What Happens When You Give Free Toppings in Germany?
Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 11:06 To many American tourists, Germany is the land of no ice, where water costs more than beer. And you have to pay for ketchup at fast food places.
Yes, it sounds odd as an isolated fact. But it's part of the system...Because drinks are so costly, they are also measured exactly. In most restaurants, your glass will have a line with the measurement. Under the German system, customers want to be sure that they get their money's worth - a full 0.33 mL or 0.5mL drink. Adding ice distorts the measurements, thus is not used. Why the clever German engineers haven't come up with standard ice cubes to allow for standard volume of water displacement is another question...I'm sure they could do it, but then again, many Europeans don't like ice in their drinks!
The water thing...yeah, I still am not sure why you don't get free tap water, but most people drink sparkling mineral water or want extra minerals in their water. (sparkling water is wasser mit kohlensäure - or just wasser mit. If you want plain, ask for stilles wasser or ohne kohlensäure).
Along this logic, chicken nuggets usually come with one sauce included - you pay for an extra if you want more sauce than someone has deemed normal. With fries, sometimes 1 ketchup pack is included in the price; sometimes not. In an Italian or upscale restaurant, usually the basket of bread slices is included with your meal (don't ask for a second one!); however, in most German restaurants, you will be charged for the number of pretzels or rolls you consume out of the basket on the table. (Because of this system, it would be a faux pas to take half a pretzel and leave it in the basket!)
So, it is a little unusual to drink tap water, and the German system of self-responsibility also extends to paying for what you use.
This system works pretty well here, once you know the rules. And perhaps it keeps costs from rising further, who knows? But the amusing part of it is what happens when there's an exception to the rules. As we've seen from New Years Eve fireworks, the World Cup, and other events allowing organized chaos, when you suspend the rules, Germans will take it to the extreme.
This week Herr J stopped at Subway in the train station on his way to a meeting in Nürnberg (the smell of baking bread is intoxicating!!!), and ordered a sandwich. He asked for just a little bit of lettuce on his sandwich and maybe one other topping. Here's the exchange that followed with the Subway employee:
Subway Guy: Don't you want more toppings?
Herr J: No, that's OK. This is all I want
SG: But they're included.
Herr J: I know, but the grilled chicken is really good and I want to enjoy its taste instead of all the toppings
SG: [laughs] Yeah, we Germans will pile on as many toppings as will fit because they're free.
Herr J: And how does the sandwich taste?
SG: Not so good actually, it just tastes like lettuce.
For the record, Subway also has self-serve fountain drinks, with ice. AND FREE REFILLS! In additional to having international franchising standards and American customers, I think the theory is that ice is allowed in self-service situations because the customer is taking on the choice and responsibility of serving himself/herself a less than full serving.
Herr J had a similar experience in the US, when he took visiting German colleagues to Fuddruckers, home of free burger topping bar that encourages you to "Pile it high" and "Never leave hungry."
His colleagues learned the true American-style meaning of "my eyes were bigger than my stomach!" However, they really loved the place - partly due to good burgers, and especially due to all the free toppings and choice.
Reader Comments (3)
At our restaurants, we also have the self-service drink station. It saves service time, and the customers fell that the free refills are a treat. Cola without ice is a pet peeve for my wife... cola is meant to be served cold, not warm!
And you get a free ketchup packet if you order a "Menü" or a Happy Meal. More than one costs extra. :-)
this blog is nice to read for Germans too,
we learn a lot about ourself,
thanks Frau A
IKEA has free refills, but it's not a German company.
Around here it's wasser mit or wasser ohne gas. American friends love that one.