noe847

RufusTFirefly, I think what people are talking about it the practice they have seen in Europe where bread is put on the table (without being requested) but you are charged if you eat any of it. That would contrast to the common experience in the US, where if bread is placed on the table it is generally free. If there is to be a charge for bread in the US, generally you will have to order it (rather than have it brought automatically to you).

kerouac

Please note that in France the bread is placed on the table free of charge.

RufusTFirefly

noe--I was referring to JaneB's particular comment in which she said "I like NOT having bread placed on table in US. I've never seen it done here." She didn't mention payment in this particular comment as the others did--perhaps it was an oversight.

shellio

Re the bread charge debate: Nothing is free. The cost of bread placed on the table in the US is incorporated in the cost of the meal rather than being charged separately as it is in some other countries. You could argue that it is preferable to charge separately for it so that you can avoid the cost if you don't plan to eat it.

As for me, I've rarely been known to turn down good bread, no matter what the cost (to my budget or my hips.)

JaneB

Yes, I meant to say -- I like NOT having to pay for bread that is placed on the table in the US.

norween

From an European
>>>why DO they charge for catsup or mayonaise, instead of just adding a bit extra to the price of the fries? Do most Europeans eat their fries dry? <<
Yuck ! Do people really eat mayonaise or catsup with frie ? (sounds disgusting to me"'
><<Placing bread/rolls on the table as though its part of the meal and then charging extra is annoying to me.<< : Bread is FREEE

<<In Europe, restaurants are much more likely to charge for the use of the toilet.<<
No,it you eat or drink thre it's free

Remark : Europe is not ONE small village there are no EUROPEAN customs ! and what i swrote above is valid fro MY country not for all the others (everything varies)

Trophywife007

<< I think what people are talking about is the practice they have seen in Europe where bread is put on the table (without being requested) but you are charged if you eat any of it. >>

Oy veh! Does that mean that the bread on my table had a previous life on someone else's table? That's enough to keep me on my low carb diet.

mari5

missypie: because a big majority of Europeans wouldn't think of putting catsup on french fries. I think they only offer it because these are American companies and want to accommodate those who want it....thus charging a small amount.
MAYONNAISE, (and all kinds of mayos)on the other hand, is almost always eaten with the gorgeous, delicious Belgian fries...often bought on the street (also Switzerland and other places)

Back to the post,,,,some things are better in U.S. and other things a LOT better in Europe. ....be as the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the................."

missypie

Yeah, I am hooked on mayonaise with fries now-which adds calories. I don't like catsup on them, so I used to eat them plain...until I visited Paris.

But if mayonaise use is common, it still doesn't answer the cultural question of why the cost of condiments is included in US fast food and not in some European locations. I don't eat a lot of fast food, but I admit that it is interesting to me to go to a McDonald's in another country and see the differences (since in fast food franchises, uniformity is key.)It would be interesting to know if the "differences" are decided on in advance, based on the franchisor's study of the market, or whether the changes happen over time, given the customers' preferences.

Christina

I don't know how many countries put bread on your table in Europe and then charge you, but I don't think I've ever had that happen to me in Europe, so it must be a minority. I haven't been to Italy, so maybe it's just there they do it. Now in Spain, they may do that, but it's not bread, it's olives or some crackers (that's another question, who wants to eat crackers with dinner, but that was commonly served on the table in Seville when I was there, along with the olives).

Maybe Germany charges for catsup because they are kind of cheap about a lot of things. They don't charge you extra for catsup with French fries in France, for example. I don't eat mayo with fries, and not usually catsup, but I definitely have noticed it's free in France. I think people like catsup with fries because if you are only eating fries, it can be kind of dry if you don't have anything with them. Just my opinion -- it's like putting sour cream or butter on potatoes cooked other ways. I don't think it's at all disgusting, I just don't do it a lot (it's just tomato sauce, why is that disgusting with potatoes?).

xyz123

Well the US is far better in a growing number of cities in banning smoking from restaurants, pubs and more and more hotel rooms and of course the US was first in banning smoking from all planes and even at Disneyland, smoking is only permitted in designated areas. This is one place where Europe can take a lesson from the USA.

I just wish this would become universal.

Neopolitan

"I don't think it's at all disgusting, I just don't do it a lot (it's just tomato sauce, why is that disgusting with potatoes?)."

Didn't you know, Christine? It's an American custom and as you should know by reading here frequently -- all American customs are disgusting to some people. It's disgusting simply because Americans do it!

I rarely eat anything on fries, but I sure don't know why putting catsup on them would be any more "disgusting" than mayonnaise (which I do sort of like on them, by the way).

Regarding charging for bread. Yes, it Italy the "cover charge" nearly always charged is sometimes called the "bread charge". We don't eat a lot of bread and often ask them to take it away when they bring it (partly so we aren't tempted to fill up on the bread). In some cases they say something like "but it is required" to which I say, "I'll pay the cover charge, I just don't want the bread". And yes, I often see those bread baskets being recycled from table to table.

The only place I recall being charged according to how much of it you eat is indeed Germany, where they will often charge you for each roll you eat or for each pretzel.

walkinaround

>>>>>
Well the US is far better in a growing number of cities in banning smoking from restaurants, pubs and more and more hotel rooms
>>>>>

yes but smoking doesn't cause you to cough in europe like it does in america.

paraphrasing from one of my all time favourite euro-worship posts here on fodor's.

logos999

>smoking doesn't cause you to cough in europe like it does in america.

Let's have a great, big cuban cohiba on that! You still can smoke cigars in "european" restaurants. Thankfully, they're not going to take that away from us.

Holly_uncasdewar

The banning of smoking, as well as the obesity problem, is well making its way into European culture. As with just about all things American, just give it time.

Cimbrone

Yes, breatheable air in restaurants would be a second thing this Europhile MUCH prefers about the U.S. I'm glad this sensible policy is making its way through Europe.

walkinaround

holly...people here in europe were very smug when the non-smoking policies were starting many american cities. "that's silly...it could never happen here...americans are so uptight and worry about everything" were common responses.

but, europe also could not sit by to see america creating better protections for people in the workforce related to clean air while working. catch-22 for europe.

funny how quickly it spread over here (and i do realise that it is not widespread all over europe yet).

Dukey

"It's disgusting simply because Americans do it!"

I'm beginning to think for some people that should read, "It's disgusting because Americans were the first ones to think of it and then actually did it."

logos999

For a long, long time law states that you must be protected from other peoples smoke in your workplace. (befone this issue came up in the US?) No big deal, not a thing to talk about. One thing is business the other is you personal life, that's not a thing the state has to take care of!

xyz123

No smoking in pubs was introduced in Ireland about a year ago....it'll never work in Ireland, it'll cut down the number of people going to Irish pubs...wrong...within a couple of weeks people were extremely happy they could actually taste their food and drink.

Next in line was Scotland...same claims you know it'll never work etc...guess what...people are now still going out to eat and drink and are very pleased they can actually taste their food and drink.

The UK is next...and I am sure the same thing will happen!