German Food
 

My husband and I are leaving for a 7 day trip to Germany, in the Bavarian Alps (Munich for one day and the rest in Garmisch or northern parts of Austria). First time travelers in Europe. <BR> <BR>Our hotel offers us breakfast. What is the typical costs for 2 adults for lunch and dinner? Do we tip? My husband likes to eat, he is a heartier eater than I. <BR> <BR>Tracy

I'm not sure where you are from, but if you are from the U.S. expect the food in Germany to be a little different. For breakfast there is a lot of what we would consider cold cuts (ham, salami, cheese), yogurt, croissants, fruit, sometimes eggs etc. Not anything like the American breakfast of pancakes, danish, etc. So just gear your mind to having a big slice of cold ham for breakfast. <BR> <BR>You can find all different types of restaurants in Germany and all have different prices. There are even American fast food chains if you are looking for super cheap places to eat (there is a Pizza Hut in Garmisch). <BR> <BR>The German food is very filling because they use a lot of meat and potatoes in their dishes and. For lunch you can easily get by on $5-10 per person. And of course dinner just depends on how fancy you want to go. You can easily get by on $10-15 per person for a basic, but hearty, German meal. <BR> <BR>Usually a tip is included and all you need to do is round up the bill to the next highest mark or give a small amount directly to the waitperson. I've noticed that if you look at your bill, many times it tells in English if the gratuity has not been included. <BR> <BR>One other thing I've noticed in Germany is that when the waitperson brings you the bill, many times they stand and wait for the money, unlike in the U.S. where the waitperson leaves the bill and returns later for the money.

Two more pieces of advice: <BR>1. You seat yourself, i.e. no waiting to be seated. <BR>2. Don't just put the money on teh table and leave. You wait for the bill and then pay right aways.

tracy, <BR>Another bit of advice: <BR>do not be in a hurry for your bill. <BR>We spent a few weeks in Germany this summer w/ our kids. We enjoyed our leisurely dinrs but sometimes wanted a fast lunch and go. We felt rude asking for it right away, but sometimes did. <BR>WE liked to fill up at breakfast and then would just get fruit and cheese at an open air market - $1.00 <BR>Dinners cost around 10-15$/person <BR>Your husband should enjoy the sausages, and potato dishes as wellas spaetzel and I loved gnochi(potato pasta?) w/ cheese...oh yeah and the apfel (apple) strudel. <BR>cokes are more expensive than beer. <BR>Have a great time!!!! <BR>If you have any questions you can email me, we were in those exact regions.

In Munich we usually spend about 60-100dm for 2 for dinner with wine. You can buy takeaway sandwiches, etc, for 5-10dm.

In Garmish-P, be sure to go to Fraundaufer's Gast Haus. It is in Partenkirchen, on the "old" street and very well known. It is enjoyed by locals, German and other tourist and some US military -- locally considered one of the best meal-and-meeting places in town. Your hearty-heating husband will love it. <BR>Other restaurant recommendations for Garmish-P are the Post Hotel and the ??? Steak House -- both in Garmish. Also, in Oberamagau (sp??) have lunch at the Wolf(???) hotel. Try the Kase Spatzel. <BR>You will generally be paying less than you would pay for comparable food (if you could find it) in the US. Enjoy -- it's a great place to visit.

As for tipping, I'm really not sure about all parts of Germany but around here in the Rhineland, rounding up a bill of let's say 22.70 to 23,- won't draw any appreciating smiles from a waiter. <BR>If one doesn't want to tip, no problem at all but most people do. The inclusion of service simply means that there is no legal obligation to pay any service charge. If you want to leave it at that, it's okay. If you want to tip, it's also okay. <BR>I normally tip around 10%, for bills greater than 30 DM rather in the direction of 5 than of 15%. As for the example of 22.70, most people would probably give 25,- DM.

I agree with Hans: If you round up, don't round from 70 pfennig to the nearest mark, especially if the bill is 20+ marks. I f it's only 1.70 (for a coffee), then it's fine. (Although I'm not sure you'd get a coffeee for that amount. <BR> <BR>I also agree with the poster re. soda vs. beer prices, something that I found annoying this summer. Also, you have to know that there are no free refills for coffee or sodas. <BR> <BR>Another thing: You won't get tap water with ice. If you ask for water they'll bring you mineral water. This summer we explained to them that our kids really wanted plain water since that's what they're used to in the US. We always got it but had made sure that we'd ordered enough other stuff, not to look too stingy. <BR> <BR>Unless you like very strong coffee you may also ask for a little pot of HOT water with your coffee. <BR>

Tap water is Leitungswasser. Most places will give it to you free. You can also get stilles mineralwasser (Ursula...is that spelled right?) which is bottled water without gas/bubbles. Occasionally a waiter will tell us that they can't give us tap water because the water is 'bad.' I drink Munich's tap water all the time so I find that rather amusing.

Ordering tap water won't make you any friends with the waiters and restaurant owners. I agree that the drinks are extremely expensive in German restaurants but they are an important part of their profit calculations. <BR> <BR>If you go to a cheap restaurant, the cheapest meal might cost as much as two small glasses of mineral water or soft drinks. While the food might not yield any profit at all, the drinks are 90% profit. You can imagine how happy the owner is if someone orders free tap water. It's a little bit like eight people sitting down in a restaurant but only one person ordering something. <BR> <BR>Honestly, I would love to get free tap water with my food since I dislike the high prices and normally drink a lot of fluid. Some restaurants offer this service to the customers and they bring the water automatically. But I've never ordered tap water and I've never seen anyone else doing so. It's seen as being unfair to the restaurant owners.

