Eating - Buenos Aires - page 58

NEED TO KNOW
Price Ranges
$ mains under AR$80
$$ mains AR$80-130
$$$ mains over AR$130
Look for the menu ejecutivo (set lunch menu); this usually includes dessert and a drink and is a good
deal.
Opening Hours
» Restaurants are generally open daily from noon to 3:30pm for lunch and 8pm to midnight or 1am
for dinner.
» A sure bet for that morning medialuna (croissant) and cortado (coffee with milk) are the city's
many cafes, which often stay open from morning to late at night without a break.
Tipping
Tip 10% for standard service; make it 15% for exceptional service. Tips usually cannot be added to
credit-card purchases. The word for tip in Spanish is propina.
Reservations
Reserve at popular restaurants, especially on weekends. If you don't speak Spanish, ask a staff mem-
ber at your hotel to make the call for you. Or check out www.restorando.com.ar .
Etiquette
» Most porteños eat no earlier than 9pm (later on weekends).
» Ask for your bill by saying, ' la cuenta, por favo r' ('the bill, please') or making the 'writing in
air' gesture. Be aware that not all restaurants accept credit cards - always ask first.
» At upscale restaurants, a per-person cubierto (cover charge), usually AR$10 to AR$30, is tacked
on to the bill. This covers the use of utensils and bread - it does not relate in any way to the tip.