Originally Posted by
Springs1
It's called READ A MENU. 9 times out of 10, if you want a soup or a salad, it's on the menu what the price is and at some restaurants, it's a cheaper price than if you just order a side salad by itself. Don't expect your servers to baby-sit you if you are too lazy to READ THE MENU FOR YOURSELF. I don't EVER RECALL a restaurant I have EVER BEEN TO that doesn't have the prices of the side salads added to an entree. If it's NOT listed it COMES with the item on the menu, 99.9% chance it cost extra. If you are unsure, ASK. Don't expect them to baby-sit you, because they are supposed to try to sell more, because their managers want that.
Then again, I've also been to restaurants that have no prices at all on the menu. If you have to ask, you probably can't afford to eat there (Doyen in Paris comes to mind, as well as a Michelin 1 star restaurant in a chateau in Tours, though the name escapes me at the moment). I've also been in many restaurants that are so dimly lit that I have to hold a candle over the menu to read it. I don't actually mind that, though -- I like the atmosphere.
However, as a general rule, my only responsibility at a restaurant is to act courteously to diners and staff alike and pay my bill at the end. I don't have any "jobs" at the restaurant (though, in the past, I've worked as a waiter). That's why we eat out at restaurants: to enjoy the experience and not take on any responsiblities beyond savoring the meal.
Incidentally, in China it is customary to have long discussions with the waiter during which the virtues of the various dishes are compared, the waiter makes recommendations, preparation and quality are discussed, etc. I'm often amused when my wife tries to do the same here in the U.S. The waiters are, at best, a bit perplexed but always seem happy to oblige.