Five Things That Might Surprise You When You Go Drinking and Eating Out In Montreal*

[muckefuck]

1. The servers will ask you whether you want separate checks--or just bring them that way. (It's been so long since this happened to me in the States that at first I couldn't figure out what the hell they were asking for.)
2. You probably won't see anything telling you where the restrooms are, but if you head for the sign saying "SORTIE" ("EXIT"), you'll stumble across them.
3. When you get there, you'll find that there's actually hot water in the hot water tap. Sometimes scaldingly hot!
4. Taking food home is just not comme il faut. An older gentleman told me he's tried to acclimate himself to the fact that Americans and younger people find this perfectly acceptable, but it still strikes him as very déclassé. He's seen proprietors refuse to give customers doggy bags and even excoriate them for asking.
5. The one beer you can find pretty much everywhere isn't PBR. It's not even Labatt's or Molson. It's freakin' Bud. (Yeah, I can't understand it either.)

Additionally, a co-worker tells me that it's easy to find good draught cider in Montréal. I imagine she's right, but you'd never know that from the kinds of places we ended up. I wonder, though, how much of that is just a by-product of spending so much time in the Village and of the shitty selection that seems sadly typical of gay bars everywhere.


*Based on my extremely limited experience and Americentric perspective.

Comments

[paulintoronto.livejournal.com]

In Germany, they almost always ask if you want separate bills. In Australia, on the other hand, "ONE BILL PER TABLE" or some variation thereof is usually printed in bold letters on the menu.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

It's been so long since I was in Germany, I couldn't remember what the practice was there. I've had some US waitrons get positively belligerent about have to bring separate checks.

Last time I was in Germany, it seemed that they had rediscovered the recipe for ice cubes. (Our theory was that it was lost during the War.) What was your experience?

[ursine1.livejournal.com]

Back in California they sometimes bring the check with the meal. I guess that means no dessert! It's all about faster "turn over" of the tables.

Here in Spain you don't get the check until you ask for it. You can nearly always ask for separate checks. Some places ask what you had to eat as you leave and don't use checks at all. Of course they give you the receipt when you pay.

Once you are seated here, you essentially "own" the table until you decide to leave.

Chuck

[embryomystic.livejournal.com]

Your coworker is correct. Cider is wonderfully easy to find here. I had some last night at La Banquise, the 24-hour (and 25-variety) poutine place on Rachel, where even I wouldn't expect it.

[innerdoggie.livejournal.com]

My condolences on the beer. That surprised me, since it's the home of Unibroue.