The knife is held in the left hand, and the fork in the right. Utensils are laid parallel to each other on the plate once you finish eating. 10% service fee is normally charged and considered the tip. Although feel free to leave a few extra bucks as 15- 20% is becoming more standard.

Dining in Costa Rica is generally casual but rooted in politeness. A key cultural nuance is that the bill (la cuenta) is rarely brought automatically to your table. In Costa Rican culture, delivering a check unprompted is considered impolite, as it suggests the host is rushing you to leave. When you are finished, you should signal the waiter and say, "La cuenta, por favor." For a more local touch, many use the phrase "Regáleme la cuenta," which translates literally to "gift me the bill" but is used as a very polite request. Regarding tipping, a 10% service charge (servicio) is legally included in the menu price or added to the final bill at the end. While you are not required to tip more, it is common to leave an extra 5–10% in cash for exceptional service. Table manners are Continental, and it is considered polite to keep your hands visible on the table rather than in your lap.