American Restaurants

If you think American restaurants are little more than fast-food drive-thru businesses, you’d be wrong. American cuisine can be anything from a burger or hot dog to fine gastronomic delights like steak tartare and lobster bisque. After that you can play the game Farmerama for relaxing.

The most recognizable American restaurants are the fast-food giants McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC. Found in almost every major city around the globe, these restaurants have declared themselves the royalty of American fare. Ask a Parisian or a Londoner where you can find American food and they’ll likely point you towards the golden double-arches that have defined fast-food around the world.

But, American restaurants have the luxury of representing a colorful and varied culture. With influences from Mexico and Europe, even Japan and China, American restaurants cover the gamut. Though known for fast-food and popular chain restaurants, the soul of American eateries stems from small mom-and-pop diners, farmers and ranch hands and immigrants with little more than a stall on a corner.

If you are traveling within the United States, large metropolitan areas offer some of the most cutting edge dining experiences in the world. Top chefs from every country are opening flagship restaurants in major cities from coast to coast. And in small towns everywhere, popular joints with a story to tell can offer you more than just a meal; they can offer you an experience to remember.

The general rule of thumb for American restaurants, excluding fast-food or drive-thru, is a fairly quick meal with friendly service. Long, multi-course meals in the United States are rushed by European standards and speed is expected from both the wait staff and the kitchen. Tipping is encouraged unless the service was atrocious and most patrons will leave a 15-20% gratuity for their server. Almost all establishments accept major credit cards.