After traveling through Argentina for nearly a month, I thought we were well attuned to the culture. Then I encountered the Cubierto. In Buenos Aires, although nowhere else in Argentina, restaurants will put a charge on the bill called the cubierto which is supposed to cover the cost of incidental items such as bread and water, the cutlery, and the table linens.

After a particularly uncertain meal, where half the order was missed and the other half was wrong, I carefully scrutinized the check to make sure we weren’t charged for items not received. That’s when I noticed a 7000 peso charge I didn’t recognize. I told our waiter this was an error on the bill. He looked uncomfortably at me and said “is cubierto “

“But we didn’t order any cubierto”

“No, is included”

“We didn’t get any cubierto with our meal”

“Yes, is included”

Then the manager stepped in to say the cubierto was for our bread and water .

“But we didn’t order bread, and we paid for sparkling water”

“No, this is the cubierto, everyone pays it for bread and water”

“But I don’t think I should have to pay for bread you brought me without asking “

“It’s the cubierto”

Melissa stepped in and told me to just pay it, it’s only 4 dollars.

“Fine, I’ll pay, but I’m not leaving a tip”

I paid.

I fumed.

I researched the cubierto until I understood the concept.

Melissa told me to go back to the restaurant and apologize. And to give our waiter a tip.

She went with me.

Like a grade school boy I apologized.

I gave our waiter a good tip.

The Cubierto.