Bar and restaurant staff in the UK and Europe are NOT working for 'tips'... And we are more 'laid back' and want to enjoy the food/drink, company, conversation and not be 'hassled' every few minutes by someone asking "is everything fine...?".
@@mimmo4762 I've seen women in their 30s here say this, which always ends up with me laughing. They seriously think we just moved our island to another continent lol
Hospitality is very different in Europe. In the US, I felt like I was being forced out of the restaurants after very little time there. I was still eating and was asked if I was finished, and was bothered mid-food several times- a very uncomfortable experience in my opinion. Anywhere in Europe, I could buy a glass of wine and nothing else and sit for hours upon hours without being bothered. This style is more of a social service, whereas in the US the only thing that seemed to matter was money, bar charts, food per person per table, productivity, etc. and not the experience of the people actually utilising the service.
Exactly. I had the same experience when I visited the states. They even said if we could leave the place (very friendly but firm) after we payed 300$ and wanted to chat after the meal.
Yeah. another thing is, you dont go to restaurant alone, you have someone to talk to, and its bothersome someone to just orbit around you and keep interrupting. If I want someone, I will call ok? Go away xD
a big part of that is the fact that the servers are on very low income and a huge part of their wage is made up by tips unlike in Europe where a decent living wage is earned, so the American servers are trying to turn around as many customers as possible cos literally their wages depend on it
@@judsdragon What I see ridiculous is that there is nobody making money on suing those employers for that - in some comments I google it and pasted a link, but YT and links .... (other story). That federal 2.3 minimum wage for tipped workers has another part, obligation for employers to pay up to minimum of non tipped workers if tips did not reach it - some check was made and more than 80% was caught breaking that law (I am no an US citizen nor lawyer, this in not an advice XD )
They should refuse to work as waiters for such a low wage! It’s disgusting. Especially in a country that claims to be the richest! And yet has so many people living in poverty in tents etc
Please bear in mind that what you call "restaurants" in USA include fast food places with some seating. In Europe a restaurant is more of a 'fine dining' experience, and we really don't mind waiting 5 or 10 minutes to be noticed (she exaggerated when she says 30 minutes. That would even annoy us!) and then wait a further 20 or 30 minutes for the meal. After all, we are in no hurry, and the server gets paid the same whether or not their tables have a speedy turnover of clients, so they're not rushing us either.
If I’m with other people I want to interact with them and if I’m alone, I want to be alone or to read in peace, I’m not there to be pestered. If I ever go again to the US as a tourist, I would eat where I stayed (somewhere with a kitchen or takeout) maybe get something to go. It would be cheaper, since I wouldn’t have the interest of cosuming more bc I’m chilling and enjoying myself. But that’s a moot point since I wouldn’t feel comfortable spending my money on a business that mistreats their workers (tip culture) and expects me to pay for the labour their doing for the owner’s business
Lol, but i heard Italy, Italy was.. even trying to get your bill at the end! As a teen some 2oish years ago now. With some friends after eating we litterally have tried to ask the bill for about over a half hour. Impossible in western Europe to have to wait so long for the bill, just do a money gesture at a waiter, and they will make the bill in some 5 to 10 min
@@JeroenJA Crap happens!Exception proves the rule!That's not the majority of the time vs being harassed by waiters in USA and looked upon as ATM machine only!
why is it insulting? because i'm going to a place to speak with my friends, not to a server. if i need something i'm a grown man, i'll ask. if i'm not asking, i don't need anything.
Absolutely..also business meetings are often conducted over a meal and the last thing you want is to be interrupted every five minutes same with a romantic dinner or even a break up one, in fact the more I think of it, no meal is improved by the service staff butting in to a conversation. Just leave us alone to enjoy our food and company and as the above have said, we know where you are if we need anything.
but they don't ask because they care, they ask because they need you to tip them money to subsidize their paycheck, because American government allows their employers to pay them less than is a minimum wage. They have to be over-attentive because American customers require a lot of attention. Europeans like me find it annoying (at best), especially when they try to politely kick you out once you finish your meal, because they need to serve as many customers as possible to make more money (which I find very rude). I never tipped any waitress who tried to do this when I was in USA. I tipped well the ones who were not at my table every 3 minutes....:-)
Ryan im from the UK, most pubs, are children and family friendly, it is not uncommon to see children in a pub, most places have childrens menu's. high chairs, they want the family to come have food and a drink
In Croatia, a child can enter any cafe or restaurant/bar/pub they has soft drinks ready for kids (coca-cola, pepsi, fanta, schweps, tangerine) kids are regular customers and usually big spenders especially if someone brings a kid, and his friends start treating him and the kid "kills himself" on coca-cola or pepsi 😁
Also, as far as I remember, low-alcohol drinks (beer/wine/some cocktails) can be served to 14+ in Germany when supervised. Having said that, many establishments in many countries will allow a 14-18 to have a glass of wine or a beer when they are with family. My 6 yo sons would sometimes sip from my beer when we're out. It's not a big deal. It's refreshing under the 40C sun.
Hi! Hungarian here. I absolutely detest when on the odd chance someone comes by and asks if I want anything else. No. If I would, I would ask. It seems like they only want your money. I want to enjoy my food and drink in peace. Also I rarely see anyone ordering more than one or two drinks. If you’re in a rush, you definitely would avoid a restaurant, but the half an hour wait seems exagerated. For the food itself is normal. One time we had to wait a whole hour, now that was a long wait, but 30 minutes max is considered normal.
Hungarian as well. When we celebrated my cousin's graduation in a restaurant and didn't place our orders in advance, we had to wait for at least half an hour, but other than that, they bring your food sooner. I also hate being asked if I want something all the time, I'll ask them when I would like something.
Yeah, UK here. They’re all fake smiles and creepy eyes as well. It’s so disturbing. But I’ve found that if I tell them upfront that they’re getting a 20% tip and that if they come to my table for reasons other than taking my order, delivering my food or drink, or because I have specifically caught their attention and asked for them to attend me, then they lose 5%. They’re still watching you like a hawk the whole time and creepily quick to come when you do look for them, but it’s all round a better experience.
Fellow magyar here, hi! If I’m in a restaurant with a company, I’m there to converse with them, not with the restaurant staff. If I’m alone (ex. working) I’m there to be alone with my thoughts and work. If I need something, I signal. Enjoyable service=leave me the f* alone when I don’t need anything. :) If I would be constantly harassed I would feel pressured to either order something or leave. Than I would leave.
it does not take 30 minutes, but it takes around 2-5 minutes to be noticed and getting food it is about 20-30 minutes; in the US my experience is it takes a minute to order and 10-15 minutes until your plate arrives, but you will also be thrwon out as soon as you stop ordering and eating; in EU you wont be asked to leave ever
That is slowly changing here in Spain, because restaurants use to charge 14 euros for a meal, while people are waiting outside, so could be why they're starting to impose time limits.
@Thurgosh_OG Germany you can get directly served alcohol at 16, i used to go to the bars during school lunch break to get a drink with school mates. During the week end we would go to the store and buy a six pack of Jack and coke and have a nice walk through Wiesbaden with some drinks.
Last time I was in the US, I told the waiter, that I would only leave a tip, IF she/he left me alone! It's so annoying to be interrupted, while eating/drinking! 😡 and in Europe considered bad manners! hello from Denmark 🌸
I'd do exactly the same. FFS! If you're meeting a friend to talk about their marriage break-up, or their Grandma dying, or what your dumb boss said to them the other day, or you think your spouse is cheating on you...who the hell needs that fixed, shiny-teeth "smile" and questioning? Yep it's rude elsewhere - for good reason: it's intrusive, meaningless & unnecessary. It makes you just a another customer who needs to be moved on so more people can come and pay more money to the staff because their bosses refuses to pay them a living wage. Gross.
Nothing is factually right or wrong, different cultures just are different. It's OK to ask to be left in peace as long as it's done politely, bc your ways are not factually better in any way and obviously can not be known by someone in some other culture. I personally don't ask locals to change their cultural ways for me ever. If I'm the foreigner, I will appreciate and experience the local culture as it is and don't complain about it, even when I prefer something else. I don't understand people who travel to foreign cultures and then get annoyed that they experience different cultures. Wasn't that the point? Be respectful, only then you can demand that same respect towards your culture from tourists in your country. How would you feel about an american being loud in a restaurant bc they weren't asked separately if they are happy with everything? It's not a tourists job to ever correct the culture that isn't theirs or for them in any way.
