Kate

Please don't hesitate to talk to me like I'm stupid. It's just that I remember the first time I went to Italy being confused by how to order from the bar, and all that business with getting a ticket before paying and so on.<BR><BR>I'll be in Barcelona in a couple of weeks, and would appreciate your help. Cafes - are they mostly table service? Do I have to order inside? And lunch, what sort of time is looked on as an insane time to eat lunch? How about tapas? Is that eaten instead of dinner? And how does it work - will I have to stand? If I don't want to stand, do I have to wait till proper dinner, at 11pm? And how is tapas paid for, what's the procedure?<BR><BR>I'd be grateful for any responses, and apologise for sounding like a moron. I just don't really want to spend the first two days sitting outside a cafe saying to my friend 'I don't know... shall I go in? Shall I ask someone?'<BR><BR>thanks<BR><BR>K

Kate

I'm thinking I should have referred to tapas as a plural. Um.... that was a deliberate error to highlight my awareness of my ignorance.

www

All I ever did was walk in, eat whatever you feel like, chuck all you refuse on the floor, keep a tab in your head, at the end, they ask how many you had, you pay. The system works great!

Jess

Kate, I really didn't notice any new & different for of etiquette when dinig and/or paying. In bars I paid after receiving the bill, usually when I was getting up to leave, but sometimes when the drink was served. The bartender will make it pretty clear as to what they want. <BR>Both tapas places I went kept a tab and I paid when I finished eating. Personally I made tapas a meal, as Cal Pep opened at 9 and I was eating unitl 10 or 10:30. Tapas seems more popular as a evening meal, but I did have a tapas lunch one day at a little place on the P. de Gracia. <BR>When I wanted to sit outside I would either catch the attention of the server, you usually just motioned me to sit down, or I would go inside and communicate that I wanted to sit outside. Most places with outdoor seating had someone standing outside all the time.<BR>When ordering ice cream, you do pay first and then take your ticket to order the actual item. <BR>I strongly recommend you take a good menu translator--I couldn't tell what half of the things on any given menu were, as most were printed in Catalan and very oddly translated English, though maybe you will have more luck as it seemed to be a sort of British English.<BR>Have a wonderful time! Barcelona is my favorite Eurpean city.

paula

Kate,<BR><BR>We ate tapas for lunch and dinner and was not a problem. We also had dinner as early as 9 or 9:30 pm and it was fine too. We missed the crowds who showed up around 10.<BR><BR>We had a fabulous dinner one evening at a place that translates into "The Lamb". Great views and service. Sit on the rooftop dining area. <BR><BR>You will have a fabulous time! The city is wonderful as are the people!

Jen

Dear stupid, <BR>Barcelona is pretty easy to eat in. Anytime you enter a restaurant, you will be able to tell almost immediately whether it is a full-service (as in waiter who comes to your table) restaurant. If someone comes up to you within 2-3 minutes, you're going to have table service. If no one talks to you within the first 5 minutes or so, you can pretty safely assume that you need to seat yourself. And don't worry, the Italians are much sneakier about the restaurant bit. <BR><BR>Tapas bars, you can usually just go in, seat yourself (esp. at the bar), and someone will serve you. You will get a bill at the end of your experience, and pay at the register.<BR><BR>If you're truly nervous, go to Las Ramblas, the huge street in Barcelona that goes down to the water. There waiters will come talk to you (these restaurants are full-service) and eat at their restaurant. It's very easy to find someplace to eat.<BR><BR>As for timing, noon is busy during the week, just like anywhere else. Tapas can be eaten during lunch or dinner. The one time that seems to be not an "eating" time is the middle of the afternoon, from about 1-4. Most of the restaurants and a number of stores close for 'siesta'. (I'm not kidding) Most restaurants start serving dinner between 5 and 6pm, a little later on weekends, but no, you don't have to wait until 11pm to eat dinner!

Kate

Thanks so much! That all sounds very non-frightening. It's just, you know, sometimes the rest of Europe seems to have rules that the UK doesn't have. Or if not rules, ways of looking foolish - don't order a cappuccino after breakfast unless you want to look like a pleb. <BR><BR>I feel I worried unnecessarily and am very happy now. Really, thanks ever so much.

Kate

And Paula, I've written down your 'The Lamb' suggestion and will be looking it up and definitely giving it a whirl. Thank you!

Kate

I am surprised by Jen's advice that 1-4 is not an eating time. As a Londoner, I'm used to lunch from 1.30, or frequently as late as 2, 2.30. So this has been very helpful. Also am looking into Catalan translation of food to supplement my Spanish.<BR><BR>Thanks again.

Cooter

Kate:<BR><BR>For what is worth, Jen is wrong about the eating times. 2 PM is the most prevalent lunch time, with 1-4 PM being busy. Restaurants do not close for the siesta, as the siesta is traditionally immediately after lunch. Lunch is traditionally the biggest meal of the day. Restaurants (as opposed to bars) may close after lunch, say from 4-9 PM.<BR><BR>Dinner does not start at 5-6 PM in any but tourist-oriented restaurants. These places generally have bad food and high prices. Dinner is at around 10 PM throughout Spain, and sometimes even later in Barcelona. Restaurants will generally open for dinner between 8-9:00 PM.<BR><BR>With that said, tapas are available from before lunch all the way through the wee hours in many bars/restaurants. Youu can certainly make a full meal out of them, and can order a "racion" as a bigger portion. Note that some places will charge more to sit outside, or even more to sit at a table, rather than at the bar. Tapas are best consumed at the bar. And, yeah, it's all pretty easy. Most places will keep track of what you eat/drink, and give you the total once you are done. Have fun.

linda

to economize.. most restaurants hae a fixed price menu of teh day which includes dessert, and sometimes drinks/coffee.<BR><BR>be careful at sidewalk restaurants with your bag.<BR>petty crime is prevalent all over spain.<BR>also, walking odwn the street be sure to have your bag in front of you well grasped.<BR><BR>enjoy the food.<BR><BR>inexpensive wine.. vino de la casa.<BR>draft beers are ususally cheaper than a soft drink or the same as water.<BR>

Imelda

Like someone else said: Lunch from 1:30 to 3:30. And tapas anytime from 1 onward. Dinner is at 9:30 (that's considered very early!) so tapas are better for the evening meal.<BR>Lunch: just like everywhere else, waiters, wine, etc.<BR>Tapas: sit or stand at the bar.Point to what you want. Don't throw your leftovers on the floor but in many places, the customers throw their used napkins on the floor. This is a fun thing to do. You can order one dish in one place and then move on to another place. Notice what everyone else is getting as the speciality of the house. You can order wine or water. When you leave, ask for "la cuenta". That's the bill. And leave some change on the counter as a tip.

Liza

Hi all!<BR>A friend and I are headed to Spain in two weeks and I was curious about one thing... we're pretty familiar with tapas and feel fairly confident ordering them, but how does one make sure they aren't getting ripped off on the price? Are the prices of the tapas posted anywhere or should you ask first? I ask this only because I was once ripped off in Italy when prices weren't posted. The store owner wanted 20,000 lira for a donut!<BR>Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!<BR>Thanks!