Why Europeans Never Order These 13 Menu Items and What to Do Instead

Think you’re eating like a local in Europe? Those menu items you’re excitedly ordering might be making every European in the restaurant silently cringe. Here’s what we never order – and why.

Dining in Europe can be one of the most rewarding parts of any trip, but knowing what to order — and what to avoid — can make all the difference between a tourist trap meal and a truly authentic experience. While many visitors stick to the familiar or fall for flashy menu items aimed at tourists, savvy Europeans know better. They skip certain dishes entirely — not because they aren’t good, but because they rarely reflect local cuisine or value.

From overpriced sangria in Spain to suspiciously cheap seafood platters in tourist hubs, there are certain menu items Europeans have learned to avoid, especially in high-traffic areas. These aren’t just preferences based on taste but a matter of knowing what’s fresh, traditional, and worth your money. What’s surprising is how often tourists fall into the same traps — paying top euro for dishes locals wouldn’t touch.

In this post, we’ll break down thirteen menu items Europeans almost never order — and share what they choose instead. If you want to dine like a local, avoid common tourist pitfalls, and savor real European flavors, this guide will help you navigate menus with confidence and enjoy every bite of your travels.

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Quick & Easy Tips for Ordering Like a Local in Europe

Avoid Menus in Multiple Languages — If a menu is plastered in five languages, it’s usually a sign of a tourist-focused spot with inflated prices.

Look for the Daily Special or “Menu del Día” — Locals often choose set menus offering the best seasonal dishes at better value.

Order House Wine Instead of Branded Bottles — House wines in Europe are often excellent and far cheaper than bottled imports.

Skip the Pre-Made Tapas or Tourist Platters — Opt for freshly made small dishes or ask the server for recommendations instead.

Check for Local Crowd Favorites — If a restaurant is packed with locals, you’re probably in the right place for a genuine meal.

One common misconception is that all traditional dishes are the best ones to order at any restaurant. In reality, some so-called “traditional” dishes have been tweaked or downgraded to cater to tourist tastes, especially in busy city centers. Locals often know where to find the real deal — and avoid places that offer watered-down versions.

Another debated belief is that if it’s on the menu, it must be popular with locals. That’s rarely true in tourist-heavy areas. Restaurants often add items like “tourist paella” in Spain or spaghetti bolognese in Italy, knowing visitors will order them — even though locals wouldn’t touch them in that setting.

Perhaps most surprising is the assumption that tourist menus are harmless and still provide a decent experience. While they may offer convenience, they often come with higher prices, lower quality, and a lack of authentic flavor. Locals know how to spot a tourist trap menu from a mile away — and learning their tricks can save you money while upgrading your dining experience.

1. “Italian” Pasta Dishes That Don’t Exist

The biggest red flag? Fettuccine Alfredo. While Americans think it’s the height of Italian cuisine, you won’t find a single Italian ordering it. Ever.

What Tourists Order:

• Spaghetti and meatballs
• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Pasta with chicken
• “Italian” carbonara with cream
• Penne alla vodka

What Locals Actually Eat:

• Carbonara (egg yolk, no cream)
• Cacio e pepe
• Seasonal pasta specials
• Regional specialties
• Fresh, simple combinations

Local Truth: Real Italian pasta dishes typically have 3-4 ingredients max. If the menu lists more, it’s probably made for tourists. And putting chicken on pasta? That’s practically a crime in Italy.

2. “Continental” Breakfast Traps

That huge American-style breakfast with eggs every way? Or that “continental” spread with sad pastries? No European would touch these tourist-trap morning meals.

What Tourists Order:

• “Big American Breakfast”
• Pancake stacks at 10 AM
• Egg-white omelets
• “Continental” buffet
• “French” toast

What Actually Happens By Country:
France:

• Simple croissant or pain au chocolat
• Single café crème
• Maybe a tartine with butter
• That’s it. Really.

