After that delicious meal, the surprise: at the end of the bill comes an amount you didn’t expect, called “table service”. Also known as covered, charging this additional fee per person is a common practice in most restaurants in Buenos Aires. But why, exactly, is the cover charged?
The truth is that no one knows how this started or what those extra pesos are for in the end of the bill. Some say it’s the famous “pay to sit and breathe”. Some people believe that this amount is charged for those little baskets of bread and pates that they usually serve before meals. However, even if you don’t touch the buns, you will have to deal with the bill. Therefore, my suggestion is: did the waiter place any starters on your table after you ordered the dish? Eat it, because you’re going to pay for it anyway.
Almost always, the cost of the cover is stated on the menu or on posters posted in the restaurant. But if it’s your first time in Buenos Aires, this may have passed you by until it’s time to pay the bill. And there’s no point in fussing or calling the waiter, you have to pay and that’s it.
Read too:
• Where to eat well and cheaply in Buenos Aires
• What to do in Buenos Aires: Complete guide
The word cubierto comes from the Italian coperto, which means covering. In practice, this means that the restaurant charges you for the plates, forks and napkins you use and which at some point will have to be replaced or replaced. Many tourists and, especially, people from Buenos Aires believe that charging the fee is unfair and meaningless, as the cost of replacing materials should already be included in the price of the dishes. It would be the same thing if hotels started charging an extra fee for the use of sheets and mattresses (believe it or not, I’ve seen this happen too).
The measure is so controversial that there is even a Facebook group where people come together just to criticize the practice. It is possible to find some restaurants in Buenos Aires that do not charge cover, generally the simplest and cheapest. When an establishment chooses to abolish this fee, they usually post posters with the information or leave it written on the menu. You can also ask the waiter before choosing whether or not to sit in that restaurant. However, when you want to go to the coolest places, there won’t be much of an escape.
Apparently, since 2013, the cover has been regulated by law and it is now prohibited to charge the fee to children under 12 years of age. Furthermore, the law requires that a glass of water, a gluten-free food, sodium-free salt and at least one traditional or diet bread be included in the cover. The good part of this law is that now you don’t run the risk of paying the cover without even taking a basket of bread. But then saying that this law is being complied with is another five hundred.
In general, the cover is only charged when you eat there. So, if you just sit down to have a few good drinks and the fee comes on the bill, you can ask for it to be taken away.
And attention: cover is not for the waiter, it does not correspond to our famous “10% service”. In addition to this annoying fee, you are expected to leave a tip for the person who served you. In this regard, leave something between 10 and 15% of the bill value.
Travel insurance for Argentina
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Where to stay in Buenos Aires
The main neighborhoods to stay in Buenos Aires are:
- center
- San Telmo
- Recoleta
- Palermo
The first two are for those who want to save money, stay close to everything and don’t mind clutter. Recoleta and Palermo have more expensive accommodation, but they are more upscale and beautiful neighborhoods. You can find out more about the regions in our post Where to stay in Buenos Aires.
Recommended accommodations in Buenos Aires:
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