Garrett and I went out to eat, yet again at one of our new favorite eateries. It’s a Japanese Bistro inside our local mall. I met Garrett at the coffee shop in the mall before we headed up to enjoy some California rolls and teriyaki chicken.

There are some unusual behaviors that we, Garrett and I, are not yet accustomed to when we eat out.

First, as you walk in and are lead to your table for two you’re greeted with the “good morning” greeting (that I have been accustomed to at all hours) by every waitperson in the place. It’s insane, they stop whatever they’re doing to turn and greet you. And I love it. I have decided that I will have to become a Queen and employee a massive quantity of waitpersons to greet me wherever I go. They’ll chant good morning to me when I enter, it will be lovely.

In the meantime, I’ll continue going out to eat and getting led to my table for two where we are handed one menu. I don’t know what it is about Restaurants in China but they only give you one menu. Even when there are two of you? Do they not have enough copies? Do they suspect that you will share in the decision making process? Maybe we’re supposed to read allowed while we browse the food selections? Not like we do much reading. Most of the menus (well all of them) are in Chinese. Garrett and I have started pointing to the provided pictures. We hope that the food looks like the picture because we have no other way of telling.

So with our one menu, we peruse the pictures and decide our meal choices all the while the waiter stands right over us. On more then one occasion the waiter has stalked us. He just stood there while Garrett and I looked over the menu. In our best efforts we tried to communicate with him that we needed more time to look over the menu, he just smiled and nodded and continued to stand there. If they’re reasoning behind stalking us is to rush us out, well it works because it makes us order a lot faster.

They also wait for your money. Once you’ve enjoyed your quickly selected meal and ask for the check it is only a matter of moments before you’re out on the street. First, they pull your bill out of a small drawer inside your table. It’s like a desk drawer hidden on the side. Through out your meal while your food is sporadically delivered your waiter will open this drawer and mark things off, he checks it off a list. And at the end they hand you that bill and wait until they get their money. So as you look at the check to get the total you better hurry with your form of payment because they wont budge until they’ve got their money.

Part of that total, is the cost of your napkin. No joke!! They charge you for your napkins!! It’s only the equivalent of like 10 cents but its itemized on your bill.

Ahh the joys of eating out.

2 Comments »

1. 

   Is it me, or is everything in China totally illogical? Let’s go to Papa John’s tonight!

   Comment by Garrett — January 10, 2009 @ 9:49 am

2. 

   sooo weird. in australia, they charge you for ketchup. napkin is more weird though.

   Comment by Lori Phillips — January 10, 2009 @ 4:40 pm

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