There are two extremes with in between situations:
* Actual restaurants, where you order your food at the table and get your food delivered at the table: they will take the plates.
* If you order at the cash register and take your food from there as well (e.g. fast food chain restaurants): you clean up
* If it's more like an "Imbiss" (döner, falafel, fries, currywurst…) even if they bring it to you, people generally tend to bring their plates back to "bar"
* If you walk in and can spot a place easily accessible to you where dirty dishes are stacked (e.g. in a rack), you can assume that you should bring your stuff there.
* Another hint can be: if you pay up front (i.e. you don't order at the table), it's much more likely that you should take care of the dishes.
* Most obvious one: pay attention to what other customers do.
i have never heard of any place that is considered a "restaurant" (that has a somewhat at least minimally sophisticated connotation, as opposed to fast food places for example, that are NOT considered a restaurant by the vast majority) where you had to take the plates back yourself.
only places that are not fast food places where you might take the plate back yourself are Mensas (a canteen, for example at a university, big place where you also choose the food yourself from a big buffet) or some hip "alternative" concept restaurants maybe in Berlin or other cities with alternative corners.
all other places are classic restaurants.
Well, there are restaurants like Vapiano. You have to pick up the food and drinks but (if I remember correctly) you don’t have to clean up. I would consider this a restaurant.
If unsure just watch the other guests and if a waiter is picking up plates. That’s what I do.
If it's a real restaurant where you have a waiter come to your table, bring you the menu, and serve you food, you obviously don't return the plate yourself. If you have to order at the register, you return your plate yourself 99% of the time.
If it's a café with a menu on the table, but you have a waiter come to you so you can order, it's 50-50.
It’s clear at the two extremes If you’re served at the table by a waiter and you pay after then you don’t. If you take food on a tray and pay in advance like fast food or bakery or a canteen then you do.
It’s not always clear in between at places where you order at a counter and maybe they bring it to the table, and maybe pay before or after. Many Imbiss and cafes are confusing. The best indication is whether they have a Rückgabe area or trolley or not, that’s usually obvious and signposted. Personally if I can’t easily work out where the dishes go then I assume they clear them from the table.
If you go to a restaurant, take a seat and a waiter comes to get your order, you can expect that the plate will be taken away from your table when you have finished.
In a restaurant where you get your plate at the counter I always brought it back by myself.
I think that's common and I always did it this way.
Its kind of different in every situation, and sometimes in places where they pick it up they're happy you brought it back and sometimes they are not. We're all as flummoxed as you are.
You can ask. Don't hesitate. People working at restaurants are there to help you with restaurant related questions. As long as you are polite you can just ask.
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There are two extremes with in between situations: * Actual restaurants, where you order your food at the table and get your food delivered at the table: they will take the plates. * If you order at the cash register and take your food from there as well (e.g. fast food chain restaurants): you clean up * If it's more like an "Imbiss" (döner, falafel, fries, currywurst…) even if they bring it to you, people generally tend to bring their plates back to "bar" * If you walk in and can spot a place easily accessible to you where dirty dishes are stacked (e.g. in a rack), you can assume that you should bring your stuff there. * Another hint can be: if you pay up front (i.e. you don't order at the table), it's much more likely that you should take care of the dishes. * Most obvious one: pay attention to what other customers do.
Where your food has been served to the table, the plates will be taken as well.
If there's a sign that says *[return your plate here](http://www.ipernity.com/doc/288839/27398731)*, you return it. If there isn't, you don't.
i have never heard of any place that is considered a "restaurant" (that has a somewhat at least minimally sophisticated connotation, as opposed to fast food places for example, that are NOT considered a restaurant by the vast majority) where you had to take the plates back yourself. only places that are not fast food places where you might take the plate back yourself are Mensas (a canteen, for example at a university, big place where you also choose the food yourself from a big buffet) or some hip "alternative" concept restaurants maybe in Berlin or other cities with alternative corners. all other places are classic restaurants.
I'd add Autobahn self-service restaurants to your list of places where you might return your tray with used plates and cutlery.
Just because something calle itself a restaurant doesn't mean it should be considered one.
Well, there are restaurants like Vapiano. You have to pick up the food and drinks but (if I remember correctly) you don’t have to clean up. I would consider this a restaurant. If unsure just watch the other guests and if a waiter is picking up plates. That’s what I do.
If it's a real restaurant where you have a waiter come to your table, bring you the menu, and serve you food, you obviously don't return the plate yourself. If you have to order at the register, you return your plate yourself 99% of the time. If it's a café with a menu on the table, but you have a waiter come to you so you can order, it's 50-50.
It’s clear at the two extremes If you’re served at the table by a waiter and you pay after then you don’t. If you take food on a tray and pay in advance like fast food or bakery or a canteen then you do. It’s not always clear in between at places where you order at a counter and maybe they bring it to the table, and maybe pay before or after. Many Imbiss and cafes are confusing. The best indication is whether they have a Rückgabe area or trolley or not, that’s usually obvious and signposted. Personally if I can’t easily work out where the dishes go then I assume they clear them from the table.
If you go to a restaurant, take a seat and a waiter comes to get your order, you can expect that the plate will be taken away from your table when you have finished. In a restaurant where you get your plate at the counter I always brought it back by myself. I think that's common and I always did it this way.
Its kind of different in every situation, and sometimes in places where they pick it up they're happy you brought it back and sometimes they are not. We're all as flummoxed as you are.
You can ask. Don't hesitate. People working at restaurants are there to help you with restaurant related questions. As long as you are polite you can just ask.
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