Italy:

• Cornetto and cappuccino
• Standing at bar counter
• Never cappuccino after 11 AM
• No eggs. Ever.

Spain:

• Tostada con tomate
• Café con leche
• Maybe jamón if feeling fancy
• No massive morning meals

Local Truth: If a European menu offers eggs benedict or pancakes, you’re in a tourist spot. Real local breakfast spots don’t even serve eggs – they’re for lunch or dinner dishes.

Pro Tip: Want to spot the tourists? They’re the ones ordering cappuccino after lunch in Italy or asking for pancakes in France.

3. The “International Menu” Warning

Here’s what makes every European walk straight out of a restaurant: when the menu offers Italian pizza, Japanese sushi, and “traditional local cuisine” all in one place.

What Tourists Fall For:

• “Traditional AND International Cuisine!”
• Pizza and paella on same menu
• Sushi next to schnitzel
• “Traditional dishes from all over Europe”
• Multiple cuisine types under one roof

Why Locals Run: No good restaurant tries to cook everything. That “international menu” means:

• Nothing’s actually fresh
• Everything’s frozen
• No chef specializes
• Tourist-adapted flavors
• Microwave-ready meals

The European Reality: Good restaurants do ONE thing well:

• Greek taverna serves Greek food
• Italian place makes Italian
• Spanish bar does Spanish
• That’s it. Period.

Pro Tip: If a restaurant claims to serve perfect pasta AND perfect sushi, they’re serving perfectly frozen everything. Real European restaurants specialize – and that’s why they’re better.

4. The Drink Orders That Scream “Tourist”

That sangria in Paris? The cappuccino after dinner? These drink orders make every European bartender and waiter silently judge you.

What Tourists Order:

• Sangria outside of Spain (and even then…)
• Cappuccino after lunch
• “Irish” coffee in Ireland
• Giant cocktails before dinner
• Ice-filled drinks everywhere

What Really Happens By Country:

Italy:

• Espresso after lunch (not cappuccino)
• Aperitivo before dinner
• Local wine with meals
• No iced drinks with food

France:

• Kir for aperitif
• Wine with food
• Espresso to finish
• Never cocktails with meals

Spain:

• Tinto de verano (not tourist sangria)
• Vermut for aperitivo
• Wine or beer with food
• Coffee only after dessert

Local Truth: That cocktail menu at dinner? It exists for tourists. Europeans drink specific beverages at specific times – it’s almost a science. And ice? We’re not against it, we just don’t want a glass full of it.

Pro Tip: Want to spot the tourist trap? Look for “Happy Hour” signs and colorful cocktail specials. Real European bars don’t need to advertise drink deals.

5. The Salad Timing Trap

Here’s what immediately marks you as American: ordering salad as a starter. That green salad isn’t an appetizer – it’s meant to cleanse your palate after the main course.

What Tourists Do:

• Order salad first
• Ask for dressing on the side
• Want a “big salad” as a meal
• Request extra toppings
• Mix seasonal ingredients

The European Order:

France:

• Salad comes AFTER main course
• Light vinaigrette only
• Never with cheese course
• Simple, seasonal greens
• No elaborate combinations

Italy:

• Insalata after secondo
• Minimal dressing
• Never with pasta
• Simple ingredients
• Cleanses the palate

Mediterranean Reality:

• Greek salad is a side dish
• Spanish ensalada with main course
• Portuguese salada as accompaniment
• Never as meal replacement
• Always simply dressed

Pro Tip: Want to eat like a local? Stop treating salad like a meal or starter. It’s a complement to your food, not the main event. And those elaborate dressing options? They don’t exist in real European restaurants.

6. The Sauce Situation

Nothing makes Europeans cringe harder than watching tourists ask for extra sauces, different sauces, or worst of all – ranch dressing. Here’s what you’re doing wrong with sauces in Europe.