In America, I let that slide simply because I know that a waiter in American restaurant is pretty much forced into such a behavior because of the kind of tipping system in America where waiters mostly cannot live on their base salary alone. While I do get annoyed by a waiter coming around all the time asking if everything is ok, I understand why they do it. If anything, I feel sorry for waiters in America when it is so clear that they are pretty much forced into this kind of superficial behavior that at least to me appears more an act of desperation than a genuine feeling of interest in the wellbeing of their guests. If waiters in America were paid a proper salary, this type of behavior would not be necessary. Apart from that, the tipping expectations in America are ridiculous as well. It's like the American system with the price displayed on anything in a supermarket not being the actual price because the tax will first be added at the cash register. To any logic thinking person, that system is ridiculous. Going to a restaurant in most countries around the world, the taxes and sometimes a service charge are incorporated in the price in the menu so the guests will know immediately what the final bill will be when they order the food. Whether we tip or not will then purely be a matter of whether we felt the service and food warranted a tip. That way, a tip will always be a result of a genuine consideration and not something that is felt forced and expected.
@@lyondragons8898They're not asking them to change though, they can treat other customers exactly the same way as they normally do. They simply don't want to be disturbed personally. Instead of sitting there and being annoyed you can ask them not to bother you cause you are one of many, and it will give them more time to serve others. If an American came to Europe and demanded service it's not the same thing because one takes effort and gives special treatment and ruins the experience for other people in the restaurant, while the other does not. Simply being left alone is not a hassle for anyone. Demanding that they speak, however, is.
The "soda" you get served in restaurants in the USA is mostly "on tap", whereas in Europe you get the proper branded drinks in a can or bottle. Furthermore in USA they fill your glass with ice - to the brim - so you only get about one third of a glass of soda anyway - meaning they can quite easily give you refills at no cost to you, OR TO THEM! Servers: In Europe you call a server over when you want their attention. If a server keeps interrupting to ask if you want anything else it is annoying! Are they trying to rush you out of there? That is ALMOST as bad as bringing you your bill before you've finished eating. It is just NOT done in Europe, and a server could be let go for annoying the customers like that.
How long do people sit in at restaurants in Europe vs the US? I’ve heard somewhere that Europeans like to eat for 2 hours. Whereas Americans eat closer to 1 hour.
@@indescribableemptiness4104 It really depends, probably differs per country, or per group of people. Personally when I'm with family, usually up to two hours, we'd just have a couple of drinks, a meal and some desert maybe, and we go back home or do something else. When I'm with closer friends, often before and / or after dinner we stay for drinks and snacks too (we have a lot of restaurants that offer both where I live) and we stay for many more hours. Even with collegues sometimes for many hours too 😄
In Germany the waiters leave you the hell alone and don't interrupt, after they brought everything to your table. If you want anything else or when you've finished and want to pay and leave, you have to signal the waiter to come over to your table. That's exactly how it should be!
Unless the glasses on the table are empty. Hopefully a server will notice and ask if you want anything to drink. If you say no thanks, you'll not be bothered again.
People go out to relax and talk, they spend time with friends. If the waiter or bartender comes every 5 minutes and keeps asking, another? Do you want something else? Bla bla, she could be interrupting your conversation or seem pushy. People in Europe think, " If I want something, I will give you a sign", people don't like to feel like someone is always over their shoulder 😅
Kinda depends on the establishment and where you're sitting as well. If the bar where you'd order is easy to reach, someone coming to ask if you'd like to order something more is more pushy, than it would be if the bar was kinda hard to reach. Easy to reach: "If I wanted to order, I'd go order" Hard to reach: "You know, sure - saves me a go around the bannister, down the stairs, pass the fireplace, up to the bar, and back".
Last year we had our secondary school reunion in a pizza place, and since our school was being renovated, we told each other at that place about how our lives were going. It was really annoying when the waitress came every few minutes, asking if we wanted something. If there is anything I would like, I can ask.
One thing that most people seem to not know or ignore when discussing service industry differences is the cultural difference in why and how often people go to the restaurant. Europeans cook a lot more at home, so when they go to the restaurant, it's a special occasion (or a least more special than eating at home) and they want to relax and have a good time. In the US, there will be a lot more customers who are just there for their regular meal and don't really expect more than that.
And they always seem to come around and ask " how's your meal", right when I have a mouthful of food. I never realized how irritating it is to be interrupted while eating/talking with friends until I went to Europe and we could eat and talk in peace!
Dear Ryan, the difference between America and Europe is that the US for us are "frantic" and obsessed with being fast. In Italy we like to enjoy life and sharing Ford in company is one of the things that make life happy. To make it Clear, USA invented fast food, Italy invented slow food. 😊
Usually, in Europe, if we want something at a restaurant, we ask for it. So being constantly asked, 'Do you want another drink?' can be quite annoying for us.
In Spain what we call bars are kid friendly, they serve alcohol but also coffee, tapas, etc. kids are not allowed on clubs. Obviously they will ask for an ID if you look younger than 18, they can’t serve alcohol to minors. But is common for families with kids and friends to get together on bars and have some drinks and tapas, especially on weekends.
Sure, but I think that our bars are not a 1:1 comparison to theirs, what we know as a "bar" i think they would call it a "dinner", not sure if in a bar in the US you can have more than a drink, and here you can usually order something to eat, you know... Mixtos, menús del día, combinados, that kind of stuff.
Kids in a bar? In company with a parent-why not ? It is a good study in human behaviour for them, and children are very qualified observers. They can learn by personal view, what too much alcohol can do to people without daddy having to proof it himself. Anyway - a bar is not an immoral place.
People usually don't get rowdy from drinking until after young children's bedtime anyway. I've seen neighborhood pubs with Lego tables and colouring books. Nothing immoral about most of those places. Not until after dark anyway...
I wouldn't take the teaspoon measurement too literally. Yes in Germany we use teaspoon as a measurement for example when cooking. A shot glass for tequila in Germany usually has around 40ml (4 cl)
@@fzoid3534 Americans appear to take everything literally / at face value... Even their phrase: "to take a grain of salt..." As opposed to the Brits: 'to take a _pinch_ of salt...' means Americans tend to be more specific, and do not (apparently) see beyond the "bleedin' obvious!!" (as we Brits might say!) 'Sorting the wheat from the chaff' probably means something different to Americans too...though I don't know what?!
Are you sure? The shots I've seen around Europe, including Germany, have been around 25 ml, which is pretty much the standard on the continent. We do measure our alcohol in Europe as you might now, unlike the Americans who are, pretty much, eyeballing it.
In Europe, being asked if you want another drink before you have finished the one you have is seen as trying to be sold to. They will tell you when they want to buy.
Good service includes asking once (!) whether you would like something to drink WHEN glasses are empty. If you decline they'll not bother you again. If you accept, hopefully they'll ask again. When the glass is empty!
She's full of shit on most of what she's saying. Teaspoon size shots, no, we have measuring things to measure out a normal size, way bigger than a teaspoon. Kids don't need to be id'ed if they're not buying alcohol, if they are then either she broke the law or, again, lying. Plus waiting 30 minutes, never would anyone wait that long for service, and the example of the guys at the bar, come on, she expects me to believe that germans spent hours nursing a quarter of a pint, no way. Asking if someone wants anothef is what we do too.
When I went to Spain with a Spanish friend in a non-tourist part of Spain my friend asked for a vodka and coke and got a full glass of vodka and a full glass of coke, and it was pretty cheap. Also the night started at like 11pm and went until 6am and that was just normal. I'm guessing Germany is more like UK where a single measure is 25ml, and you either get a single or a double, and it costs a fortune.
Omg, that lady must have been drunk all time when at restaurant or a bar for not noticing what really was going on , yes that cheap wine 1.5€/glass ( multiple ones) must have done it .
