Herculaneum had several thermopolia — the Roman equivalent of a fast-food counter or tavern — and they are among the most immediately comprehensible things on the site. The stone counters are still in place, with circular holes cut into the top where ceramic amphorae and pots would have sat in hot water, keeping food warm. The marble counter surfaces are worn smooth from generations of customers leaning on them.
Most Romans did not cook at home: apartments had no kitchens and fire was a constant hazard in a dense city. The thermopolia were where working people ate. A few still have traces of the painted menu boards or decorative panels on the walls. Standing at the counter, it takes almost no imagination to picture the scene.