I.G.I.C.

October 24, 2007 By 5 Comments

I.G.I.C. (Impuesto General Indirecto Canario) is an abbreviation that you are most likely to see on the bottom or back of menus when eating out.

The best way to think about it is as a form of VAT (value added tax). The Canary Islands are outside the EU VAT zone and therefore, as Spanish VAT does not apply, IGIC is could be considered to be the local VAT.

There are different rates ranging from 0% to 35%, but the one that you see most is the 5% added at restaurants.

That’s right – added. Over half the menus that you encounter will show prices exclusive of IGIC, meaning that when you ask for the bill the 5% will be added at this point.

If you are used to working in a business environment and adding VAT or an equivalent on at the final stage, then you probably won’t have too much difficult coping with this concept.

More likely, you are used to consumer pricing being VAT inclusive, and so having 5% added to your restaurant bill at the end of the meal can be anything from a few cent to a big shock!

Of course, there’s nothing you can do about it. Just don’t forget that everything will actually cost you a little bit more than you see on the price list (eg. 12,95EUR becomes 13,60EUR).

More importantly, don’t forget that this is a tax which the restaurant has to collect. It is not a service charge, so any tip you wish to give will have to come on top of the final, IGIC inclusive, price.

Filed Under: Eating Out, Lanzarote Tagged With:

Pan y mantequilla

October 22, 2007 By 7 Comments

There is very little that you really have to be warned about on Lanzarote, especially as far as eating out is concerned.

But there is one thing where you really can be tricked into giving out more than you planned.

When you order your meal at most restaurants, the waiter will bring you basket of rolls and butter. What he or she does not tell you is that you will be charged for this!

Normally you will receive one roll per person, some restaurants only bring a roll for those who have not ordered a starter, but the charge is per roll.

Depending on the restaurant this charge can be excessive – around 80 cents is normal but sometimes it can be 1EUR or even more!

The trick is, of course, to say that you don’t want them (unless, of course, you do!) when you order. This may not help – I’ve told the waiter in Spanish that I didn’t want any rolls as we were sharing our starters, but he – yes, the same waiter – still brought a basket of them to the table.

So that is step 2 of the trick – send them back again!

Even then, this may not solve the problem entirely, as often they have already been entered into the computerised till and will appear on the bill.

This where step 3 is important – the word in Spanish for butter is mantequilla – not something vaguely recognisable if you don’t know it (and not like other European languages where the word for butter has some resemblance to the English version).

So make sure you check the bill to see if pan y mantequilla has appeared anyway, and if it has – get it removed.

Unfortunately, this may not be the end of the problem. When questioning a bill once (although not about the rolls) the waitress proceeded to ask the other guests at the table to confirm that they really hadn’t had the items that I was having removed. If the waitress suddenly doesn’t speak much English and you don’t speak Spanish, then it’s all too easy to say “yes” to something that you was meant a different way, only for the waitress to turn round in Spanish and say “see, I told you so” and want full payment.

That is, however, the extreme version of the problem. Normally you should be OK after the first 3 steps.

Bon appetit!

Filed Under: Eating Out, Lanzarote Tagged With: ,

Simposio, Puerto del Carmen

October 20, 2007 By 3 Comments

Simposio is a restaurant overlooking the harbour in the old part of Puerto del Carmen (Calle Teide).

Run by a German couple, it has 4 tables on the balcony and more inside, where there is also a bar.

The food is a mixture of canarian sea-food and German cuisine. Two noteworthy dishes are the fish platter (three pieces of freshly cooked fish) or the meat pan (chicken breast, pork medallions and a steak).

You are advised to book well in advance as on some nights all the tables have been reserved for several days! The telephone number to book is 928 515112.

The restaurant opens at 6pm and is closed on Mondays.

Simposio, Puerto del Carmen
Photo: C. & L. Tappenden
Filed Under: Eating Out, Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen Tagged With: , ,

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