I think she's just bad at making estimations and comparisons... A quick google search returned 2 oz (59 ml), as the standard shot glass in the US. Here in Europe it's usually 62 ml, but there are places that use 30 ml glasses. So she could've worked at a place with the smaller ones. Teens going to a bar from 13 yo and up, that's completely normal here in Europe. Kids 12 years or younger, are however expected to have adult supervision. They can't order any beer before the age of 16, wine and stronger beverages is 18+. There is also nothing illegal if a parent (or any adult with supervision) orders beer or wine for a 15/16 year old, at a restaurant or bar. The adult is from that point on fully responsible, for the under-aged person drinking. Note that the laws differ in many European countries, so these may be false in certain regions. The waiting time in restaurants is in my experience completely different, depending where you go... I know restaurants where you get service in less than 5 minutes, there are places where you've to wait 20+ minutes... I would however appreciate bigger soda glasses here in Europe, the 20 cl is usually empty before my food arrives...
2:19 typically "How are you?" is something you'd only ask someone you know (in Germany). So it's not that she wouldn't have a response, but rather that she'd feel taken aback at first that a stranger would ask her that
@@rawfish_8.3 it’s a bit like the American “have a nice day” it’s patronising and cynical. They don’t mean it or care. They possibly hope you don’t have a nice day at all. Basically they couldn’t care less.
@@abraxas2563 I don't agree at all! When I was living in the UK, they have the same custom with "are you alright?", and regardless of knowing, that it's just their way to say hi, I found myself answering them several times. Now, I know, that they didn't ask seriously, but I can't remember any distinctive situations in 4 years, when anyone wouldn't have been polite to listen, nor that I would have felt it faked. I might just had my luck with the environment, but I couldn't believe, that it's so much the other end in the US.
@@theender664 restaurants. A restaurant is not a Fast Food but still nobody waits 30 minutes to be brought the menu and order drinks. Lie 1. Lie 2 was the shots.. teaspoon. Typical american bragging. She was a waitress and probably a very bad one as she understood nothing about this profession. A good waitor overlooks the place and sees when guests need him/ her, Is certainly Not harrassing the guest with ´how was it? , you want more? every 5 minutes. In a restaurant we share time with our friends or family, not with the service people. So, just one example...she understood nothing about Europe.
No a shot is not a teaspoon size in Europe she's trolling there a shot is about 45-50mL about 1.5 to 2 US fl ounces. In Europe when we go to a bar or restaurant we don't like to be bothered by the server every 5 minutes if we want more we like to spend time with others and when we want something we hail for the server that's it ! Why is the service slower in Europe ? Because servers get paid a decent wage they don't rely on tips like in the US because of crappy wages.
dude, the whole "servers get served a decent wage" here needs to stop. servers are different in europe and the USA because the culture is different, but if you listen to people who actually work as restaurant servers, hearing of people making an absurdly high wage once you facture in tips is quite common. yes, they work for tips, but it's not slavery. a bigger tip is not "decent money" it's "even more money" in many cases. low wage worker in the USA do get abused. but you can't lump servers in with like mcdonalds workers.
@@grischad20 Well we're not talking about fast food workers really we're talking about restaurant, bartenders they definitely get crappy wages in the US that's a fact compared to those in Europe. The tips don't really make up for that tips can go up or down in amounts that they receive it's not a source of good extra income .
@shades2.183 I know this I am just using standard metric units used for volume so most people ,except Americans, can understand . Most other countries besides those in Europe don't measure alcohol volumes that way .
Sitting for half an hour before acknowledged in a restaurant?! That's not ok. (I'm European.) We don't go to a restaurant to just feed ourselves because we don't cook; we eat out for the experience mostly. Any self-respecting restaurant wants the customer to enjoy their evening, spreading the word about them; not have as many customers as possible. Good service should be as inconspicuous as possible - we don't want the waiter to chat us up!!
Europe is vastly different from country to country. So the experience may be very different as well. Imagine comparing how fast the service is in Finland vs Albania. Different climates, different lifestyles, different people, same continent.
Some customers walk into a restaurant and just go ahead and seat themselves somewhere out of sight without making sure the staff even knows they're there, sit there literally for an hour without ever seeing a staff member and then have the audacity to be pissed that they weren't served faster. Yeah, Karen. Maybe make sure someone knows you're there next time?
Like the comment on the shots. German shot glasses at least would be several tablespoons worth of liquid, not a single teaspoon (unless Americans somehow have comically large teaspoons). Same as "kids" being unattended at a bar. She probably means "teenagers", not "children". If an actual child was at a bar, unattended, this would get the attention of the staff rather quickly and then there would be consequences. Again in Germany, there are certain types of alcohol one can buy and consume even under the age of 18, but the minimum is still 16. As such, anyone under 15 being present would raise suspicion.
"Well.... I just changed a job and my kid went to college. My wife lost her job and fall into depresion. Our dog died and today I'm making spaghetti for a dinner. I'm also thinking about changing a car". And this is how you confuse American when asked "How are you?" on gas station.
The thing is that in usa people ask "hey how are you" just as another way to say "hello", while here in Italy if you ask someone "how are you" one assumes they really want to know HOW ARE YOU, and you start describing them your actual feelings. So you say "how are you?" just to people you really care about and you want to know what's really going on with their lives lately. I realized this when, working with american clients, after asking me the question i would proceed telling them about my day as they were already changing topic, making me realize they really didn't care about knowing the answer to their question. It feels a little bit fake and superficial for us, if you ask me how i am while you don't really care to know.
I've never been anywhere in Europe where you wait 30 minutes to get served, but it's not rushed like what I believe it is in the US. You might come in, sit down and settle and look at the menu - if you're a larger group you'll probably get asked what you want to drink first, before ordering maybe 15-20 minutes in (again depending on how many of you there are). But you'll probably get your starter some 10-15 minutes after ordering, and the main maybe 20ish minutes after that (so you're usually 45-mins to an hour in by then). Then you'll get asked if you want dessert and if you do that'll usually come quite quickly. Then you'll be asked whether you want anything else to drink. So at a minimum you're talking an hour and a half (in southern Europe in particular it'll often be longer). Here in the UK you'll usually have a table for a 2 hour slot, but if there's no-one booked after you, you can pretty much stay and drink until they close if you wish. And you always pay at the end.
Hi from Spain. When I order food I am assuming they will take not less than 20 min to prepare it. If the meal comes sooner it means that it was cooked beforehand and they have just heated it. I would never come back again. Wait! 1.50€ is the standard price for a not-so-bad bottle of wine at the grocery store
The youngest person ive seen in my local was 2 days old, the dad was enjoying a pint with the baby sleeping on his shoulder😂 wanted to give mum a break to try and have a sleep
In Germany it's either 20ml or 40ml, depending on the establishment, drink and price. From my experience, pure hard spirits are usually served in 20ml, mixed ones and those with less alcohol % in 40ml
As someone who lives in Europe, I know some places have 20ml shots, but every place I've been it has always been around 40ml, give or take 5ml. 20 would definitely feel a little too small for a shot to me - more like just a taste. A tablespoon is 15ml.
US do high turnover at restaurants so staff can maximize tips, staff in restaurants in Europe don't rely on tips because they they a decent wage compared to the US. Longer times for a meal is expected
Eating culture simply is different - apart from in fastfood joints. We usually go out (atleast in the evenings) to enjoy our time and not just to get something to eat.
@@Dewkeeper The method of employment adapts to the working protection legislation which is almost non existant in the US which is why the high turnover in the US is due to maximizing tips and fast eating culture while in Europe only the slow eating culture dictate the lenght of the meal. Staff is more pushy in the US because if they sell more drinks they earn more tips. In Europe, if they sell more drinks the restaurant owner get more money, so staff don't have to be pushy and can instead respect the european culture where we like to not be bothered by staff while we are spending a good time with friends or family.
I live in EU and never heard of such low portions of shots, on the contrary, every country I visited, they fill the shot glass to the brim. Sometimes you even drop alcohol on yourself because the glass is too full. So, I’m a little confused about that part XD I also don’t see this as a cultural thing, it’s just how each establishment decides to serve their clients.
