Page 30 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

28  VISITING THE USA

Where to Eat and Drink is good or bad, adjust the tip
rate accordingly. If you are
In addition to offering top-class regional cuisines, many of paying by credit card, you may
which are rapidly gaining international recognition, the US include the tip in the charged
offers a diverse range of eating experiences, especially in amount on the space provided
its larger cities. New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and on the receipt. Some fast-food
restaurants have optional tip-jars
Chicago rival any global city for the quality of ingredients next to the cashier. Bartenders
and variety of cuisines available, with ambiences ranging expect to be tipped accordingly
from rustic to romantic. The best of each region can often be (usually $1–$2 per drink, or
found in the spirit of the immigrant communities that have 20 percent, whichever is greater)
helped to shape the local culture. Mexican food is often for each round of drinks.
excellent at local restaurants in Southwestern states such as Sales tax will not be shown on
menu prices, but is applicable
New Mexico and Arizona; top-quality Asian fare can be to each item of food and drink.
enjoyed in the bustling expat conclaves found in most coastal Although they vary from state
cities. When it comes to smaller towns with limited dining to state and from city to city,
options, hotel restaurants are often the best option. these usually add around 5–10
percent to the cost of a meal.
Eating Hours out in most parts of the country
In the US, breakfast is often is a very affordable pastime, and Types of Food and
Restaurants
a banquet: restaurants offer even the most expensive restau-
extensive breakfast menus rants in nearly all areas offer Dining establishments in the
to choose from, while hotels good value. US come in a wide variety of
usually have large buffets. Bacon, Light meals in cafés and shapes and sizes – from small
eggs, hash brown potatoes, diners usually cost between $10 and friendly diners offering
pancakes, waffles, cereals, toast, and $15, while many chain hearty burgers and snacks to
and muffins appear on most restaurants serve complete gourmet restaurants serving the
menus. Sunday brunch is a feast dinners such as chicken or steak latest global-minded cuisine;
to be lingered over, with with potatoes and vegetables some even feature molecular
seafood, meat, and poultry or salad for under $15. Ethnic gastronomy. Top-rated hotels
dishes served as well. Breakfast restaurants, such as Mexican, and resorts are guaranteed
times range from 6 or 6:30am to Chinese, and Thai, often offer to feature classy in-house
10:30 or 11am, though “all-day wonderful deals in the form of dining options.
breakfasts” are increasingly hearty combination plates for Starting at the lower end of
popular at many diners. Brunch $8–$12. At finer restaurants and the scale, fast food is a way of
is frequently available until 2pm. upscale cafés, dinner entrées life throughout the country,
Lunch is generally from can range from $20 to more and a string of outlets such
around 11:30am until 2:30pm than $50, and many offer as McDonald’s, Burger King,
or 3pm. Many of the pricier wallet-friendly prix-fixe meals, Wendy’s, KFC, and Taco Bell
restaurants offer scaled-down excluding drinks, for less can be found along the main
versions of their evening menu than $50. strips of most towns. They
for lunch, which can be good Most regions offer their own serve the usual inexpensive
value. Evening meals are served particular form of a dining deal: variations on burgers,
from 5:30pm or 6pm, and the New York’s popular diners, for sandwiches, fries, and soft drinks.
last seating is seldom later than instance, offer complete meals Chains such as Applebee’s and
9pm. In small towns, many for under $20, and Las Vegas’s Denny’s have more variety, with
restaurants are closed in the iconic casino buffets serve soups, salads, sandwiches,
evening, so call ahead to check. myriad dishes, such as roasts, meals, and desserts. These
At the other extreme, around- salads, pasta, and fish, to a high are generally good value, but
the-clock cities such as New standard at reasonable prices the quality varies from one
York, Las Vegas, and Miami (usually all-you-can-eat deals establishment to the next.
feature a bevy of 24-hour are priced between $15 and $50). Pizza chains are also ubiquitous
options – from inviting eateries Waiters are generally paid around the country.
to casual diners – offering a fairly low wages, meaning they Mid-range restaurants can
variety of meals at any time of earn the bulk of their income include a range of ethnic
the day or night. through tips. This means that cuisines, such as Italian, Greek,
all restaurants with table service Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican.
expect some sort of gratuity Many dependable restaurants
Prices and Tipping at the end of the meal. It is of this type can be found in
Although finding dining standard practice to leave shopping malls and commercial
bargains in the country’s popular between 15 and 20 percent of establishments. Those feeling
cities can be a challenge, eating the bill as the tip. If the service adventurous should keep an

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