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public toilets in Italian cities
In ,
B Vaughan typed: I had an amusing incident recently. I was eating with a friend in a small restaurant in Italy which had only one other table occupied. I went to the toilet, which was on a lower floor, and found myself locked in. The key turned, but missed turning the lock mechanism. I tried numerous times, and also tried banging on the door, but no one heard me. I didn't know how long it would take before my companion sent out a search party. So I called directory information on my cell phone and got the phone number of the restaurant. The directory operator offered to send me a text message with all the information about the restaurant, but I told her, "Look, I'm locked in the toilet at this restaurant and I just want the phone number." She laughed and gave it to me. LOL! I carry a cell phone primarily for emergencies, but that's not the kind of emergency I would have thought about. -- Ken Blake Please reply to the newsgroup |
#12
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public toilets in Italian cities
In om,
Lil typed: Now that the time is approaching to when I will be enroute to Italy, some practical questions come to mind. For example, how common are public toilets in Italian cities? By public toilets, I mean not the porta-potty type or the ones that are parked in the streets, but rather the ones that you can find in malls, libraries or other public buildings. Malls, libraries, and other public buildings are themselves far less common than in the US. From a practical standpoint, unless there's a department store (Rinascente, UPIM, etc.) around, you won't often find public toilets. Would we have to dodge into restaurants, cafes, bars, or even hotels? Yes (but not restaurants, except for a place like McDonalds). My usual practice is to drop into a bar for a cup of coffee. It's under $1.00 US if you have it at the bar, and I refresh myself both ways. I remember in one London restaurant, they charged us for the papadum (it was an Indian restaurant.) Is there some custom like that in Italy? (I would like to know--at the U.S. restaurants, breads and the likes are complimentary.) Every restaurant charges a coperto, or pane e coperto (cover charge, or bread and cover). It's normally very little--around a Euro or two (perhaps a little more in more expensive places). At hotels, is there a service charge--e.g. tip--which is included in the bill? If there is, I would like to know about it so I won't be so generous with the tip for the room service... No. You tip separately. Are there any additional practices that I should be aware of? Probably, but it's hard to answer a question like that unless you're more specific about what you don't know. But here's one: when you into a bar, for example for that coffee, you normally go to the cash register first, order and pay. You get a receipt, which you then take to the bar and give to the barman. In some smaller bars you can pay afterwards, but those are more of an exception. Also note that in almost every bar, the price of that coffee is higher (sometimes *much* higher) if you sit at a table and order. It's far cheaper to do as the Italians do and take your coffee standing up at the bar. -- Ken Blake Please reply to the newsgroup |
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Bread in Italian Restaurants
This may alredy have been mentioned- but what is (are) papadums?
Thanks- Susan David Horne wrote: Phil Richards wrote: Going back to charging for papadums, not surprise in central London. In my own experience in areas where you'll find an abundance of Curry/Balti restaurants (or houses) for instance around Brick Lane in East London, certain parts of Birmingham then often papadums are "on the house". I think I'm correct in saying that the curry mile at Rusholme (Manchester) has the highest concentration of Curry/Balti restaurants in Europe, and they _do_ tend to charge for papadums. David |
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Bread in Italian Restaurants
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Bread in Italian Restaurants
On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 11:54:50 +0000 David Horne
said... I think I'm correct in saying that the curry mile at Rusholme (Manchester) has the highest concentration of Curry/Balti restaurants in Europe, and they _do_ tend to charge for papadums. You may find they're free on a night when business is a bit slack... I remember a few years ago walking along Brick Lane in East London, many restaurants had a member of staff outside to lure you in with free papadums being an incentive. -- Phil Richards London |
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Bread in Italian Restaurants (Was public toilets in Italian cities)
On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 14:14:34 GMT tile said...
It is not Coperta ( Blanket in italian) but COPERTO.. it is in all restaurants. and it is between 1.5 to 3 eur depending on the restaurant. I suppose the cover charge relates to the sort of prices you pay for the food. Generally I eat out in Italy for under EUR 25 a time and have never paid more than EUR 1.5. -- Phil Richards London |
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Bread in Italian Restaurants
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#18
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public toilets in Italian cities
On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 10:40:10 -0700, "Ken Blake"
wrote: [snip] Every restaurant charges a coperto, or pane e coperto (cover charge, or bread and cover). It's normally very little--around a Euro or two (perhaps a little more in more expensive places). Actually, that's not true. I would say it's confined to restaurants serving the tourist trade. There's not a single restaurant near where I live that charges either for pane or coperto. At hotels, is there a service charge--e.g. tip--which is included in the bill? If there is, I would like to know about it so I won't be so generous with the tip for the room service... No. You tip separately. Are there any additional practices that I should be aware of? Probably, but it's hard to answer a question like that unless you're more specific about what you don't know. But here's one: when you into a bar, for example for that coffee, you normally go to the cash register first, order and pay. You get a receipt, which you then take to the bar and give to the barman. In some smaller bars you can pay afterwards, but those are more of an exception. Also note that in almost every bar, the price of that coffee is higher (sometimes *much* higher) if you sit at a table and order. It's far cheaper to do as the Italians do and take your coffee standing up at the bar. ----------- Barbara Vaughan My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup |
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public toilets in Italian cities
"[ B r a q u e ]" wrote in message ... Public toilets (in railway stations, airports, big malls, gas stations and "others"...) often have a small dish where to leave some coins for the "toilet lady". In the central part of the cities there are often "automatic" public toilets. With a coin or two you can use it for a certain amount of time... But I never used them, they scare me a lot what if I should stay locked in it?? what if the door should open right in the middle of my "bussiness"?? )) Still you can always rely on bars and "caffè"... The central ones usually have nice toilets with sink and mirror... A small tip: I usually ask for a cappuccino or an "freshly squeezed orange juice" and while they prepare it I go to the toilet. bon voyage! Braque That sound an expensive way to "spend a penny" There is an outcry in Edinburgh at the moment as the new Edinburgh Park railway station has been built without toilet facikities. Derek. |
#20
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public toilets in Italian cities
"Judith Umbria" wrote in message ... "Lil" wrote in message om... Now that the time is approaching to when I will be enroute to Italy, some practical questions come to mind. For example, how common are public toilets in Italian cities? By public toilets, I've never seen porta potties here, but I may be innocent. There are some strictl;y publi toilets, but all you need to know is that every bar must have a toilet and must let you use it. It doesn't have to be a nice one, but there must be one. How different from Scotland where many Pubs and cafes have signs on the door saying that the toilets are for customer use only. Derek. |
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