@@colz22 In a lot of european countries, 40ml seems to be standard. Here in Denmark it's typically 20ml, both for shots and for a "unit" in a cocktail/drink.
13:50 The waiters asking for a refill feels like an invasion into your group, it is more usual to 'flag' the waiter. You want to chat with your group, that's why you are there and maybe to dance or shoot pool, eat, whatever. But the main thing is that you want to enjoy the company.
5:45 The concept of a bar is very different in Europe. A lot of bars in Europe, specially in southern Europe, are more like coffee shops where you can buy alcohol. In Europe is very common to have a beer in a terrace, which is usually placed in publix space in front of the bar, while your kids are playing in the middle of the square. At those bars, you will see people having a beer or even a whisky but you'll never see anyone drunk or not behaving properly at those places.
Wait stuff in Europe do not need to relay on tips as part of their income so they do not need to rush people out to make room for new clients. That's one. Two, in Europe you go to a restaurant to hang out. No one expects you to leave right after your meal. More often than not a waiter will bring you manu again for a dessert or cocktail card. Chances are you'll spend more money the longer you stay :)
I was an au pair in the U.S. (Florida) for 12 months back in 2013 when I was 20 years old. I remember really liking the food the family made at home, but they hardly ever cooked. We ate out about five times a week, which I found very confusing because the restaurant food tasted much worse, it was so bland! I offered to cook for us, but they didn’t want to bother me with it. They were very sweet. I also remember being surprised at how cheap clothes were, and how you could make them even cheaper by using coupons. But the thing that shocked me the most was how cold it was everywhere. Not outside, but inside. I had to wear long trousers and sweaters all the time because I was freezing - in the car, in the house, in the malls. Americans really love their AC. Since I knew Florida was a very hot place, I had packed mostly summer clothes, but I didn’t need them as often as I expected. I ended up having to buy warmer clothes instead. But I had a lot of fun in Florida. The people are great, but I would never fit in. I'm always impressed by people who can move so far away from what they're used to.
I think it's a genuine problem in the USA that it's usually cheaper to eat out than buy food from a shop and make it from fresh - definitely contributes to the obesity problem there. Even in Europe, where obesity is a problem in many places, going out for food (even a takeaway) is something you do sometimes for a treat, not the norm.
This. It is much cheaper to eat out than to cook good food in the US hence why they often eat out every meal and hence why it is a mundane task and not to socialise.
I guess average American expects service to be offered. (What a we in Europe would take as pushy and be annoyed over) While average European expects server/bartender/etc to leave me alone unless I ask for service. (What an American would take as slow service…) To each their own. I hate the pushy American style though, feels like they’re stressing me out. “I came to this bar to chill with my friends and enjoy a beer, if I need another one, I’m an adult, I can ask for it. Stop interrupting our conversation”
You never disturbe people that are eating and drinking enjpying their time to relax.. People tell if they want somtihing.. Your job is not to disturbe and interrupt! Your thought Ryan is all about the money! You really do not understand that there is totally other values in life that is much more important.
In my experience germans still really like their cash payments, so her "cash is king" statement might be largely influenced by that. In my country the netherlands we do a lot of things with bank cards. Most people just have a phone and a few cards instead of a wallet. Buses don't even take cash anymore, you can check in with a bank card.
I've lost count of the number of times I've been in a restaurant and am totally engrossed in a conversation and the waiter/waitress comes up and interrupts the conversation to ask if everything is OK. It is really annoying.
Too be fair, America is a continent too, with different countries. And even if you single out the USA, it has 50 states with very different cultures too. So if you do broad comparisons for entertainment, it is fine to use America vs Europe. I mean Europeans like to lump "Americans" (usually meaning people from the USA) together too, but it is not like Hawaiian people would be the same as people from south Dakota or something....
Stop acting like Europe doesn't have a lot in common. We have a lot of shared culture, especially when compared to Americans who are quite different to all of us.
@@Neme112 to hovoríš len preto že česko a slovensko sú si podobné? nie je UK v niektorých ohľadoch podobnejšie amerike ako iným európskym krajinám? ľudia v severnej európe sú väčšinou introverti na rozdiel od južnej európy
As a french person, i can say kids, even little ones, is perfectly normal in a bar. You can have more than just alcohol in a european bar, you can have cofee, chocolate milk, sodas, fruit juices, water... You can even eat in a bar. Of course it is not allowed for kids to order alcohol, and it is a violation of licence to serve alcohol to kids.
also, regarding hospitality. When they give you the menu they usually come after 10 mins to ask about beverages, and after that you either make a sign to order food or wait to order when they bring the beverage. Also, you can call the server to order more/ask for the check. If the place is not crowded, they will not push you to pay/leave. In US even in empty restaurant I felt like they were in a rush. Also, we do not drink tap juice at restaurants. We have tap for sodas only at fast food (Mcd, kfc, subway etc). When we are at a restaurant, we expect to have glass bottle Coca cola/Pepsi, natural squeezed Orange Juice/Lemonade or water from glass bottle.
Speaking from Spain, here a bar is a much more family friendly place, it doesn't have the "adult only" connotations that it has in the US. It doesn't mean that children are served alcohol in bars here of course, in many countries in Europe you can go into a bar for a coffee, a juice, etc. Europe bars and US bars are very different places, even if they go by the same name.
One shot is 25mls in England and Wales. It’s not a lot. Kids aren’t allowed at the bar. But they are allowed in pubs during daytime hours (pre 6pm) as pubs are for also for eating. Not just drinking
Here in Germany, it's 20ml. Even less. But if you order a "big one", you'll usually get a 50ml glass. (This may vary by region.) Kids at bars aren't allowed here either, but in pubs, yes, of course, during daytime. Probably much the same as in England.
We went to Vegas 2 years ago and it felt awful: rushed to order, rushed when finished, bill presented and get out. No thanks, go away and leave us to enjoy our time without constant interruptions. Just awful. You eat out to have an evening out.
In the restaurant/bar in Denmark, great service is, take the order and bring it with a smile, and LEAVE THE PATREONS ALONE!!! untill they take contact to the staff. staff hovering would be SO annoying. Cash in denmark? mostly no, we have cards and phone apps for paying everything. even easy few touches transfer of money to other people. shots are 40 ml :-)
It's exactly the same in Spain, when I was in Copenhagen I just found a price difference, specially in alcohol, but everything else was the same. Haven't been to Germany though. I felt that Italy was a bit more cash oriented, but I live 99,9% cashless here.
My take at service in restaurants is that I don't like being rushed. If I want more drink I'll tell you. If I want anything else or I have a problem with my order, I'll tell you. Having the waiter interrupting me every 5 minutes is annoying. I like to take my time and enjoy my meal or drink while I have a conversation with whoever I sit with. In general, in US it's more about being taken care of and in a kind of Sit. Eat. Leave; and in EU is more like serving what it is asked for, I'l call you if I need you. It depends on the mood and the situation. If I'm in a rush, US service style it's handy.
About beeing rushed in restaurant, here in france at least, when customer wants something, he will ask the waiter. It would be considered intrusive to have a waiter coming every five minutes (and feeling like we'r beeing incline to pay for more than we actually want). Usualy waiter will ask if everything is ok between meals.
Typical American, saying where she's from in the US, but not where she lived in Germany or Italy. That could make a huge difference, especially Germany and Italy are very diverse, even for European standards.
@@thomasfranz6467 probably she has never been to Germany or Italy. Her tales are full of clichés you can find everywhere in word (if she can read) or picture without ever having left Indiana or somewhere around Washington DC.
Europeans generally find it irritating to be constantly pestered by waiters. If we want another drink or more food we’ll ask for it. We definitely do not want to be pushed to leave after a meal. And if we are in a rush we simply catch the waiter’s eye ask for the bill, it’s not rocket science.
The big difference is, in my opinion, that bars and restaurants in Europe (or specifically in Spain, where I live) are more "social places". I mean, you go there to stay and drink with your friends and family, yes, children too. And it's a little bit annoying when the waiter is continuously asking you if you're finished or if you want another beer... Hey man, when I'll want another beer, I'll ask you for it.
