Dining out in London
London is a fantastic city to visit either single or with the family. The British capital is among the most popular tourist destinations in Europe because of the world-class attractions, fabulous shopping, art and cultural venues and countless things to do. With iconic buildings, royal palaces, museums and art galleries there is something for people of all kinds of tastes.
Travellers can live it up in style at any of the hotel luxury spas in London. One such fine hotel near Hyde Park is the Hotel Marble Arch by Montcalm that offers the best of comforts including spa facilities at budget-friendly rates.
London has some of the finest restaurants to sample the best of culinary fare from all over the world. Certain things to keep in mind when dining out in the London city include:
Table manners:
Those visiting the city from the US will find the dining etiquette almost the same as back home. However, those visiting from the Middle East, Africa or Asia may not be familiar with the traditional dining customs of the UK. Using a knife and fork is de rigueur, except when eating bread. Always chew the food with the mouth closed and talk softly when dining at public places. These are certain unspoken rules that everyone is supposed to follow when eating out in public.
Leaving a tip:
One area where the UK and the US differ completely is tipping. In the US it is the norm for a guest to tip anywhere between 15 – 25% of the bill. However, in the UK the same principle is not followed and depends upon where you are. When receiving a bill check for a surcharge as many establishments include the tip in the overall bill. If it is not charged to the bill leave a tip of 10-15%. When visiting a pub where food is not served it is not customary to leave a tip. It is against the norm of such establishments so check with the staff before deciding to tip them.
Communication:
Most visitors and tourists to the city speak adequate English to get by at a restaurant or eatery. For those not very fluent in English it is always a good idea to brush up on the basics of placing an order at a restaurant. These include ‘Can I see the menu please’, ‘Can I have the bill, please’ etc. When asking for water specify tap-water or instead, you will be served bottled water for which you will have to pay. Tap-water is served free of cost.
Do your homework:
When you plan to dine out in a city, you could choose to drop in at any eatery while you are out in town exploring the city. On the other hand, if you plan to eat at an upscale restaurant, you will in all probability have to make your bookings well in advance. Most of them need for bookings to be made well in advance and have a long waiting list. This is especially the case with popular restaurants like Michelin starred eateries.
