Just thought I'd explain the difference between "cantina" and "plato" as used here in the DR.
"Cantina" is typically used for plastic containers with tops or bowls. "Plato" is typically used for plates and "plato para llevar" is used for the styrofoam containers one gets at a restaurant.
I recently made the mistake of using "cantina" at a restaurant the other night when I should have used "plato para llevar". The girl attending me was filling up a small container with the fritos I had just asked for and I asked her if an order of small fries cam in the same container. Unfortunately, she didn't understand me when I said "cantina". Also, my Spanish isn't Dominican by any means but 9 people out of 10 back in Florida think I'm hispanic so I knew she understood my alliteration.
I finally called over another girl and told her what I wanted and she understood me the first time. I asked my wife what the deal was and she said the word "cantina" is not used for a styrofoam container. I realized then that because we were in Licey that being in the campo people are less used to interchanging words for things. In Santiago, I have used this term dozens of times and never had a problem, but in the future I will now know what is more correct.
"Cantina" is typically used for plastic containers with tops or bowls. "Plato" is typically used for plates and "plato para llevar" is used for the styrofoam containers one gets at a restaurant.
I recently made the mistake of using "cantina" at a restaurant the other night when I should have used "plato para llevar". The girl attending me was filling up a small container with the fritos I had just asked for and I asked her if an order of small fries cam in the same container. Unfortunately, she didn't understand me when I said "cantina". Also, my Spanish isn't Dominican by any means but 9 people out of 10 back in Florida think I'm hispanic so I knew she understood my alliteration.
I finally called over another girl and told her what I wanted and she understood me the first time. I asked my wife what the deal was and she said the word "cantina" is not used for a styrofoam container. I realized then that because we were in Licey that being in the campo people are less used to interchanging words for things. In Santiago, I have used this term dozens of times and never had a problem, but in the future I will now know what is more correct.