In Spain you don't drink in the same way as in the US. The Bar concept is different. Here a bar is more like a restaurant, you can drink yes, also eat or have coffee. While apparently the Bar in the US is what we know as a Pub. I don't know if the same thing happens in the US but in Spain the soft drinks (Cocacola for example) on tap are disgusting. Nobody wants them, that's why when you order a soft drink 95% of the time it comes in a bottle or can. The remaining 5% is usually in establishments for tourists or US franchises (KFC, MD, BK).
So that shot thing made me google, and I learned something today! Whilst a shot in America is 1,5 ounces, it is only 3/4 of an ounce in Germany. France pours 1-ounce shots, and Japan gives you two ounces as a shot, so yes, shots can be and are different in serving size! Edit: On restaurants and serving style, my husband (then-bf) and I used to go to a fancy restaurant / hotel near the place where we lived quite often. The staff knew us, knew that we, dressed like nothing much, would arrive around 3pm, start with some coffees and maybe something sweet, and then sit until late in the evening, having dinner there, have coffees until basically asked to get ready to pay because they were closing. One day, the actual owner of the place walks in for an inspection, sees us sitting with two coffees, 4pm-ish. 3 hours later, the place is packed. Only table without food: Us. Not even looking at the menu, which we knew by heart at that time. Still, two coffees on the table. Not the same, and we have to pay every single one of them. Boss lady has a few richly dressed gents who want a table, but there is nothing left. Gets to our table and asks us to leave, which we do. Staff apologizes because owners decision. One week later, same setup. This time, boss lady tells staff to make us leave, and gets told no because we would earn them more than two fancy dressed peacocks who maybe have two drinks, share a plate, and then leave, whilst we sit for hours on end, ordering new drinks and maybe even a las-minute-desert. Yes, the manager of the place told us that, because we were on a first-name-basis in a german restaurant with the very german staff....
I'd actually be more curious about her culture shock when moving from Germany to Italy. As a Norwegian with an Italian girlfriend the cultural difference there is just as big as when I've gone to the States in many ways
In europe if u go to a restaurant u are expected to spend around 1-2hours there. You might order one drink. Or an appetizer or 6 course meal. So if staff asks you to buy more, you feel like u are not spending enough or are being rushed out the door. Different people in your company might want to eat or drink different amounts. Also some countries it’s illegal to ask if someone wants more drinks. You should instead ask ”everything good?” Or ”anything else?” Big difference is probably that most ppl in europe customers will ask for what they want,(staff won’t push you to buy stuff), unless it’s a Michelin star restaurant with set menu where the chef sets the tempo and presents the food to you. Furthermore you usually start with drinks or an appetizer while you decide or while maincourse is cooked. So if you don’t drink or have an appitizer it might feel slow to just sit and do nothing while the chef makes your food. It’s not all ready alike american fast food. You are supposed to sit and enjoy your time with others, not stuff yourself with food and then leave. When u feel done ordering stuff you as a customer show that you are done by asking for the check. Once you paid you are expected to leave. So to get a check without asking is basically them kicking you out, this can happen if you spent more than 2-3 hours there and they have a booking for that table after you.
A German shot is 20ml, which is about 4 teaspoons (4x 5ml) or a tablespoon (15ml) plus a teaspoon (5ml). A US shot is 1.5 fl oz which is 44ml. Each country has their own shot sizes. Germany has among the smallest, most countries have 30-40 ml, the US has the second largest after Romania and Bulgaria, where a shot is 50ml (which would basically be considered a small drink in Germany)
9:53 yes, it feels like being rushed, to me at least, if I need something at a restaurant, I'll call the waiter myself. Plus depending on the bar, the customer could just use that small bit of beer left to signify they don't want to be disturbed, very different culture
When kids are exposed to drinking by responsible adults, when they grow up and become independent, they don't see it as "FINALLY I GET TO DO THIS WOOOOO BINGE ITTT". It's more like, sure its just there if I want it.
I live in Portugal and my experience is very different: - I never waited half an hour to be noticed at a restaurant! Half an hour after I get there, I will be eating my meal. Things get a little bit more chaotic on Valentine's Day and near Christmas (with all the Christmas dinners and lunches), but on a regular day, weekday or weekend, they get me my meal in less than half an hour. - bars and clubs are different things; you get asked for your ID in clubs and you easily go to a bar with your family. - when you start a job where you deal with public in a new country, I think you should learn about the culture and what's expected of you in that environment. That's the best way to avoid these culture shocks. Asking if they want another beer isn't insulting, but it starts to get annoying once you ask it again. We know how to ask for another beer if and when we want it. I don't think it's a slow service, but we go to restaurants and bars to enjoy time with friends, not to be out of there quickly. If we are in a rush, we will ask things quickly and that's it. Also, if you rush people to get out of there, they won't like it, so they won't come back. So, overall, it's better for the bar/restaurant owner to do things as the customer wants, because then they won't lose a customer. - the teaspoon shot isn't true here. She is probably saying that's what it looks like because she's so used to bigger sizes.
Unlimited refills are not a thing in Europe. Also there are no 16 year old kids in bars ordering shots, this is bogus. Legal drinking age in most auf Euorpe is 18.
If they’re giving you soft drinks by the glass, then they’re giving you the cheapest ones possible - post-mix machines, which means the machine has two hoses, one for syrup and one for water, so that means one syrup per flavour. If you did a comparison, the post-mix doesn’t taste the same as the bottles and cans taste different again.
Served back in my days with some hookahs and occasionally spent it all at the same place😂 So at least in Ukraine, as a waiter/waitress the very first thing you need is being able to look around the whole lace WITHOUT disturbing your clients. The moment you catch someone looking "overheads" in search for something, that "thing" is your service. Otherwise leave them be, they're not coming to spend their time(and money, let me remind you that eating out in most cases and places is usually much more expensive than cooking by self😊) with you!
1 teaspoon = 5ml 1 tablespoon = 15ml In the UK, legally, a shot is either 25ml or 35ml. A bar must choose one of these sizes and stick to it. They are not allowed to serve the 2 different sizes on the same day Typically in Northern Ireland and Scotland, it is 35ml, and in England and Wales, it is 25ml
In europe there are not many chain restaurants, usually there are only local, independent, small restaurants and that is why there are no refills, you buy e.g. coca-cola you get a can or a bottle (often from the fridge so the drink is without ice) and a glass. There are no refills because they are not profitable. A small restaurant does not have the funds to buy a large canister of drink and give people free refills. I am from Poland you only get refills at KFC but for example you can't get them at McDonald's or Subway.
“Generally, a single shot is equal to 35 ml in Northern Ireland and Scotland and 25 ml in Wales and England. There is no official size for a single shot, except in Utah, where a shot is defined as 1.5 US fl oz (44.4 ml). Elsewhere in the U.S., the standard size is generally considered to be 1.25-1.5 US fl oz (37-44 ml).” “Denmark: 0.67 oz (19.81 ml) Japan: 2.02 oz (59.74 ml) Russia: 1.69 oz (49.98 ml) Italy: 2.02 oz (59.74 ml). “German 20 ml, France 25 or 35 ml.” One teaspoon is 5ml, three teaspoons = 15ml or one tablespoon.
In the UK and mainland Europe people go out to eat to enjoy time with people - not because we need a quick meal to eat. If we want fast food we'll go to a fast food place. Being interrupted by server constantly is really irritating to most people over here. So although you might get a higher turnover of tables and tips if you had an american service style, you would not get much repeat custom and would soon need to adapt as you wonder where all your customers are. The chicken chain Nandos walks a very neat line between the two and have a system with marker on the table so you are only interrupted by your server once after you've had your meal to check everything is okay. Then they leave you alone.
And 20ml (2cl) is the Alkohol standard... 40ml (4cl) is (in Germany) ein "Doppelter" ... so I don't know what it is in the USA... in Germany you can take "10 shots" without damage... LOL So far she is right.. 2cl is'nt that much... (more than a teaspoon, but not very much)
@ it’s more reliable if you measure in units of pure alcohol; one unit equals 10 ml pure alcohol. So if you order any drink containing 40% of alcohol, you’ll get 25 ml of that drink in a glass. That drink contains one unit of alcohol. Same with wine. One standard glass of wine contains about one unit of alcohol.
