Restaurant Navigation

Price Categories Decoded

€ = Budget (Under €15 per person) - Pizza places - Kebab shops - Market food - Bakery lunches - Asian restaurants

€€ = Moderate (€15-30 per person) - Traditional bistros - Family restaurants - Lunch menus - Local favorites - Ethnic cuisine

€€€ = Upscale (€30-60 per person) - Gastronomic bistros - View restaurants - Evening dining - Tourist areas - Wine included

€€€€ = Luxury (€60+ per person) - Michelin starred - Celebrity chefs - Hotel restaurants - Special occasions - Tasting menus

Finding Authentic Value

Look For: - Handwritten menus - Local languages heard - Simple decor - Busy at lunch - Away from main sights

Avoid: - Photo menus - Aggressive touts - Tourist menu translations - Empty at meal times - Next to major attractions

Lunch vs. Dinner Economics

Lunch offers dramatic savings: - Same kitchen, lower prices - Prix fixe menus common - €12-18 for three courses - Include wine sometimes - Reservation rarely needed

Example: Restaurant charging €40 for dinner entrées offers €15 lunch menu with similar quality