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While you are traveling in Germany, you stop at
a charming outdoor cafe. You sit down at
the table and order a drink. A minute later, a stranger comes by, sees that you
are alone at your table, and asks if a seat is free. When you reply
affirmatively, he sits down and then ignores you while you both drink your
beverages. That's Germany.
Restaurants in
Germany
In Germany, you normally seat yourself at a
restaurant, unless you see a host or hostess seating people. As in the example
above, you can seat yourself at an empty seat at an already occupied table. You
ask the occupants, "Ist dieser Platz noch frei?" and if they say yes,
you can sit down. And, while you are not expected to, you can strike up a
conversation with your table mates.
Separate checks are a common
practice in Germany, and wait staff generally expect to provide them for a group
of people dining together. Actually, you normally won't get a check at all. The
waiter will come to your table and calculate the cost of your meal,
and you pay him right at your table.
The tip, or service, is
usually included in the price of a meal or beverage. However, it's customary to
round up to the next Mark and give the change to the waiter.
You may see dogs accompanying
their owners into German restaurants, pubs, and cafes. Many restaurants
routinely allow dogs inside as well as to any outside seating, and will often
provide a bowl of water for the pet. Dogs are particularly present when outside
seating is available, because Germans love to sit outside when weather permits
and to have their dogs with them.
You will probably also
encounter lots of smoking in eating and drinking establishments in Germany, and
there's no use complaining about it. Even if a restaurant has a no-smoking
section, the tables will be few and with little separation between the
sections.
Types of
Dining Establishments in Germany
Germany has a variety of restaurants and eating places for every budget and
mood.
A Gasthaus or Gasthof is an
inn, often in the country. You can expect local cuisines and home cooking in
such places.
A Café is a place where you
get coffee and pastries, and some snacks and other beverages.
A Bierstube is a pub that
serves a limited menu, but lots of beer. A Biergarten offers outside seating,
some food items, and a wonderful, relaxed atmosphere.
A Konditorei is a pastry shop
that sells Germany's famous pastries. They often have a place where you can sit
down and order tea or coffee.
A Ratskeller is a restaurant
in the cellar of a usually historic town hall. The environment is great in these
places and the food tends to be wonderful.
If you're in a hurry for
lunch, you can always stop at a Schnellimbiss and get a quick bratwurst.
When and
What to Eat
If you are staying in a hotel or pension, breakfast (das Frühstück)
is often part of the price of accommodations. You can expect breads, rolls,
jams, cheeses, coldcuts (Auflage) and perhaps a boiled egg.
Germans eat lunch (das
Mittagessen) between noon and 2:00 pm. Traditionally, this is the main meal of
the day.
Dinner (das Abendessen) is a
small meal, eaten generally between 6:30 and 8:30 pm, similar to foods eaten at
breakfast. However, restaurants will still provide large meals at this time as
well.
In the afternoon, take a
break at a Café or Konditorei and enjoy a pastry
with coffee or tea. Order a Kaffeekanne if you want more than one cup of coffee,
but don't expect a price break. You'll pay the same as two cups, but you won't
have to wait for service.
Table Manners
There's no need to excessively worry about table manners. If you
eat with a knife and fork and can keep people from looking at you in a strange
way, you'll do fine.
However, if you want to know
how Germans should comport themselves at table, read on. As is normal for
Europeans, Germans hold the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left,
and don't switch them around. You will, however, sometimes see violations of
this table custom in Germany, particularly in casual environments. Germans also
tend to keep their hands on the table at all times, and not let one of their
hands rest in their laps.
Dining is one of the great
pleasures visitors will experience when they visit Germany. Of course, you will
find many international cuisines as well as traditional German meals. The
important point to remember is to try something you don't know. You might really
like it, and in this way, you'll get the real flavor of Germany. Guten
Appetit!
Online Resources
for Dining in Germany
Dining Out in
Germany - guides for major cities
Vegetarian
Restaurants in Germany
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