What Tourists Ask For:

• Extra sauce on everything
• Ranch dressing (the horror)
• Ketchup with fine dining
• Mayo for fries outside Benelux
• BBQ sauce anywhere

The European Reality:

France:

• Sauces are precisely measured
• Never ask for extra
• No substitutions
• Respect the chef’s balance
• Specific sauces for specific dishes

Italy:

• No extra sauce on pasta
• Never cheese on seafood pasta
• No dipping oils (tourist trap)
• Simple is better
• Sauce matches pasta shape

Belgium/Netherlands:

• Mayo with frites (but their mayo)
• Specific sauces for specific snacks
• No ketchup on everything
• Traditional combinations only
• Each region has its sauce rules

Pro Tip: If you’re offered a variety of sauces or dips, you’re probably in a tourist spot. Real European restaurants serve dishes that don’t need extra sauces – they’re perfectly balanced as they are.

7. The Water Ordering Mistakes

That ice water request or asking for tap water in certain countries? Here’s how your water order reveals you’re not European before you even start eating.

What Tourists Do:

• Demand lots of ice
• Always ask for tap water
• Want water with coffee
• Expect free water everywhere
• Request lemon slices

The Real European Way:

Italy:

• Still or sparkling, never tap
• Room temperature normal
• No ice obsession
• Water after coffee, never with
• Served without extras

France:

• “Carafe d’eau” acceptable
• But asking prices = tourist
• No ice unless requested
• Served at room temp
• Specific water for wine pairing

Germany:

• Expect to pay for water
• “Mit oder ohne Gas”
• Never free tap water
• No ice culture
• Mineral water preferred

Pro Tip: Stop fighting the water battle. Order like a local – still or sparkling, minimal ice, and yes, you’ll probably pay for it. That free tap water? It marks you as a tourist faster than a selfie stick.

8. The Coffee Crime Scene

Your coffee order might be making every European barista secretly weep. Here’s how we actually order coffee – and why your complicated coffee order is all wrong.

What Tourists Order:

• Lattes after lunch
• Cappuccino all day
• “American coffee” anywhere
• Complicated Starbucks-style drinks
• To-go coffee while walking

The Real Coffee Rules:

Italy:

• Cappuccino only before 11 AM
• Espresso after meals
• Standing at bar normal
• No flavored syrups
• Coffee is an experience, not fuel

France:

• Café crème for breakfast
• Espresso after lunch
• Never coffee with food
• No size options
• Sitting and savoring normal

Spain:

• Café con leche morning only
• Cortado mid-morning
• Café solo after lunch
• No fancy variations
• No paper cups

Pro Tip: Want to spot the tourist traps? Look for signs advertising flavored coffees, huge size options, or “American style” coffee. Real European cafés keep it simple because that’s how coffee should be.

9. The Dining Time Disasters

Showing up for dinner at 6 PM or asking for lunch at 11:30 AM? You might as well wear a sign saying “Tourist.” Here’s how dining times really work in Europe.

What Tourists Do:

• Book dinner for 6 PM
• Expect lunch at noon
• Want breakfast at 7 AM
• Rush through meals
• Ask for quick service

Real European Timing:

Spain:

• Lunch: 2-4 PM
• Dinner: After 9 PM
• No quick meals
• 2-hour lunch normal
• Late night dining standard

Italy:

• Lunch: 1-3 PM
• Dinner: 8-10 PM start
• Aperitivo: 6-8 PM
• Never rush courses
• Coffee only after dessert

France:

• Lunch: 12:30-2:30 PM
• Dinner: After 7:30 PM
• No between-meal service
• Fixed service hours
• Proper time for each course

Pro Tip: Those empty restaurants at 6 PM with English menus? They’re tourist traps. Real local places might not even be open yet. Want to eat like a local? Adjust your schedule, not the other way around.

10. The Bread and Butter Blunders

That bread basket isn’t free in many places, and what you’re doing with it might be making Europeans cringe. Here’s the real deal with bread service across Europe.

