E. Tan

I was in Italy last week. As usual, to avoid paying a full service
price on a cup of a coffee, I always order and drink my coffee by the
bar counter standing. Howver, on some small bar/cafe sho, there is a
little bar counter that is away from the coffee machine with chair.
It is not those little table/chair setup kind. So I ordered my coffee
and took it to the away bar counter and drank my coffee sitting on on
the bar stool. When I came to pay, the price was higher that standing
up price by the coffee machine counter. I don't think the away
counter is a full service setup. So, what gives?

John Stolz

E. Tan wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I was in Italy last week. As usual, to avoid paying a full service
    > price on a cup of a coffee, I always order and drink my coffee by the
    > bar counter standing. Howver, on some small bar/cafe sho, there is a
    > little bar counter that is away from the coffee machine with chair.
    > It is not those little table/chair setup kind. So I ordered my coffee
    > and took it to the away bar counter and drank my coffee sitting on on
    > the bar stool. When I came to pay, the price was higher that standing
    > up price by the coffee machine counter. I don't think the away
    > counter is a full service setup. So, what gives?

I never quite worked this out in Italy, but my best guess is that there is
one price for standing at the bar, double for sitting at a table and treble
for sitting on the terrace. Its not universal and its not accurate, but its
near enough.

Barbara Vaughan

John Stolz wrote:
    >
    > E. Tan wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > I was in Italy last week. As usual, to avoid paying a full service
    > > price on a cup of a coffee, I always order and drink my coffee by the
    > > bar counter standing. Howver, on some small bar/cafe sho, there is a
    > > little bar counter that is away from the coffee machine with chair.
    > > It is not those little table/chair setup kind. So I ordered my coffee
    > > and took it to the away bar counter and drank my coffee sitting on on
    > > the bar stool. When I came to pay, the price was higher that standing
    > > up price by the coffee machine counter. I don't think the away
    > > counter is a full service setup. So, what gives?
    >
    > I never quite worked this out in Italy, but my best guess is that there is
    > one price for standing at the bar, double for sitting at a table and treble
    > for sitting on the terrace. Its not universal and its not accurate, but its
    > near enough.

Actually, outside of the large cities, there is usually no such
distinction. There are usually tables, inside or out to which you can
carry your own coffee and sit without paying anything extra. The tip-off
is usually that there are no waiters.

Barbara

Bb

On Fri, 25 Apr 2003 08:10:58 +0200, Barbara Vaughan wrote:

    > Actually, outside of the large cities, there is usually no such
    > distinction. There are usually tables, inside or out to which you can
    > carry your own coffee and sit without paying anything extra. The tip-off
    > is usually that there are no waiters.

In cities, though, is it generally a safe assumption that you'll pay more
for drinking at a table, and pay more than that for drinking outside?

I'll be in Venice this summer, and haven't the vaguest idea how much a
cup of coffee will cost (other than "a lot").

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Barbara Vaughan

BB wrote:
    >
    > On Fri, 25 Apr 2003 08:10:58 +0200, Barbara Vaughan wrote:
    >
    > > Actually, outside of the large cities, there is usually no such
    > > distinction. There are usually tables, inside or out to which you can
    > > carry your own coffee and sit without paying anything extra. The tip-off
    > > is usually that there are no waiters.
    >
    > In cities, though, is it generally a safe assumption that you'll pay more
    > for drinking at a table, and pay more than that for drinking outside?

If there are waiters, you can be sure that you'll pay more to sit at a
table. If not, you can ask. If you don't want to pay extra, buy the
coffee first and then point at the table and ask, "Posso?" (May I?,
pronounced POHS-soh")

    > I'll be in Venice this summer, and haven't the vaguest idea how much a
    > cup of coffee will cost (other than "a lot").

Actually, an espresso or capuccino will usually cost you less than it
would in the US.

Barbara

Bb

On Fri, 25 Apr 2003 19:15:06 +0200, Barbara Vaughan wrote:

    > If there are waiters, you can be sure that you'll pay more to sit at a
    > table. If not, you can ask. If you don't want to pay extra, buy the
    > coffee first and then point at the table and ask, "Posso?" (May I?,
    > pronounced POHS-soh")
    >
    >> I'll be in Venice this summer, and haven't the vaguest idea how much a
    >> cup of coffee will cost (other than "a lot").
    >
    > Actually, an espresso or capuccino will usually cost you less than it
    > would in the US.

Thanks! I hope you have some idea how much we (at least some of us)
appreciate your advice on this newsgroup.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)