Ahh, Portugal. A country teeming with steep streets lined with decorative tiles, screeching street cars, stunning beaches, and of course, delicious food. While Portugal is known for tasty dishes, like pasteis de nata, bacalhau, and you certainly can’t skip out on Francesinha, travel guru Rick Steves warns tourists not to fall for a money trap that will leave a bad taste in your mouth while dining out in Portugal.
Imagine this: You and your friends have finally managed to take the trip outside of the group chat. You’ve landed in Lisbon, checked into your hotel, and are about to hit up a restaurant to get the most out of your food tourism. As you perch yourselves at a table along a narrow steep street, the waiter starts bringing tiny little hors d’oeuvres to your table to tempt your jet-lagged hunger. Olives, cheese, and bread are laid out without you having to ask, you pick at a few olives, a slice of bread, then the bill comes and you’ve been charged for what you thought was free.
When it comes to saving money in Europe, Steves knows a thing or two. In his blog post titled The Dirty 30 — More Cheap Tricks, he says to send back any extras to avoid an unexpected charge. “In Portugal, restaurants decorate your table with hard-to-resist hors d’oeuvres. While these seem like friendly freebies, they’re carefully tallied. If you eat one, you’ve purchased the lot.”
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How to handle unwanted charges on your dinner bill
Plates of olives, bread, and cheese – Joao Manita/Getty Images
We all want to avoid dining at tourist trap restaurants in Europe, however with a little extra knowledge before heading to Portugal, you’ll be able confidently navigate the extra plates placed on your table before they become an extra cost on your bill. With so many delicious dishes placed in front of your hungry eyes (cue Eric Carmen’s hit song) while dining out in Portugal, it’s hard to fight the temptation to sneak a little taste of Portuguese delicacies. Even Steves says his sentimental favorite food can be found in Portugal.
Unsuspecting tourists might not be aware of the unwanted appetizers placed on their tables prior to the main course being served. These little entradas, or couvert, as they’re commonly known, can easily be taken away just by saying a quick and polite não obrigado/obrigada (no thank you) when the waiter comes to the table, or as Steves simply puts it in his blog post, “Ask to have these removed … or pay the price.”
Tourists should note that this practice isn’t only found in Portugal. Unlike in North America, where you may receive complimentary bread, butter, and a glass of water at your table before the main course arrives, in European countries such as Spain, Croatia, Greece, and Germany it’s all at an additional cost, so while you may arrive hungry, think twice before reaching for that bread slice.
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Read the original article on Explore.