Manage the Menu: Asking for Clarification and Explanation
Knowing the names of basic food items is the first step to deciphering a menu. It's likely that the name of the dish will include some indication of its main ingredient. If it doesn't, though, you are now ready to ask your server what a dish is:
Food Preparation
You might want to inquire about the condiments included in a particular dish. The most common, of course, are salt (
Let's look at a menu together and ask a few questions to find out just what we might want to order.
El Mesón del Sol
menú del día: dos platos, postre o café
Entradas frías |
Especialidades de la casa |
Crema de calabaza |
Espárragos con almendras |
Terrina de hígado de pato |
Festival de mariscos |
Entradas calientes |
Ternera a la riojana |
Paella valenciana |
|
Crema de hongos |
Postres |
Judías verdes gratinadas |
Quesos artesanales |
Tortilla de chorizo |
Crema catalana |
Plato de frutas |
Now, if you're adventurous, you might not care what these dishes are or how they are made. On the other hand, especially if you have any food sensitivities, you may need to know exactly what something like
Types of Menus
The sample menu from the
Many tourist areas offer a simpler approach to eating:
You may also come across restaurants that offer a
Types of Restaurants
There are many types of eateries in the Spanish-speaking world, and you are likely to find one to suit your appetite, budget, and style just about anywhere. In fact, you may come across some terrific restaurants in rather out-of-the-way places, especially in countries that have elaborate cuisines and celebrate good eating. In Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, for example, eating out can be the whole point of a day trip, and even tiny villages may be well known for a restaurant where a leisurely meal may take several hours and include outstanding local ingredients.
Restaurants are generally categorized by forks (
Restaurant styles run the full gamut. Here are some of the possibilities:
Restaurante: generally full-service with menu; all price categories.
Cafetería: informal, moderately priced eatery that might be full- or self-service.
Mesón: inn, generally found in villages or the countryside. Sometimes the term
Bar: not a “bar” in the U.S. sense. Most will serve sandwiches, light meals, or appetizers, as well as pastries, and are suitable for all ages. You can get beer, wine, some liqueurs, sodas, coffee, and tea.
Bar de copas: a bar that specializes in mixed drinks.
Bar de tapas: particular to Spain, a bar that specializes in tapas (small appetizers) to accompany beer, wine, or soft drinks. Also called a tasca.
Croisantería-Sandwichería: the Spanish response to fast-food restaurants — light combinations of meats, cheese, and vegetables on bread or croissants. Many are take-out style.
Cantina: typically a drinking establishment in Latin America, often unwelcoming to women. Some food items may be available. However, the term is sometimes applied playfully to a normal restaurant.
Taquería: informal restaurant specializing in tacos, generally ground beef or chicken with chiles and onions wrapped in a small tortilla and fried.
Churrasquería: popular in southern cone countries, these restaurants specialize in grilled meats and fish. They often combine full service with a self-service salad bar.
Food is one of the foundations of Hispanic culture, lovingly prepared and proudly served everywhere from world class restaurants to the humblest of kitchens, so order with confidence!
