European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse How to do it. Eating out in Germany is fun especially if you know the German Way to do it. Here s How it s done from the time you reach the door of the restaurant to the time you say auf we Dershen and leave. Plan of tears you will find that most restaurants Post a copy of their specs Karte menu or the Tawei carte deity menu outside the door or in the window. This allows you to decide if that restaurant has what you want and How much it will Cost before going into the restaurant. There also will be signs in the window fur any credit card accepted. Gentlemen first you la encounter two custom different from what you re used to As Toon As you enter a German restaurant. First forget about ladle Here men precede women into most establishment. This is a carry Over from when a Man determined whether a place was suitable for he female companion before she entered. Second you rarely will be met by a hostess or Mahre d except in the More elegant restaurant. That you usually find your own table. Pick your spot at this stage of doing it in restaurants in deut Ehland you should be aware of another two customs which Are different from those in the United states. First if you find that every Uwe his at least one occupant but some tables have enough seats left for your party it s Okay to share a table with strangers. Ask "1st Dieter mate Freli is this seat available almost always you la beat a a few Sehr yet please meaning yes the my b available and please take it. Keep in mind too that if you Are at a table that is not fully occupied you May be asked to share it with other. Greet them cordially fico a cute aft Petit when their food it served. The other novel custom is that in addition to Tablet which have reserved signs Fate Servert there May be another table which is off limits even if it s empty or has vacant seals. The Stamm Tolsch to a table reserved for regular customers who get together to eat drink play cards or talk. A table with a Stammel bin sign is most common in Gasty Maeuser guesthouses and other simpler establishment. Hang Hup germans do not leave on their Coats after entering a restaurant nor do they put them Over chairs at their table. They usually take off their Coats and hang them on coat Racks or Hooks placed conveniently around the restaurant. In fancier restaurants there May be a coat Check Carde Robe when you Cote in the sign above the coat rack fuer Garde Robe word Nocht Geh fiet Means that the restaurant is nor responsible for articles left there. You should t worry though about leaving your Coal hat umbrella Etc. There while you eat. But Don t hang up your camera or other valuable items keep them at your table. What s for dinner when ordering your meal you May find ii easier to order a Geletk from the tages Karte daily menu since this is usually a Complete meal at a reasonable Price. Ordering this Way is not As difficult As ordering individual dishes such As soup salad main dish and dessert separately. It also is usually less expensive. A menu matter or traveler s guide Book comes in Handy when you want to figure out what the different foods Are. It s a Good idea 10 carry one of these with you until you re familiar with the names for German foods. The rest of this insert will acquaint you with dishes you la find and help you to master German menus place your orders ordering ii essentially the same n in the United states. The Waller or waitress lakes one per son s order at a time and moves from one person to the next around the table. If thera is a Large party a Man or woman can order first if there is a couple the woman orders Firtl. You order three times first your drinks usually when you re Given your menu second your main meal and third your dessert and or after dinner beverage when you have finished your main meal. Rating etiquette when your food arrives the waiter May say cute Appel if which meant to enjoy your meal. You May be surprised to find that every one at your table is not served at the same time. Since the food is freshly prepared each dish is brought to the table when it is ready. As a result it is customary to begin eating whenever you Are served. Don t wait for everyone at the table to be served As you would to the slates or your food May get very cold. Like most europeans the germans hold the Fork in the left hand and the knife in the right White eating. There is no switching of the Fork from left to right after the food has been Cut. As this takes some getting used to no one will be offended if you continue to eat in the Ameri can in Germany it is not considered proper to sit Ai a table with your hands in your Lap. Rest your hands not your elbows on the table. U you Are still eating but wish to set your knife and Fork Down Cross them on your plate. When you Are finished Lay your Fork and knife Side by Side on your Plite. This tells the waiter that you re finished eating so he can Clear the table. Take it easy service in German restaurants is much slower than what you May be used to. One waiter or waitress May have to serve everyone so relax and enjoy yourself. Don t feel that you have to Rush through your meal. Once you sit at a table in a German restaurant you can stay As Long As you want. You Waltl almost never get the bit uni ii you ask for it. It in t acceptable to try to hurry the waiter. Besides it won t do any Good. His response will be Ich comme Lelch i la be right Back or is so fort it the food or drink to coming and you will be served As soon As possible. If you need the waiter while eating get his attention by saying heir Ober. If there is a wait Ress say Fraulein pay up when you Are ready to pay get the waiter s attention and say zazen Blue the Bill please to let him know you want the Check. The waiter will frequently ask Hales gut Gesch Tecklt did you enjoy your Milf your reply is Dante serf at most restaurants you pay the Bill directly to the waiter. German Law re quires thai All restaurants and drinking establish ments include tax and the service charge in the Price of each item on the menu. Thus the prices include 10 to 15 per cent for service Becir e Nung and 14 per cent for value added tax . An extra tip is not necessary although most people do round the Bill off to at least the nearest Mark according to the amount to be paid and service provided. For instance if the Check amounts to do 15,25 you May say Sec Zehn Mark a Lle to the waiter thus Indi Cating that you expect change Only tar sixteen Marks and that the rest is for him. The tip u Given directly to the waiter upon paying and it it left on the table paying the Bill in a restaurant with a personal Check or credit card it not at common in Ger Many As it is in the United states. Always Check beforehand if you need to use a credit card to avoid an embarrassing situation. What Ese now that you be been through the entire pro Cess of How to eat out in a German restaurant there Are a few additional facts that might help you. Don t be surprised to see dogs in restaurants this is allowed quite common. The dogs Are usually Well behaved and often you May not even notice them once they curl up quietly under the table. However unless your dog is equally used to dining out ii would probably not be a Good idea to Lake it along. Speaking of dogs the american custom of asking for a Doggie bag is almost unknown among europeans. Most restaurants do not have the containers for take out or Doggie germans Are frugal and waste very Little but most belong to the Dean plate club so they neither waste nor need a Daggle in smaller simpler establishments your request to take Home a sizeable t Ortlon of uneaten food would probably be honoured. Those strange american a Vaysle if you need to use a bathroom ask to it die Toilette Battet where h the toilet pleated or look for one of the following signs Tollette toilets , water closet Damen diff or a picture of a woman ladies room or Merreith in or a picture of a Man men s room. Germani think it is Odd that americans use so Many words other than a bathroom is for bathing and a restroom is for resting in restaurants the use of toilets is free by Law. You May be charged though for using the sink soap and Towel and you should always tip an attendant by leaving 50 pig. Or so in the dish provided. For More help. Until you have mastered How to do it in Ger Man restaurants you might want to buy one or More of the following guides which Are available at your local stars and stripes Bookstore. The conveniently Small menu matter is almost a must in decoding All but the most Basic menus. It s comprehensive and easy to use. To help you select a place to eat refer to either the Varta guide through Germany or the red Mich in guide for Germany. These guides Are arranged by City or town and contain information about each restaurant including location phone number Days and hours of operation specialities of the House Price Range rating of Quality special features e.g., views architecture Garden tables Etc credit cards accepted and whether reservations Are required. Emu tort in Dettt stood thursday May 7,1987 paid special insert to the stars and stripes Page Dell
