One of the things I looked forward to the most when living in Spain was the food— and what kind of foodie doesn't want to explore new foods around the world?! So far I have had nothing that I DIDN'T like!!! Here are important things to know when eating in Spain:
Meat and cheese plate. My friend got a sangria (right)
#1: The food schedule and servings are different compared to the USA.
Breakfast:
Goodbye avocado toast ): The Spaniards eat a LIGHT breakfast in the early morning, usually consisting of a slice of toast or cereal with café con leche (coffee with milk). This was SUCH a huge adjustment for me, since my american breakfasts consists of packed protein and fats to fuel my day. If you go to some cafés/restaurants that offer breakfast in the morning, a very typical deal is to eat a LARGE half slice of toast with coffee for only about €2.50. I got a little fancy and got toast with York y Queso.
Lunch:
It took all the strength inside of me to contain my roaring stomach until 2pm, which the typical lunch hour. There may be FEW restaurants that offer food for tourists, since they aren't used to eating lunch so "late," but cafés are open for coffee/tea and pastries to tide you over. All the restaurants open back up at 2pm to serve the country's largest meal of the day. I've seen deals for the "Menu al Día" which in Granada is pretty cheap (around €10) and consists of THREE courses!
Dinner:
What we usually perceive as the biggest and most filling meal of the day, dinner in Spain is actually pretty small and light compared to their lunch. Dinner is served around 9-10pm, and during this hour bars open up to offer one of the most POPULAR choices amongst Spainiards: Drinks and Tapas.
A Tapa is a small portion of food served in Spanish bars and restaurants, almost like appetizer size. However, I have been to some bars that have LARGE servings of tapas! My friend got a drink with a hamburger, and instead of a slider size, she got a full size ENORMOUS hamburger with a fried egg on it (they put eggs on their burgers). Best thing about them? TAPAS ARE FREE with a purchase of a drink!! Drinks imply alcoholic drinks, but I've been to a vegan bar that served a tapa with a purchase of soda. The total of the Tapa/Drink combo is only €2-3! Because lunch is so large, people tend to go out for tapas and drinks for dinner.
Bar Poë This tapa was this spicy meat with rice! It tasted pretty Moroccan.
If you don't want a tapa and are really hungry, you can buy sandwiches or pasta for only €7 and they serve large portions! Please know I am talking about prices I've encountered in Andalusia, but the tapa/drink deals are typical throughout Spain.
At Restobar La Fabrica I got the tapa/drink of Gin and Tonic mix with fried squid with a normal dinner of a LARGE sandwich. Total = €7.25
Grilled squid in herb sauce
#2: CASH IS A MUST HAVE IN RESTAURANT/BARS.
I usually hate caring around so much cash, so I pay with a debit card; however, in Spain it is very necessary to pay in efectivo when you go out to eat at a sit-down restaurant/bar. Now there are exceptions, depending on the prices. If I buy a sandwich for €7.50 or a tapa/drink for €2.50, then I need to pay in cash BUT if the total on the bill is €40 more or less, cards are allowed. Why would you pay €40? Well this brings me to the next lesson...
#3: Restaurants/Cafés will NOT split your bill most of the time!
If you aren't solo, the waiter will add the tabs on one bill. When you receive the bill it is too late to split it. SOMETIMES (if you ask in advance) the waiter will enter your order on separate tabs, but even so if you ask, they will tell you that is not allowed. Make sure you have enough money to cover your share!
#4: CUSTOMERS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, AND THE WAITER DOES NOT SEE YOU AS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
Working at Cracker Barrel and eating at American restaurants myself, I've come to expect that customer satisfaction is the top priority. Waiters must be attentive to you and visit you constantly and give you things without you requesting them... NOW JUST TAKE WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THE USA AND THROW IT AWAY IN WHEN IN SPAIN.
You enter a restaurant/bar, you must seat yourself.
A waiter will approach you and ask if you need a few minutes (or to take your drink order) if you say yes, YOU MUST FLAG THEM DOWN LATER WHEN YOU ARE READY TO ORDER.
The waiter does not have the responsibility to check up on you if your food is cooked to your liking or if you are missing anything. If you need assistance, YOU MUST FLAG THEM DOWN.
Are you done eating? Well the waiter will not bring you your bill unless you FLAG THEM DOWN.
If you consider this system as rude, think about this..
Spain does NOT have waiters depend on tips, and waiters do NOT expect tips. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TIP. Therefore, waiters don't feel the incentive to tend to your every need. They already get paid good hourly wages.
Eating out is a social opportunity with friends and family, so not being in a rush to get everything done is normal. It's a time to socialize with your loved ones.
So if you find yourself criticizing the restaurant for "poor service" or if you have the desire to "speak to the manager," realize that you are referring back to all you know and all you're accustomed to from your HOME country, but that in this country things are different. The restaurant staff doesn't see anything wrong with what they are doing, and neither do the Spaniards eating at the restaurant. At least you don't have to tip!
#5: REQUEST TAP WATER... or else you could be charged
Water isn't free in some Spanish food places. If you want water, ask if tap water (agua de grifo) is available. If they don't serve it (which is common in sit-in restaurants), then they will give you filtered water and charge you €2.50.
Overall, food is always SO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE with amazing quality and large portions here than in the USA. Just keep these lessons in mind if you want to eat out.
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