One of the first things we did when we got to Amsterdam was eat! In Amsterdam, there are a lot of tourists, but the culture and process of ordering food in restaurants is different than in the U.S. (obviously!)
Below are a few tips to keep in mind when eating out.
Below are a few tips to keep in mind when eating out.
- The servers will leave you alone unless you signal to them that you want them to come by. This includes when you are waiting for a refill, need to place an order, or want to get your check. When we first got to Amsterdam, we sat at a table a loooooooooooong time before we placed our order because we didn't know to signal the server!
- Sodas come in cans, and you pay by the can. We aren't big soda drinkers, but definitely try out a Coca-Cola Light, it's by far the best soda I've ever had!
- Tipping isn't the same in Europe as it is in the U.S. The servers are paid a living wage, and a tip is an extra something for good service. We typically left a few dollars, but not the typical 15-20%. Also, Daniela shared that tipping is best done in cash and by directly handing it to your server.
- In some countries you have to pay for bottles of water. But in other countries (France, Netherlands, Germany) you can ask for tap water and you will get water from the tap for no charge.
- Speaking of water, there are two types, with gas or without gas. Gas refers to sparkling/carbonated water.
- Beer and wine are often cheaper than bottled water.