Restaurants developed in 13th
Century Hangzhou, a cultural, political and
economic center during China's Song Dynasty.
With a population of over 1 million people,
a culture of hospitality and a paper currency,
Hangzhou was ripe for the development of restaurants.
Probably growing out of the tea houses and
taverns that catered to travellers, Hangzhou's
restaurants blossomed into an industry catering
to locals as well. Restaurants catered to
different styles of cuisine, price brackets,
and religious requirements. Even within a
single restaurant much choice was available.
Restaurants range from unpretentious lunching
or dining places catering to people working
nearby, with simple food served in simple
settings at low prices, to expensive establishments
serving refined food and wines in a formal
setting. In the former case, customers usually
wear casual clothing. In the latter case,
depending on culture and local traditions,
customers might wear semi-casual, semi-formal,
or even in rare cases formal wear.
Typically, customers sit at tables, their
orders are taken by a waiter, who brings the
food when it is ready, and the customers pay
the bill before leaving. In finer restaurants
there will be a host or hostess or even a
maître d'hôtel to welcome customers
and to seat them. Other staff waiting on customers
include busboys and sommeliers.
Depending on local custom, a tip of varying
proportions of the bill (often 10–20%)
may be added, which (usually) goes to the
staff rather than the restaurant. This gratuity
might be added directly to the bill or it
may be given voluntarily.



