The Russian Feast 185 In Russia, it is not usual to go
offence. In such a situation, you into a restaurant just to have a cup of tea. If you have sat down might try saying that it is your at a table, you will be expected to firm who is paying the bill and make a proper order. And if you not you personally, though this just order a salad, the irritated waiter will look at you askance. fact is not always understood by Russians. The situation may be different if you are in female company or that of young people. Apart from Western-style restaurants, which do not differ in any significant way from their foreign counterparts, there are various types of national restaurants. In smaller towns and working regions, you often come across canteens. The food is simple, the selection small, but the prices are considerably lower than in restaurants. In such places, you usually take the food from the counter and clear up yourself. Sometimes, the food can be better than in restaurants (and in Russia, the highest compliment is to say that food is ‘just like home cooking’), but it is easy to be mistaken and end up in some cheap, semi-clean establishment with poor quality food. You have to take your luck. And there are no rules for telling a good canteen from a bad one. Eating in restaurants is more reliable, although there are exceptions here too. It is usual to leave a tip in restaurants, regardless of whether service is included in the bill or not. You should leave about 10 per cent of the total, often rounding up to the nearest appropriate figure. By the way, many very expensive restaurants have now opened up in Moscow and Petersburg, so you are advised to study the prices on the menu well before sitting down. Many international restaurants and cafés have opened in Russia over the last few years. The ever-present McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken have filled all the more or less big cities. There are also networks of Japanese (very popular in Moscow), Italian, some Chinese and other restaurants. Of course, you can always go in if you are overcome with a bout of nostalgia. But with the exception of the very expensive ones, they are only a poor reflection of the national cuisines.