Turkey offers many different kinds of restaurants serving all sorts of both Turkish and International cuisine and while dining out in Turkey can be a wonderful experience there are a number of things foreigners are best knowing beforehand, this way there will be no surprises or disappointment and you will be able to make the most of your dining experience.
First all of, a number of restaurants do not have a menu this is due to many of the dishes being seasonal, plus some eateries which sell fresh food like the catch of the day which will usually be served to tables on a platter.
Restaurants that do have menus will most likely now be using the QR code service which was introduced during the COVID19 Pandemic for hygiene purposes, this way you will order food via the code so having your smartphone would be handy.
Haggling is a big thing between foreigners and the Turkish, like when you go to a market to buy products or souvenirs and sometimes you can bargain with the price at the end of the sale, that however does not exactly apply when you are having a meal, but according to Expats there is no harm in determining what the price would be for say a fish dish and if there are any added charges.
You must also be aware that a number of restaurants include a cover charge for just being a customer in a chair. The price can vary depending on the services. Usually the cover charge will not include the tip which is normally around 10%, though some eateries do include a 10% service charge on top of the bill which is then given as a tip to the waiter.
Don’t just look out for extra charges, also keep a look out for freebies from the restaurants known as “ikram”. If you are offered a beverage like Turkish tea or maybe some fruit and you hear the word “ikram” then this means that this is a free gift. There are other Turkish meanings like “findik lahmacun” and icli kofte” in which a waiter will ask customers at each table if they want something that they haven’t ordered, in this case this is not free and will appear on your bill once it has been put on your plate so be aware of what you are saying yes to.
You will always see Turkish waiters on the door encouraging customers to dine at their restaurant as they are casually strolling by, but you will also see waiters constantly hovering around tables whilst you are dining. While many foreigners find this irritating and rude, the waiters most likely have been instructed by the owner to make sure they are on hand if the customer needs anything. Once you have dined the waiters tend to move away allowing you to summon them when you are ready to settle the bill.
Another thing waiters are known for doing is removing your drinking glass before you have even finished. Sometimes it can be that fast you don’t realise it has been taken, so perhaps if you have not finished your drink keep your hand by or on the glass.
Turkish waiters enjoy seeing clean plates and will even go as far as to transfer food from one plate onto a new fresh clean plate while you are still dining. The main reason for this is that a meze meal can last for hours and to the Turkish seeing the different flavors of meze mixing is not something they like to see.
Be aware that sometimes you can be refused by some waiters if you ask to make any substitutions or even additions to your meal. Turkish waiters will often decide if that would be good or not for your dining experience and there is no getting around it.
Finally you will sometimes find that not everyone’s meal will be served at the same time and you can also find that if you order starters and mains they most often all come all at once as the Turkish prefer to serve up the dishes once they are ready and not stagger them in stages of courses.
Source: Daily Sabah
