Some thoughts about a recent trip to Japan.

[wanderingfighter]

Think the appetizer thing is cultural. They don't do it for restaurants here, but if you go out for drinks a lot of places expect you to pay for a side dish to go with it.

I guess it's some sort of cover charge since tipping is not expected.

I heard of someone in Japan that they got stuck with a $300 dollar charge like this and the people responsible for running the establishment he was at attempted to intimidate him when he refused to pay. Though this was in the Roppongi part of Tokyo so I guess it comes with the territory since that's a place where the Mafia operates.