Hans, I don't agree with you. I would feel bad if I ordered tap water as a means of being stingy. However, if I go out with a group of six or eight people, order appetizers, main courses, wine, beer, some soda, and dessert, I and the restaurant owners/waiters know that I'm not trying to be cheap. Plus, we ate out mostly in Greek and Italian restaurants (my mom cooks German at home), countries where you also get water, and the restaurant owners know that it's a normal "drink" in some countries and not a way of saving money. <BR> <BR>

Hans, I disagree with you also. I always order tap water, in addition to wine and a meal. Of course it's unacceptable if you sit in a restaurant and only order tap water, but if you're paying for other drinks and meals, you're hardly being cheap.

Sorry, I didn't want to criticize you or call you cheap. If someone takes a full meal with wine and orders some tap water, most restaurants will probably see it as a service to a customer who brings a profit, especially if the restaurant is of the more expensive kind. <BR> <BR>But if someone enters a cheap Gaststaette and orders a meal for 12 DM and tap water together with it, then the owner doesn't make much of a profit and won't feel happy about it. I'm reasonable sure that the waiters weren't distrusting the quality of Munich's water when they tried to avoid serving tap water by calling it 'bad'. They just didn't want to serve a free drink instead of something the restaurant would make a profit on. <BR> <BR>Again, I don't want to ciriticize anyone but just wanted to mention that it's uncommon in Germany, or at least in the part of Germany where I live (customs often vary significantly between regions), to consider ordering tap water as a normal service performed by all restaurants.

You have to love this forum. Where else would a simple question about German food become a hot debate about tap water? <BR>I lived in Germany a year in the 1970s, and all I remember is that I once asked for water in a small, rural restaurant, and the waiter said, "Why? Do you want to wash?" <BR>P.S. The desserts look a lot sweeter than they really are. The Germans don't use much sugar (though I'm certain they use water).

Well, you certainly didn't get much helpful info on German food, did you? We tried ordering plain water "without gas" but it didn't work and just developed a taste for what they serve. <BR> <BR>In Bavaria, if you go to Freiburg, do go to the open market at the base of the cathedral. There are many delicious pestos (i.e., sundried tomatoes, basil, chile, and some that were delicious but that we couldn't recognize, lots of different kinds of olives, dolmas, breads, and cheeses. We had a terrific picnic or two from what we bought. <BR> <BR>Also, in Freiburg or most anywhere in Bavaria, you must try the Black Forest Ham. Fantastic! We also thoroughly enjoyed the spaetzle, potato pancakes, and some sort of rolled mashed potatoes that were then deep fried. We thought the white asparagus were way overrated (they're served as an entree!). <BR> <BR>I would never again eat lieberkase which is neither liver nor cheese, but a dense meat mixture kind of like bologna, but cut very thick. Yuk! <BR> <BR>We ate our first meal in Germany in Frankfurt at a sidewalk cafe and were served such huge portions that neither my husband nor I could eat more than a little less than half. After that we decided to split our meals and only one place in Switzerland raised an eyebrow. We, of course, always ordered an extra plate. We also ordered either beer or wine and sometimes a dessert, and we did tip, so maybe they didn't think we were too cheap. I can't help it, but we were raised not to waste food and we're both heavy enough as it is. <BR> <BR>Also, throughout Germany there was pork tenderloin which, of course, is delicious. If you find venison, do try it as they usually only use the back strap (the tenderloin). Gee, I'm getting hungry. Have fun. <BR> <BR>

I agree with the advice on Black Forest ham, or any raw smoked ham for that matter; it's simply delicious! <BR>But if you're in Bavaria, you'll be hundreds of kilometers from Freiburg (or the Black Forest). <BR>

I know that, Ingrid, but we had to pass through Freiburg on our way so I hope she has to also and can stop briefly at least in Freiburg. We never really drove into the Black Forest.

Tracy... just reading your post and all the responses made me nostalgic for my 10 days in Germany in June. I was due to go back again on Sept. 11 but of course, our trip was canceled. Due to my grief, I haven't felt like going anywhere until reading this post. I had a wonderful time in Germany. The people were terrific... the food delicious...and the beer was better than any I've ever had here in the States. <BR> <BR>Do order "appelkuchen" every chance you get! <BR> <BR>Best wishes for a safe and fun trip! <BR>Kathy

If you can do without a sitdown meal, consider stopping into a meat market and/or bakery to pick up your lunch. It is very fresh, very economical and it seems many Germans are doing it as well. We did not find the usual portion sizes to be overwhelming but never once finished a meal still hungry. I'm sure that has to do with the more relaxed pace of meals and the filling meat and potatoes. Never once was I refused or looked at funny when I ordered tap water. But I almost always asked for it in addition to a soda. After a while of drinking so much soda or beer, sometimes plain water just tastes good. I actually had a more difficult time with tap water while in the home of our German hosts. Although their water was fine, they only drink bottled. She would literally take the glass out of my hand if I tried to drink tap water. I'd have to sneak around just to get some!!

Bottled mineral water (with or without bubbles) isi dirt cheap, about 15 cents for a 3/4 quart bottle. <BR> <BR>The last post reminded me that when I was new in the US and a neighbor came over for a chat, I asked her what I could offer her to drink to drink. She asked for water and I told her, "Sorry, but we're out of water." She thought this was hysterical.