What Tourists Do:

• Expect free bread everywhere
• Ask for butter with everything
• Eat bread before the meal
• Use it as an appetizer
• Fill up on bread first

The European Reality:

Italy:

• No butter with bread
• Never eat bread before pasta
• Used for ‘fare la scarpetta’ (sauce soaking)
• Often charged for bread
• Different breads for different courses

France:

• Bread alongside meal
• Never butter with dinner bread
• Placed directly on tablecloth
• Used to push food onto fork
• Part of the meal, not pre-meal

Spain:

• Pan con tomate, not butter
• Charged on many menus
• Specific timing with courses
• Regional bread variations
• Not a pre-meal filler

Pro Tip: That bread isn’t your pre-dinner snack. It’s part of the meal with specific purposes in different cultures. And asking for olive oil and balsamic to dip? That’s not a thing in most of Europe – it’s an American invention.

11. The Dessert Disasters

That after-dinner order is probably making your waiter silently judge you. Here’s what Europeans never order for dessert and how we actually end our meals.

What Tourists Order:

• Cheesecake in Italy
• “French” vanilla ice cream
• Tiramisu everywhere
• “Continental” dessert platters
• Mixed dessert samplers

Real European Endings:

France:

• Cheese before dessert, never after
• No coffee with dessert
• Simple, single desserts
• Regional specialties only
• Coffee comes last, alone

Italy:

• No cappuccino with dessert
• Gelato is afternoon, not after dinner
• Simple dolci only
• Espresso as final note
• Seasonal dessert choices

Local Truth: Those massive dessert menus with international options? Tourist trap. Real European restaurants offer 3-4 desserts max, usually local specialties that change with seasons.

Pro Tip: Want the real European experience? End with a small local dessert, then espresso (never cappuccino), or do as many Europeans do – skip dessert and end with coffee or a digestif.

12. The Wine Ordering Errors

Your wine order might be causing physical pain to your European server. Here’s how we actually order and drink wine – and why your wine habits scream “tourist.”

What Tourists Do:

• Order “house white/red”
• Want ice in wine
• Ask for specific brands
• Order wine before food
• Request “French” wine in Italy

The Real Wine Culture:

France:

• Wine chosen to match food
• Regional wines with regional dishes
• Never ice, even in rosé
• Proper serving temperature
• Specific glasses for specific wines

Italy:

• Local wines with local food
• Vino della casa by region
• No cocktails with wine
• Wine throughout meal
• Specific timing for aperitivi

Spain:

• Tinto de verano, not sangria
• Regional matches
• No ice in quality wine
• Wine with food, not before
• Specific seasons for specific wines

Pro Tip: Stop asking for “house wine” – ask what local wine pairs with your food. And those wine cocktails? Save them for tourist bars. Real European restaurants serve wine that doesn’t need mixing or ice.

13. The Bill Blunders

The way you handle the bill might be the final confirmation you’re not European. Here’s how payment time actually works and why your habits are making servers cringe.

What Tourists Do:

• Ask for bill immediately after eating
• Try to split bills by item
• Pay before finishing coffee
• Want to pay separately in groups
• Rush to leave after paying

The European Reality:

France:

• Bill comes only when requested
• Take your time after meal
• Coffee after bill settled
• Group bills usually shared equally
• No rush to leave

Italy:

• “Il conto” only when asked
• Coperto charge normal
• Separate bills uncommon
• Lingering expected
• Service included

Spain:

• Never rushed to pay
• Table yours for evening
• Bills typically shared
• Cash often preferred
• Sobremesa is sacred

Pro Tip: The table is yours for the evening – that’s why Europeans don’t do multiple seatings. Rushing to pay and leave marks you as a tourist faster than a selfie stick at the Eiffel Tower. And those credit card tips? Most places prefer cash or don’t expect tips at all.

The Bottom Line

If you’re visiting Europe and want to understand what real locals eat and do in restaurants to taste and experience the best of their cuisine, try to get to know this list and you’ll be much closer to understanding their culture! We hope you liked this guide and til our next list!