A long time ago I stayed at the Marriott in Kuala Lumpur when I went there for a work trip and the one thing that really annoyed me was the constant "Good morning, sir!" "How are you doing today, sir?" "Are you having a good day today, sir?". There were tons of staff in the hotel and everyone was trained in annoying their guests as much as possible it seems. As a Finnish person I don't want to talk to people unless I actually have something to say
6:00 you can legally get some taste of alcohol as early as 14 in Germany, but your parents would have to buy your drink, it's not unusual to have a drink of wine/beer earlier, but that's theoretically not allowed. buying your own drink usually requires an ID as wine/beer is only allowed to be sold/served to people 16 and up, while stronger drinks than that and sweet mixed drinks are only allowed for adults (18+). it's only mandatory to look at an ID if you're in doubt of the customers age though.
one key thing with some resturant or pubs is that if they have people serving YOU as an custumer looks to the service worker raise an hand for an wave to call them over and THEN they tell you what they want
France here, there's another reason not to ask how are you... Sometimes you could come accross someone that would tell you all his life and miseries and... You don't know him really so, you're just locked listening to him, since you asked, and it's so uncomfortable. So, better not ask, so the person won't talk to you for hours. Anyway, if he had any specific help to ask, he'd already asked you.
In Europe you only choose a restaurant by the quality of the products and the atmosphere, so you wait and aren't in a hurry. There is lots of street food, if you don't have the time.
So the woman exaggerates quite a bit, some of it is just nonsense. The guest with the beer perhaps had to drive, or was simply no longer thirsty, I completely understand him.
You don't want people constantly approaching your table to ask if you want this or that or another drink or whatever, when you want something you signal to the waiter and ask for it. Having your conversations and meals constantly interrupted would be annoying lol
I don't have cash. My last Euro in my wallet was months ago. So, not totaly true what she said about cash in Europe. Also she was wrong about most things. She just had weird experiences.
In fairness it differs a lot across Europe. Here in Ireland cash is rapidly disappearing. On my last trip to the UK, I didn’t see a note or coin, once. Friends who’ve been to Spain and Sweden say the same. However I was in Rome about 18 months ago and in so many places if I tried to pay with a card, they had to go and get the machine, and plug it in, and wait for it to connect, etc., etc., so I just went to the ATM - hey, “when in Rome…” (literally!). And apparently Germany is very cash-oriented.
In Germany even the shots size is regulated by law. 2cl it´s normally (0,00676 US fl.oz.) and each glass has a mark, the "Eichstrich" and the bartender has the fill the glass to that mark :D
Oy, she sounds a little contrived. When she lived for such a long period of time in Europe, in Germany and Italy in particular, where kids could - in theory - drink under supervision of a parent in moderation, she must know about that habit. Yes, we do allow children into bars (not nightclubs! Different story!) when being accompanied by adults. Yes, they sit there and sip on their alcoholfree drinks while the adults have a beer, a glass of wine, or sometimes something stronger. What's the big deal? I don't get all that over-hyped hysteria of people in the USA when it comes to that. And the waiting staff thing once again! I hate when they rush you, when they come to your table every ten minutes, when they bring you the bill without someone had even asked for it. I'd rather sit and wait for twenty minutes for a waiter or waitress to come by and take my orders than being constantly harrassed by them. But usually it doesn't take that long, she is totally exaggerating here. Maybe a couple of minutes, depending on how crowded the place at that moment is. Oh boy, don't believe all that random people on the internet claim to have experienced or knowledge of. TikTokers do that for controversy, clicks, and money, in the end. The more ridiculous their statements, the more clicks it might generate. That's their modus operandi.
... a waiter constantly in your face feels like an over eager sales person, it feels like being rushed and it feels disrespectful to your personal space. Danish perspective
Bar and restaurant staff in the UK and Europe are NOT working for 'tips'... And we are more 'laid back' and want to enjoy the food/drink, company, conversation and not be 'hassled' every few minutes by someone asking "is everything fine...?".
The UK is in Europe.
@@OnnarashiThey need to metion it because most americans don't know the diffiremce beetween Europe and EU
@@mantx7152 No, there are actually some young english kids thinking UK is not in Europe anymore. Not particularly smart ones, but still...
The UK will always be in Europe as it is part of the European Continental plate.
It's just not in the EU anymore. @@mimmo4762
@@mimmo4762 I've seen women in their 30s here say this, which always ends up with me laughing. They seriously think we just moved our island to another continent lol
Hospitality is very different in Europe. In the US, I felt like I was being forced out of the restaurants after very little time there. I was still eating and was asked if I was finished, and was bothered mid-food several times- a very uncomfortable experience in my opinion.
Anywhere in Europe, I could buy a glass of wine and nothing else and sit for hours upon hours without being bothered. This style is more of a social service, whereas in the US the only thing that seemed to matter was money, bar charts, food per person per table, productivity, etc. and not the experience of the people actually utilising the service.
Exactly. I had the same experience when I visited the states.
They even said if we could leave the place (very friendly but firm) after we payed 300$ and wanted to chat after the meal.
Yeah. another thing is, you dont go to restaurant alone, you have someone to talk to, and its bothersome someone to just orbit around you and keep interrupting. If I want someone, I will call ok? Go away xD
a big part of that is the fact that the servers are on very low income and a huge part of their wage is made up by tips unlike in Europe where a decent living wage is earned, so the American servers are trying to turn around as many customers as possible cos literally their wages depend on it
@@judsdragon What I see ridiculous is that there is nobody making money on suing those employers for that - in some comments I google it and pasted a link, but YT and links .... (other story). That federal 2.3 minimum wage for tipped workers has another part, obligation for employers to pay up to minimum of non tipped workers if tips did not reach it - some check was made and more than 80% was caught breaking that law (I am no an US citizen nor lawyer, this in not an advice XD )
They should refuse to work as waiters for such a low wage! It’s disgusting. Especially in a country that claims to be the richest! And yet has so many people living in poverty in tents etc
Please bear in mind that what you call "restaurants" in USA include fast food places with some seating. In Europe a restaurant is more of a 'fine dining' experience, and we really don't mind waiting 5 or 10 minutes to be noticed (she exaggerated when she says 30 minutes. That would even annoy us!) and then wait a further 20 or 30 minutes for the meal. After all, we are in no hurry, and the server gets paid the same whether or not their tables have a speedy turnover of clients, so they're not rushing us either.
If I want another beer, I'll flag you down. No need to hover around the table like you're the goddamn Grim Reaper...
If I’m with other people I want to interact with them and if I’m alone, I want to be alone or to read in peace, I’m not there to be pestered.
If I ever go again to the US as a tourist, I would eat where I stayed (somewhere with a kitchen or takeout) maybe get something to go. It would be cheaper, since I wouldn’t have the interest of cosuming more bc I’m chilling and enjoying myself.
But that’s a moot point since I wouldn’t feel comfortable spending my money on a business that mistreats their workers (tip culture) and expects me to pay for the labour their doing for the owner’s business
Lol, but i heard Italy, Italy was.. even trying to get your bill at the end! As a teen some 2oish years ago now. With some friends after eating we litterally have tried to ask the bill for about over a half hour. Impossible in western Europe to have to wait so long for the bill, just do a money gesture at a waiter, and they will make the bill in some 5 to 10 min
lol I pictured it I had to laugh thanks:-)
@@JeroenJA Crap happens!Exception proves the rule!That's not the majority of the time vs being harassed by waiters in USA and looked upon as ATM machine only!
why is it insulting? because i'm going to a place to speak with my friends, not to a server. if i need something i'm a grown man, i'll ask. if i'm not asking, i don't need anything.
Perfect answer. If I need something, I'll call, otherwise, I don't need you!
