold beverage. Tea in the United States refers to iced tea. If your idea of tea is something steeped and served in porcelain, then be sure to ask for hot tea.
Don't be surprised to dine somewhere with 4 different flavors of iced tea, but no hot tea.
Free condiments!
If you are from Western Europe, then chances are you are perfectly used to paying for your condiments (ketchup, mayo etc.). Thankfully we here in the US will have none of that.
Some fast food restaurants may have a limit on the number of freebies, but you won't run into anyone asking for 25 cents just so you can get a single pouch of ketchup.
Want to sit at the bar and keep ordering drinks? Be prepared to hand the bartender your credit card. For some reason, you'll usually only see this in more upscale establishments. Essentially, it is their way of preventing you from walking off without paying.
Also, unless you look like you are pushing 70, don't bother ordering alcohol without bringing ID. The legal age for drinking in the US is 21, and bars get in a ton of trouble if they are caught serving underage patrons. For this reason, they usually have very strict "carding" rules for their staff, and some places simply "card" everyone - regardless of age.
Yes, this is a real hassle, as you will have to carry your drivers license or passport everywhere you want to drink. If your license does not include English, you'll need to carry your passport. The same rules also apply to purchasing alcohol in retail stores - in fact, the law is so strict, that underage checkout clerks will have to call for someone over 21 to scan your alcohol purchase.
Opening hours and breakfast
Restaurants are open when people are hungry, so don't be too surprised if you find a Taco Bell or McDonalds serving people 24/7. In fact, if you are in a major metropolitan area, you should be surprised if you can not find somewhere to eat in the middle of the night. The only downside is that many of these 24/7 places only serve people at the drive up window.
Breakfast is big here - forget the British with their fried breakfast; the US is where you'll find fried chicken, gravy and steaks on the menu at many breakfast establishments. Oh, and for those of you visiting from the UK - bacon is served fried and crispy, not raw and dripping in grease.
The bathroom crack
Filled up on free Diet Coke refills and need to visit the bathroom? If you step into a stall, don't be alarmed by the large crack in the walls and door. Most US bathrooms are made of privacy unfriendly panels, and the gap between the wall and door is often half an inch or more. Most of them are only high enough to reach your shoulders, so if you value your privacy, I suggest doing your business, and getting out of there as soon as you can.
Yes, the same country that freaked out over seeing half a nipple during the Super Bowl, has no problem with people being able to see you poop. Ironic eh?
The good news? Bathroom access is almost always free in the US, and when compared to some countries, our facilities are generally clean.
Choice is king!
Be prepared to be overwhelmed when it comes to ordering your meal - most places work hard to offer a large number of dishes. Don't be surprised if you are presented with a 16 page menu and a separate wine list.
Tea is a drink served cold
If you order "tea", be prepared to be served with a cold beverage. Tea in the United States refers to iced tea. If your idea of tea is something steeped and served in porcelain, then be sure to ask for hot tea.
Don't be surprised to dine somewhere with 4 different flavors of iced tea, but no hot tea.
Free condiments!
If you are from Western Europe, then chances are you are perfectly used to paying for your condiments (ketchup, mayo etc.). Thankfully we here in the US will have none of that.
Some fast food restaurants may have a limit on the number of freebies, but you won't run into anyone asking for 25 cents just so you can get a single pouch of ketchup.
Gallery: "Gross" Food
![Roast cuy [guinea pig]- served roadkill style](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2007/10/63966403_965eb5fda3_b_thumbnail.jpg "Roast cuy [guinea pig]- served roadkill style")
Gallery: Culinary tour of Japan
Filed under: Food and Drink
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jill May 13th 2009 2:24PM
I've never been served iced tea when ordering "tea." I think maybe this is relegated to the South?
Jeff May 13th 2009 5:31PM
I second Jill's comment. I've never asked for tea expecting to receive iced tea. If I want iced tea I ask for iced tea and if I want hot tea I ask for tea. I'm from Maryland.
Jay May 14th 2009 12:05AM
I'm from NJ and "Tea" is Hot Tea here. I've been to Costa Rica and asked for "Any soda" and I ended up with fizzy water (aka soda water). Sigh!
teeshka Jun 1st 2009 9:40PM
I ordered tea in Dallas, expecting hot tea and received iced tea.
DJ May 14th 2009 3:29AM
There is nothing worse in Europe than going into a bathroom with a hole in the floor that you stand over (yes, ladies, even for peeing). They are frequently found in Italy, not only along the autobahns, but in buildings, as well. Make sure you carry plenty of change so you can give "madame pee-pee" her money before she lets you past her! (don't count on toilet paper being readily available either) Another thing, in America, we do NOT serve fried eggs on our hamburgers or club sandwiches (yep, had a club sandwich in Luxembourg with a fried egg on top), and eggs on burgers happen in many countries. (ewww). Also, be prepared to take your time, as they don't rush you in most countries and it's sometimes hard to get your check at the end of the meal. NEVER say "garcon" to your server. I won't even tell you what might happen to your food enroute from the kitchen to your table!
DB May 14th 2009 4:50AM
Hole in the floor bathrooms.... that brings back memories (not good ones)
wildwadi May 15th 2009 5:22AM
American food looks absolutely abhorrent. I can't belive people would be prepared to serve that! Obviously America has very different values compared to Australia.
I also don't understand the large gap in the toilet door and the legal drinking age being 21.
Rusty Shackleford May 18th 2009 11:48PM
I find it very funny how Australians seem to find every chance to call the United States wrong or stupid. Go eat some Koala testicles on a bun and enjoy your island.
I'll continue to make judgements about other countries by visiting them instead of relying on a few shocking pictures on a blog. I might be arrogant, but at least I don't think every Australian is what I see on TV (leather hat with alligator teeth brim, yelling 'krikee', and eating snakes in the 'outback').
Come to America, its huge!. I'm sure you'll love it as much as we love your country. If you find a place you don't like here, hop a plane/train/bus to another part of it. I don't know if its the best place in the world, but it really is amazing how much there is to do here and how far you can roam.
The people here are very friendly (though the north east is a little dicey), and we have every food in the world.
-Rusty
mattmmille May 15th 2009 10:28PM
In North Carolina and anywhere in the South that I've ever traveled, tea comes in a glass with ice and a ton of sugar...and usually, a lemon wedge. If you want your tea hot, you better say so and if you want it unsweetened...ditto. There's enough Yankees in the South now that unsweetened tea has become available in most places, but there are still a few that don't have it at all. (They may offer you hot tea and a glass of ice ;o)
Hexe May 16th 2009 12:58PM
Most Americans are perfectly comfortable holding food with their fingers, not using knives and forks. They do not think it is a sign of infantile ineptness and will be puzzled if you say that. You might have to ask for utensiles in fast food and similar restaurants. They will be weak plastic intended for one time use.
Most Americans are perfectly comfortable eating in very casual settings lilke in automobiles and even while walking down the street. Of course their willingness to hold the food with their fingers makes this an easier proposition.
Most American fast food meals include an enormous bun. This allows the fastidious finger eater to get through the meal with only slightly greasy fingers unless french fries are included. If you want only half the bread and plan to use utensiles, ask for the sandwich to be served 'open face.' That means the top of the bread bun will not be pressed into the meat, but will be set on the side of the sandwich with the extras (typically lettuce and tomato) stacked on top it it.