Last night, our first night in town, we had dinner at El Bajio, a Veracruz-style Mexican place in the neighborhood. It was cute: Bright textiles on the walls, baskets, orange napkins. I had the ceviche verde, which was decent, and a yummy ensalada de nopales with strips of grilled panela. Crayton had enchiladas verdes. (When my salad arrived, Crayton eyed the white cheese warily. “What is that? Tofu?” I gave him a Look. “It’s CHEESE.”)
When it came time to pay the bill, the waiter asked us something about closing the account, or leaving it open. We said to close it. He looked confused. (And maybe a little offended.)
“Close it?” he asked again.
“Yes, yes,” I said. He didn’t move. He asked again if we wanted to leave it open.
Finally, Crayton said yes, okay, leave it open. The waiter whisked away the check and our credit card, and brought it back a few minutes later. We noticed nothing amiss: The receipt showed our final bill, and a space to leave a tip. Crayton wrote in the tip and I was ready to go. He suggested we stay and ask the waiter what “leave it open” meant.
I have this weird thing about not wanting to seem like a tourist, but these are the cultural things we need to understand. (Right?)
So we called the waiter back and I explained that we just moved here from the U.S., and what did this “leave it open” thing mean? The waiter very graciously said that it meant the customer would write in a tip on his/her own. And then he said some other stuff we didn’t understand. (About how some customers write the wrong amount on the check? Huh?)
Now we know, but still, kinda weird. Has anyone else in Mexico City ever experienced this?
I find it somewhat hard to believe that Crayton didn’t know a cheese when he saw it. I mean if there is an individual out there who loves cheese and isn’t French, it’s Crayton.
And you said the place you’re living in is “mango colored”…is that with the peel or post-peeling?
My mom asked what time zone Mexico was in…hilarious.
Schmubb — I’d say post-peeling mango, like right after you open it up and it’s all juicy and stuff, but before you slice it and put it in a smoothie.
I wondered why we didn’t encounter that over the summer?
So glad your doing this blog!
I’ve eaten many a time in Mexico City restaurants, and never had your experience. But I also look thoroughly gringo (very white, 6’tall, green eyes), so I doubt they leave much to chance. Usually they want me to write the tip before they take the credit card away. And my Mexican friend constantly tells me I over-tip for leaving 20%.
The waiters don’t seem to mind, though.
Regards,
Kim G
Boston, MA