So...What's Different?

When I meet someone new there's a good chance that eventually I'll get asked what are the differences between Australia and America. There's a lot, of course.

A big difference is going out to eat.

In the US going out for dinner is more commonly the preamble to a later event, usually a movie or a show or something else, especially with other couples. Wait staff are friendly (as is the American way), sometimes overly so, with their sugar-sweet constant pampering. You are also rushed through a bit as the staff are tipped and need you to move through.

You have a wealth of choices for salad dressings, soups, bread, etc. all in great supply, followed by a mountain of a main course.

You end up with the bill, tax added, and you tip 15% on top of that at least.

Here in Melbourne I was a bit put off when I went out to eat for the first time and thought the wait staff weren't as friendly, the food wasn't provided with an array of choices, and I was disappointed by the small portions. The food, though, is almost always amazing.

So, after six years of exhaustive eating I can safely offer the following (broad though it may be) assessment:

Restaurants in the US compete on quantity and here it's quality. There are amazing places to eat in the US obviously, but generally speaking, the food is consistently killer here. Melbourne alone has over 3,000 restaurants so they need to be good to survive.

Smaller portions here and never a doggy bag. Just enough for one (normal size) meal.

Tax is included in the price and there is no tipping. If a dinner costs $20 on the menu you pay $20 and leave. No tipping also means if you need something you can ask ANY wait staff for it. No tipping also means you are never rushed through and pressed for dessert, or anything else to bump up the bill. No friendly-pal who, once you have decided not to spend any more money, leave you on your own as if you've developed plague. There is no guilt. Because of this the dinner here is usually the evening event in and of itself. It can span for hours, guilt-free.

It is more expensive here, all things being equal, but it's much more relaxed. I am a convert.

BUT the fact that Mexican food is considered a boutique cuisine here and a burrito can cost $20 pisses me off no end. My consolation is that Asian food is cheap, plentiful, and authentic. $2 for a sushi roll at lunch ain't bad.