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Menus - two prices?

I'm a vegetarian, so I'm trying to plot out places we'll be able to eat while in Vienna. Some of the menus I've been looking at seem to list two prices for every item, and I'm not sure of the meaning. For example, one place lists a pretty straightforward looking hamburger/fries, and next to it is "10, 90." 10 euros seems like a reasonable amount for a burger, but what does the 90 mean? Lots are like this - a piece of cake, for example, is listed as "4, 30." I'm sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am perplexed!

Posted by
5362 posts

If you would like any suggestions for restaurants with vegetarian options, let me know.

Posted by
2709 posts

When the Euro is the currency (and many others), a comma is used to separate whole euros from hundredths, rather than a period. This is the same with European numbers, these same places generally use a period to separate thousands and a comma as a decimal point.
For more info, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110504142243AAaYzmh
Also be prepared for serving sizes to be listed in grams.

Posted by
29 posts

Ha, thank you. See, I knew it was something dumb! ;) I think my morning pre-coffee brain saw the first one and interpreted it as "small, large" portions, as you sometimes see on menus in the US. Glad I won't have to worry about a 90 euro hamburger!

Posted by
4637 posts

I think it would be impossible to sell hamburger for 90 Euros. Even 10.90 is grossly overpriced.

Posted by
11613 posts

The comma/decimal switch will also apply to markets and other stores.

10,90 burger? I once had a €60 lunch. Solo. I blame low blood sugar levels and general fatigue.

Posted by
2393 posts

Be sure to have some of the wonderful cucumber salad available at many places! I wish I had paid better attention to it to figure out what they put in the marinade!

Posted by
4535 posts

Although not mentioned is that many cafes and restaurants will have different prices depending on whether you eat in or sit at the outdoor tables versus to go or sitting inside. Even fast food outlets typically have a "to go" price and a "eat in" price. But in this particular case, the comma is used as a decimal.

Posted by
2709 posts

Also watch out for menu posters out on the sidewalk labelled "Tourist menu" (or something similar). These may look like deals, but the food and meals are never as good as what you will find on the real menu. In most places, the real menu will include translations, if not a repeat of itself in English.

Posted by
5362 posts

I have never encountered the experiences described above by Douglas and Larry in Vienna.

Posted by
7010 posts

@Emily & George - agreed, those things are more likely encountered in Paris or Rome.

Posted by
9110 posts

Proving once again that Europe is not homogenous and that experiences cannot be transferred or generalized.

Posted by
14482 posts

True, that price difference in a menu based on where you sit, inside or outside, I've never seen in Vienna either, but I have had that happen in Paris, don't know about Rome. Those few instances when they give me a menu with the picture of the British flag on it, I ask them if they have a local menu.

Posted by
4637 posts

I cannot confirm Douglas experience, at least not in Vienna. But Larry is partially right. It's called menu, it's written by chalk on the blackboard usually outside the restaurant, there are usually three choices. Where Larry is not right is that it is not tourist menu but workers menu (tourist of course can order it, too). In Austria (and some other countries) lunch has to be hot. Dinner does not have to be always hot meal. Opposite than here, where workers bring their sandwich and at lunch break have it as their lunch. That's unthinkable in Austria. They have to have their hot lunch. So they go and choose from that menu on the blackboard. It's significantly cheaper and you get it much faster because it's already done and held warm for the duration of lunchtime. You see this special menu only for lunch, never for dinner. And it is not always true that meals from this special menu taste worse than those you order from their regular menu (many times I had really excellent meal) but it's true that they are always significantly cheaper.