The U.S. is a country of immigrants: people from all over the world come to American soil and open establishments dedicated to their native cuisine. So it’s not surprising that no other country in the world has such a variety of restaurants.
What kind of restaurants there are in the United States
In any major city, representatives of different nations often still prefer to live in a compact fashion, so whether to say that the best Greek restaurant will be found in the area inhabited by the Greeks, and the most authentic Chinese cuisine can be tasted in Chinatown, at the same time in any even a small town must find Italian pizzerias, restaurants of Latin American, Indian, Thai and Chinese cuisine.
The predominance of certain restaurants depends on the ethnic composition of the state. For example, in the north-east of the country British traditions predominate, in the south – Creole and African, in the west and almost Hispanic south-west there are a lot of establishments with Mexican cuisine.
In the USA there are many refined gastronomic establishments where eminent chefs work, well trained waiters serve the dishes on designer dishes, and the average bill starts from $100 for two without wine. Such establishments often win prestigious awards (there are over a hundred Michelin-starred restaurants in the country alone).
Another type of American establishments are small, family-run cafes. They are democratic in both price and etiquette. Many of them are dedicated to some kind of national cuisine. The average check without drinks is about $10-$15.
Fresh and tasty dishes can be bought in the restaurants (Delicatessen), where take-away food is prepared. But they usually have tables for those who want to eat on the spot.
But most of all there are fast food restaurants in America. In addition to the hamburgers, French fries, and deep-fried chicken wings and legs that have spread all over the world, there are places devoted to hot dogs, pizzas, and pancakes. A hearty meal there will cost $5 to $7.
The trend in recent years is as follows: in large metropolitan areas there are more and more highly specialized restaurants dedicated to different diets, gastronomic preferences or focused on a particular group of people – kosher and halal, vegetarian and vegan, for raw people.
If you just want to drink coffee, it is worth looking into a cafe or coffee shop: the range of dishes there is limited, most likely you will be offered a well-brewed drink and desserts.
In small towns, in contrast to major metropolitan areas, a special variety of restaurants you will not find. You will usually have a choice between the predominant ethnic cafes of the region and a few fast-food places.
Features of Restaurants in the U.S.
Features of restaurants in the U.S.
Typically, standard portions in America are very large, so you should not take many dishes, because an ordinary cheeseburger can be multi-storey and replace a whole meal. It “by default” will be accompanied by salad and fries – you can’t refuse them and pay cheaper. Not surprisingly, it’s not uncommon for adults to order children’s portions. It is also considered quite decent to ask to wrap the leftovers to go.
Usually you will be served a glass of water with ice along with the main course (its price is also added to the price of the main course). Alcohol is not available everywhere: some places have a license only for beer and wine (but not for spirits), others have no license at all.
Cash and major credit cards are widely accepted in the U.S.. If you use plastic and want to tip, just add the required amount to your bill.
Children are welcome in many American restaurants. They equip a special room or corner with different slides and games for them. In case of emergency, the waiter always has felt-tip pens and coloring books to entertain your child.
Opening hours of restaurants and cafes
The earliest to open (sometimes from 06.00 am) and the latest to close (around 23.00 pm) are the fast-food places. Some of them are ready to serve customers around the clock. Regular coffee houses and cafes offer breakfast from about 07.00 to 10.00 am. Around 11:30 a.m., restaurants designed for lunch start serving lunch. Specials are usually available until 3:30 p.m. And from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. comes dinner time, when the most expensive dishes are prepared. On Sundays and holidays from 10.00 to 15.00 there is a “brunch” – breakfast combined with lunch.
Tipping in U.S. Cafes and Restaurants
In the United States it is not a question “to tip or not to tip”: service charge is mandatory. In regular places you can tip 10 to 15 percent of the bill, and in posh restaurants you won’t be accepted if you leave less than 15 to 20 percent. Besides in such expensive cities as New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles is customary to leave a little more. When you are served by a bartender, he should add 1-2 dollars for each drink or the same 10-20 percent for the total bill. Without gratitude should not remain and serving you and the sommelier – he is entitled to about 10-15 percent of the value of the bottle.
Before attaching the tip to the receipt, take a look at the bill: sometimes they are included at once or there is a recommended amount that is expected from you.
In fast-food restaurants tips are optional, but it is considered good form to throw a few coins in the box labeled “tips.