You may have already noticed some cultural differences between restaurants at home and Czech establishments. Here are some most frequently mentioned differences by our former students and some local tips!
Eating out
- Czechs eat out quite a lot, especially during lunchtime thanks to most restaurants offering a special lunch offer (obědové menu/polední menu) served usually between 11am and 3pm.
- Before starting to eat, it is a custom to wish everyone “Dobrou Chuť!” – bon appetit!
- When clincking glasses, you should look the other person in the eyes and say “Na zdraví!” – to health!
Water
- Water does not usually come automatically with your food and you will usually be charged for it.
Using Silverware
- Czechs eat with their fork and knife simultaneously throughout the meal – using the knife in their right hand to cut food and to push it onto the fork in their left hand.
- To signal that you are planning to continue eating, put the fork and knife on the plate so that they form a V-shape pointing away from you.
- To signal that you have finished eating, put the knife and fork parallel to each other pointing to the right with their handles.
Paying and Tipping
- You can pay by card in most restaurants in Prague. When tipping, just tell the waiter the total amount including the tip to be charged on your card.
- If you are eating in a group and want to split the bill, tell the waiter “zaplatíme zvlášť” (we will pay separately) or go directly to the cash register to pay.
- When paying cash, exact change is always appreciated.
- Tipping is customary and expected and it is not included in the price. The recommended amount is around 10%.
- Rounding up the bill is also a frequent practice – meaning if the bill is 183 CZK you round up the amount to 200 CZK.