Keep your elbow “on” the table

Remember your parents telling you, “Keep your elbows off the dining table”? This bit of dining etiquette was ingrained into us at an early age. In Germany, don’t be so quick to criticize. Visitors from North America should be aware that the parts of the dining experience in Germany are probably a bit different than the one experienced at home.

To start with, in most restaurants, except the most expensive ones, don't wait to be seated - just grab yourself an empty table. If the cafe is full and you're not too shy, you can always ask the people at a half full table whether they mind sharing with you. You never know, you might make some friends.

Once you've ordered your meal, expect to wait a little bit longer than you are perhaps used to. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere. Once you've finished your meal, you will need to ask for the bill, as it will not be brought automatically to you. The waiter is not ignoring you, he is just giving you space to enjoy the dining experience.

Apart from the huge steins of beer, be prepared for little glasses of beverages with little/no ice. Note for Texas-sized tea-glass drinkers: I’ll have that glass drained before the waiter gets his back turned from my table.

Now back to this elbow thing…Buddy informed me early on that the one “dead give-away” to tell a foreigner from a German, is where he/she places their elbows while eating. Depending on which hand you eat with, the other hand/elbow will not be placed in the lap. Rather, the entire forearm up to the elbow will be placed on the table, usually right in front of and parallel to the body.

Interestingly enough, not all the food establishments have places to sit down. The German equivalent to “fast food” will often have lots of tables, but for people to stand at and eat their meal, rather than sitting down. The finer dining establishments, restaurants and cafes, of course, have seated dining.

Eating in Europe is supposed to be an unhurried, pleasurable experience. Don't feel the need to rush and don't feel any pressure to give up your table, you can stay there all night if you wish.

I’d like to say that I have been eating German food up a storm. And yes, Buddy has introduced me to a couple of great German restaurants in Old Town, with braut sandwiches and pomme frites (French fries) served with mayonnaise, not ketchup. I am amazed, though, at the number of Italian food restaurants in this country….good Italian food, too. The Germans apparently love their Italian food….

Bon Appetit!