Absolutely..also business meetings are often conducted over a meal and the last thing you want is to be interrupted every five minutes same with a romantic dinner or even a break up one, in fact the more I think of it, no meal is improved by the service staff butting in to a conversation. Just leave us alone to enjoy our food and company and as the above have said, we know where you are if we need anything.
but they don't ask because they care, they ask because they need you to tip them money to subsidize their paycheck, because American government allows their employers to pay them less than is a minimum wage. They have to be over-attentive because American customers require a lot of attention. Europeans like me find it annoying (at best), especially when they try to politely kick you out once you finish your meal, because they need to serve as many customers as possible to make more money (which I find very rude). I never tipped any waitress who tried to do this when I was in USA. I tipped well the ones who were not at my table every 3 minutes....:-)
@dudoklasovity2093 yes, thry sre the modern slaves and tipping support that system.
Ans we think waiters and waitresses are peole doing their jobs not slaves at our service
Ryan im from the UK, most pubs, are children and family friendly, it is not uncommon to see children in a pub, most places have childrens menu's. high chairs, they want the family to come have food and a drink
But the children are usually allowed only until 8 in the evening.
In Croatia, a child can enter any cafe or restaurant/bar/pub
they has soft drinks ready for kids (coca-cola, pepsi, fanta, schweps, tangerine)
kids are regular customers and usually big spenders
especially if someone brings a kid, and his friends start treating him
and the kid "kills himself" on coca-cola or pepsi 😁
Yeah, but I guess bars in USA don't serve food, only alcoholic beverages, so kids wouldn't be allowed there.
Also, as far as I remember, low-alcohol drinks (beer/wine/some cocktails) can be served to 14+ in Germany when supervised. Having said that, many establishments in many countries will allow a 14-18 to have a glass of wine or a beer when they are with family. My 6 yo sons would sometimes sip from my beer when we're out. It's not a big deal. It's refreshing under the 40C sun.
@@tihomirrasperic Dude. Vacationing in Croatia, I become addicted to Schweps.
Hi! Hungarian here. I absolutely detest when on the odd chance someone comes by and asks if I want anything else. No. If I would, I would ask. It seems like they only want your money. I want to enjoy my food and drink in peace. Also I rarely see anyone ordering more than one or two drinks. If you’re in a rush, you definitely would avoid a restaurant, but the half an hour wait seems exagerated. For the food itself is normal. One time we had to wait a whole hour, now that was a long wait, but 30 minutes max is considered normal.
i agree and it's the same in France.
Hungarian as well. When we celebrated my cousin's graduation in a restaurant and didn't place our orders in advance, we had to wait for at least half an hour, but other than that, they bring your food sooner. I also hate being asked if I want something all the time, I'll ask them when I would like something.
Exactly this.... it just feels pushy!
Yeah, UK here. They’re all fake smiles and creepy eyes as well. It’s so disturbing. But I’ve found that if I tell them upfront that they’re getting a 20% tip and that if they come to my table for reasons other than taking my order, delivering my food or drink, or because I have specifically caught their attention and asked for them to attend me, then they lose 5%. They’re still watching you like a hawk the whole time and creepily quick to come when you do look for them, but it’s all round a better experience.
Fellow magyar here, hi!
If I’m in a restaurant with a company, I’m there to converse with them, not with the restaurant staff.
If I’m alone (ex. working) I’m there to be alone with my thoughts and work.
If I need something, I signal. Enjoyable service=leave me the f* alone when I don’t need anything. :)
If I would be constantly harassed I would feel pressured to either order something or leave. Than I would leave.
it does not take 30 minutes, but it takes around 2-5 minutes to be noticed and getting food it is about 20-30 minutes; in the US my experience is it takes a minute to order and 10-15 minutes until your plate arrives, but you will also be thrwon out as soon as you stop ordering and eating; in EU you wont be asked to leave ever
*thrown ...(your typo's edited!)
You'll be asked to leave when they close, or if you cause a ruckus. None of that "are you ready for the bill?".
@@brigidsingleton1596 An obvious typo. Was it even necessary to mention it?
That is slowly changing here in Spain, because restaurants use to charge 14 euros for a meal, while people are waiting outside, so could be why they're starting to impose time limits.
Except for when they are closing.
Parents can take their kids to the pub for a nice, relaxed family dinner. That doesn't mean that kids are served alcoholic beverages.
Though depending on the children's age and the country they are in; they can drink (but not be directly served) alcoholic beverages.
@Thurgosh_OG Germany you can get directly served alcohol at 16, i used to go to the bars during school lunch break to get a drink with school mates. During the week end we would go to the store and buy a six pack of Jack and coke and have a nice walk through Wiesbaden with some drinks.
In Serbia we do drink as children 😂😂😂with parents in pubs, a bit. No one cares
@@2dimitropolis370 no you dont. mostly it would be maybe 16 year olds drinking alcohol but not young kids
In spain bars are not only alcohol places, you can have a coffee, a meal, a drink. Go with kids, friends, ….
Last time I was in the US, I told the waiter, that I would only leave a tip, IF she/he left me alone!
It's so annoying to be interrupted, while eating/drinking! 😡
and in Europe considered bad manners!
hello from Denmark 🌸
Lol, we did that too
I'd do exactly the same. FFS! If you're meeting a friend to talk about their marriage break-up, or their Grandma dying, or what your dumb boss said to them the other day, or you think your spouse is cheating on you...who the hell needs that fixed, shiny-teeth "smile" and questioning? Yep it's rude elsewhere - for good reason: it's intrusive, meaningless & unnecessary. It makes you just a another customer who needs to be moved on so more people can come and pay more money to the staff because their bosses refuses to pay them a living wage. Gross.
Nothing is factually right or wrong, different cultures just are different. It's OK to ask to be left in peace as long as it's done politely, bc your ways are not factually better in any way and obviously can not be known by someone in some other culture. I personally don't ask locals to change their cultural ways for me ever. If I'm the foreigner, I will appreciate and experience the local culture as it is and don't complain about it, even when I prefer something else. I don't understand people who travel to foreign cultures and then get annoyed that they experience different cultures. Wasn't that the point? Be respectful, only then you can demand that same respect towards your culture from tourists in your country. How would you feel about an american being loud in a restaurant bc they weren't asked separately if they are happy with everything? It's not a tourists job to ever correct the culture that isn't theirs or for them in any way.
In America, I let that slide simply because I know that a waiter in American restaurant is pretty much forced into such a behavior because of the kind of tipping system in America where waiters mostly cannot live on their base salary alone.
While I do get annoyed by a waiter coming around all the time asking if everything is ok, I understand why they do it.
If anything, I feel sorry for waiters in America when it is so clear that they are pretty much forced into this kind of superficial behavior that at least to me appears more an act of desperation than a genuine feeling of interest in the wellbeing of their guests. If waiters in America were paid a proper salary, this type of behavior would not be necessary.
Apart from that, the tipping expectations in America are ridiculous as well. It's like the American system with the price displayed on anything in a supermarket not being the actual price because the tax will first be added at the cash register. To any logic thinking person, that system is ridiculous.
Going to a restaurant in most countries around the world, the taxes and sometimes a service charge are incorporated in the price in the menu so the guests will know immediately what the final bill will be when they order the food. Whether we tip or not will then purely be a matter of whether we felt the service and food warranted a tip. That way, a tip will always be a result of a genuine consideration and not something that is felt forced and expected.
@@lyondragons8898They're not asking them to change though, they can treat other customers exactly the same way as they normally do. They simply don't want to be disturbed personally. Instead of sitting there and being annoyed you can ask them not to bother you cause you are one of many, and it will give them more time to serve others.
If an American came to Europe and demanded service it's not the same thing because one takes effort and gives special treatment and ruins the experience for other people in the restaurant, while the other does not. Simply being left alone is not a hassle for anyone. Demanding that they speak, however, is.
The "soda" you get served in restaurants in the USA is mostly "on tap", whereas in Europe you get the proper branded drinks in a can or bottle. Furthermore in USA they fill your glass with ice - to the brim - so you only get about one third of a glass of soda anyway - meaning they can quite easily give you refills at no cost to you, OR TO THEM! Servers: In Europe you call a server over when you want their attention. If a server keeps interrupting to ask if you want anything else it is annoying! Are they trying to rush you out of there? That is ALMOST as bad as bringing you your bill before you've finished eating. It is just NOT done in Europe, and a server could be let go for annoying the customers like that.
yes and the bottles are reusable in Europe so it is not so less environmental as it seems to be :)
How long do people sit in at restaurants in Europe vs the US? I’ve heard somewhere that Europeans like to eat for 2 hours. Whereas Americans eat closer to 1 hour.
