Having snagged cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms overseas leaves many travelers with the challenge of how to order meals at restaurants once arriving at their destination. Foreign language menus and unknown cultural quirks can make eating out somewhat daunting.
The following are suggestions as to how to best proceed:
Take a moment when first entering a restaurant to look at what is going on. Look at other guests to see whether they find their own tables, wait to be seated, or head straight to the counter.
Using a phrase book, or even better the Internet if you have a smartphone, can be of great assistance in ordering when an English language menu is not available. Many mobile translation sites and apps are available including Googles easy to use Translate service.
Consider asking for the house specialty. Asking the waiter What is best? or What do you recommend? is often a good way to taste local cuisine you are unfamiliar with.
If there is no menu, consider letting the wait staff bring what they will. Taking chances can sometimes make travel all the more memorable. Most restaurants want you to enjoy a good meal and look forward to you returning.
If you want to stay with food you know, learn a limited number of words so you can communicate what you are looking to eat.
If you are going to speak in a local language you are largely unfamiliar with, use as few simple words as possible to order since the more complex your description the more likely waiters will be confused.
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