Language/Bulgarian/Culture/At-the-restaurant
здрасти, Bulgarian Learners! 😃
➡ In today's lesson you will learn some interesting cultural facts related to the restaurant in Bulgaria.
Happy learning!
Bread[edit | edit source]
Bulgarians eat a lot of bread, usually made of wheat.
Fruits[edit | edit source]
Bulgarians eat fruit mostly for dessert.
Do we tip waiters in restaurants?[edit | edit source]
Tipping waiters in restaurants is getting more common recently but there is no set rule as to how much and when. A typical practice is to round up the bill and it can be up to 10% of the total. If you are not satisfied with the service, you can skip the tip. Sometimes the tip is included in the bill. Then it is called сервиз or процент за обслужване – service percentage, and is mentioned in the menu.
Do we pay for using the restroom in restaurants?[edit | edit source]
In restaurants and cafes, customers normally do not pay for using the restroom. This practice is preserved in few restaurants and mostly in railway stations, bus stations, etc.
Music[edit | edit source]
Music at restaurants and cafes could be quite loud.
Smoking[edit | edit source]
Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor areas, including restaurants and cafes.
How much time?[edit | edit source]
When Bulgarians go to a restaurant, they spend quite a long time there – several hours. Going to a restaurant is more of a social event than just a way to get a meal.
What kinds of restaurants?[edit | edit source]
There are different kinds of restaurants and cafes: механа – Tavern – which serves mainly Bulgarian national dishes; пицария – Pizzeria – Italian cuisine and salads; закусвалня – Snack bar – different kinds of sandwiches and pastry; сладкарница – Confectionery – cakes and other sweet things. There are a lot of ethnic restaurants (especially in big cities) – Chinese restaurants are very popular. There are many local and international fast-food chains – Happy, McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, etc.
Bulgarian cuisine[edit | edit source]
Bulgarian cuisine is a representative of the cuisine of Southeastern Europe with some Turkish and Greek influences, but it has some unique elements. Famous for its rich salads required at every meal, Bulgarian cuisine is also noted for the diversity and quality of dairy products and the variety of soups. There are many different Bulgarian pastries as well such as баница.
What is the most popular Bulgarian salad?[edit | edit source]
The most popular Bulgarian salad is the шопска салата, which is a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, raw or roasted peppers, and white cheese. Traditionally it is dressed only with salt, sunflower or olive oil and vinegar.
What can you have as a main course?[edit | edit source]
As a main course you can have мусака (a rich oven-baked dish of potatoes, minced meat and white sauce), гювеч (vegetable casserole with meat cooked in a clay pot), сарми (rolls with vine or cabbage leaves), дроб-сарма (lamb liver and lung with rice), кавърма (meat with tomatoes), миш-маш (fried peppers, onion and eggs), кебапче and кюфте (spicy grilled meat sausage and meatballs).
лютеница[edit | edit source]
Another thing not to be missed in Bulgaria is the лютеница, which is a red pepper, eggplant, and tomato purée, normally eaten on bread.
Wine, beer and ракия[edit | edit source]
Wine, beer and ракия – grape or plum brandy, are the most popular alcoholic beverages in the country.
Is it safe to drink tap water?[edit | edit source]
Tap water in Bulgaria is usually safe to drink and natural mineral water is also cheap and widely available.
What is the Bulgarian currency?[edit | edit source]
The Bulgarian unit of currency is лев, comprised of one hundred стотинки. The Lev is pegged to the Euro at 1.95 Lev for one Euro.
Is foreign money accepted?[edit | edit source]
Shopkeepers and other businesses in Bulgaria will usually not accept foreign money.
Are credit cards always accepted?[edit | edit source]
In major cities, credit cards are generally accepted, in rural areas people pay cash only.
Videos[edit | edit source]
ONE-MINUTE BULGARIAN LESSON - Restaurant[edit | edit source]
Bulgarian lesson - Restaurants in Bulgaria[edit | edit source]
Learn How To Make Bulgarian Breakfast Cheese Sandwich Recipe at Home Easily.
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Markets and Supermarkets in Bulgaria
- Homes in Bulgaria
- Bulgaria Timeline
- Breakfast in Bulgaria
- Every Day Life in Bulgaria
- Holidays in Bulgaria
- Weather in Bulgaria
- Clothes in Bulgaria
- Family in Bulgaria
- Public transportation in Bulgaria
- Alphabet
- Towns in Bulgaria
- How to say ‘Hello’ in Bulgarian