Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wining and Dining
In this section we will help you to get a table, order, and do other restaurant-related tasks.
You should know that in Spain times for eating are a bit different than what we would ex-
pect. Lunch is usually after 1:30 and for dinner often no earlier than 9pm. On the weekend
dining out can start as late as 10pm. This is also true in many countries in Latin America.
Also there are three main types of eateries: a restaurant which tends to be more formal, a bar
which serves food and alcohol, and cafeteria which is kind of like a mixture between a bar,
coffee shop and a bakery. In Spain, you can usually go to a
cafetería
(café) to have a
mer-
ienda
(snack) around 5:30 or 6:00pm. The world famous
Tapas
(small dishes served with
a drink) are served at bars and cafeterías. In Spanish-speaking countries, it is also polite to
use a knife and fork to eat almost anything. It is not normally accepted to eat food with your
hands
. ¡Buen provecho!
(Bon Apetit!)
