Laura - are you saying it's ok to just take and eat the stuff you want, eg, bread and butter, and send the rest back? Not a big deal, but I would have guessed that if you eat anything on the plate, then you bought the whole thing.

You pay what you eat. If you haven't touched anything, it won't appear on your bill. If you just want the cheese, or the tuna paté, they will charge you for just that.

We just say 'no, thank you' and they are removed, so far we have not been charged.

Or you can also just have an item or two and decline the rest.

Hi Phillyboy (we are from Philly ourselves) - the appetizers come out on different plates - a little bowl of olives, a basket of bread, a plate of cheese - so you can say obrigado to some, and non, to others.