@@indescribableemptiness4104as long as you want.
@@indescribableemptiness4104 It really depends, probably differs per country, or per group of people. Personally when I'm with family, usually up to two hours, we'd just have a couple of drinks, a meal and some desert maybe, and we go back home or do something else. When I'm with closer friends, often before and / or after dinner we stay for drinks and snacks too (we have a lot of restaurants that offer both where I live) and we stay for many more hours. Even with collegues sometimes for many hours too 😄
In Germany the waiters leave you the hell alone and don't interrupt, after they brought everything to your table. If you want anything else or when you've finished and want to pay and leave, you have to signal the waiter to come over to your table. That's exactly how it should be!
They usually come over after 5 mi utes to ask if everything is as you wish. If so they don't bother you anymore normally.
Yeah, I wanna eat in peace!
Unless the glasses on the table are empty. Hopefully a server will notice and ask if you want anything to drink. If you say no thanks, you'll not be bothered again.
People go out to relax and talk, they spend time with friends. If the waiter or bartender comes every 5 minutes and keeps asking, another? Do you want something else? Bla bla, she could be interrupting your conversation or seem pushy. People in Europe think, " If I want something, I will give you a sign", people don't like to feel like someone is always over their shoulder 😅
Kinda depends on the establishment and where you're sitting as well. If the bar where you'd order is easy to reach, someone coming to ask if you'd like to order something more is more pushy, than it would be if the bar was kinda hard to reach.
Easy to reach: "If I wanted to order, I'd go order"
Hard to reach: "You know, sure - saves me a go around the bannister, down the stairs, pass the fireplace, up to the bar, and back".
Last year we had our secondary school reunion in a pizza place, and since our school was being renovated, we told each other at that place about how our lives were going. It was really annoying when the waitress came every few minutes, asking if we wanted something. If there is anything I would like, I can ask.
One thing that most people seem to not know or ignore when discussing service industry differences is the cultural difference in why and how often people go to the restaurant. Europeans cook a lot more at home, so when they go to the restaurant, it's a special occasion (or a least more special than eating at home) and they want to relax and have a good time. In the US, there will be a lot more customers who are just there for their regular meal and don't really expect more than that.
And they always seem to come around and ask " how's your meal", right when I have a mouthful of food. I never realized how irritating it is to be interrupted while eating/talking with friends until I went to Europe and we could eat and talk in peace!
Dear Ryan, the difference between America and Europe is that the US for us are "frantic" and obsessed with being fast. In Italy we like to enjoy life and sharing Ford in company is one of the things that make life happy. To make it Clear, USA invented fast food, Italy invented slow food. 😊
They need more time for their favorite activity called traffic jams.
Ah yes, but we Irish invented turning water into whiskey. 🥴
Usually, in Europe, if we want something at a restaurant, we ask for it.
So being constantly asked, 'Do you want another drink?' can be quite annoying for us.
In Spain what we call bars are kid friendly, they serve alcohol but also coffee, tapas, etc. kids are not allowed on clubs. Obviously they will ask for an ID if you look younger than 18, they can’t serve alcohol to minors. But is common for families with kids and friends to get together on bars and have some drinks and tapas, especially on weekends.
Sure, but I think that our bars are not a 1:1 comparison to theirs, what we know as a "bar" i think they would call it a "dinner", not sure if in a bar in the US you can have more than a drink, and here you can usually order something to eat, you know... Mixtos, menús del día, combinados, that kind of stuff.
Kids in a bar? In company with a parent-why not ? It is a good study in human behaviour for them, and children are very qualified observers. They can learn by personal view, what too much alcohol can do to people without daddy having to proof it himself. Anyway - a bar is not an immoral place.
probably why I don't drink in public and rarely drink at home.
Pubs and bars do sell tea, soft drinks etc.
People usually don't get rowdy from drinking until after young children's bedtime anyway. I've seen neighborhood pubs with Lego tables and colouring books. Nothing immoral about most of those places. Not until after dark anyway...
In the UK nobody carries cash nowadays that I know off.
@@letitiakearney2423 So why don’t they get chipped? Easy way of life. You just have to get scanned for paying your bills ? 😂😂😂
I wouldn't take the teaspoon measurement too literally.
Yes in Germany we use teaspoon as a measurement for example when cooking.
A shot glass for tequila in Germany usually has around 40ml (4 cl)
@@fzoid3534
Americans appear to take everything literally / at face value...
Even their phrase: "to take a grain of salt..." As opposed to the Brits: 'to take a _pinch_ of salt...' means Americans tend to be more specific, and do not (apparently) see beyond the "bleedin' obvious!!" (as we Brits might say!) 'Sorting the wheat from the chaff' probably means something different to Americans too...though I don't know what?!
Are you sure? The shots I've seen around Europe, including Germany, have been around 25 ml, which is pretty much the standard on the continent. We do measure our alcohol in Europe as you might now, unlike the Americans who are, pretty much, eyeballing it.
@@alanpotter8680 It depends shots in Europe come in non standard sizes from 25ml to 45-50ml depending on the country you are in.
iirc from when I last worked a job serving alcohol, a standard single shot in the UK is 25ml
@@Draiscor Ah you worked in one of the stingy bars. The good ones use 35mm shot measures. I worked in one of those for a while.
A bar in Spain is a place where you can get coffee, a snack, tapas, sandwiches, not just alcohol. So yes, you'll see children there.
same in germany, for most places anyway
In Europe, being asked if you want another drink before you have finished the one you have is seen as trying to be sold to. They will tell you when they want to buy.
Good service includes asking once (!) whether you would like something to drink WHEN glasses are empty. If you decline they'll not bother you again. If you accept, hopefully they'll ask again. When the glass is empty!
She's full of shit on most of what she's saying. Teaspoon size shots, no, we have measuring things to measure out a normal size, way bigger than a teaspoon. Kids don't need to be id'ed if they're not buying alcohol, if they are then either she broke the law or, again, lying. Plus waiting 30 minutes, never would anyone wait that long for service, and the example of the guys at the bar, come on, she expects me to believe that germans spent hours nursing a quarter of a pint, no way. Asking if someone wants anothef is what we do too.
I think you're absolutely right! Is she doing this for content? I don't know, but I know she's lying, even about not accepting cards.
When I went to Spain with a Spanish friend in a non-tourist part of Spain my friend asked for a vodka and coke and got a full glass of vodka and a full glass of coke, and it was pretty cheap. Also the night started at like 11pm and went until 6am and that was just normal.
I'm guessing Germany is more like UK where a single measure is 25ml, and you either get a single or a double, and it costs a fortune.
Omg, that lady must have been drunk all time when at restaurant or a bar for not noticing what really was going on , yes that cheap wine 1.5€/glass ( multiple ones) must have done it .
I think she's just bad at making estimations and comparisons...
A quick google search returned 2 oz (59 ml), as the standard shot glass in the US. Here in Europe it's usually 62 ml, but there are places that use 30 ml glasses. So she could've worked at a place with the smaller ones.
Teens going to a bar from 13 yo and up, that's completely normal here in Europe. Kids 12 years or younger, are however expected to have adult supervision. They can't order any beer before the age of 16, wine and stronger beverages is 18+. There is also nothing illegal if a parent (or any adult with supervision) orders beer or wine for a 15/16 year old, at a restaurant or bar. The adult is from that point on fully responsible, for the under-aged person drinking. Note that the laws differ in many European countries, so these may be false in certain regions.
The waiting time in restaurants is in my experience completely different, depending where you go... I know restaurants where you get service in less than 5 minutes, there are places where you've to wait 20+ minutes... I would however appreciate bigger soda glasses here in Europe, the 20 cl is usually empty before my food arrives...
Agreed. Also, the beer would taste like shit once it's warmed up to room temperature.
2:19 typically "How are you?" is something you'd only ask someone you know (in Germany). So it's not that she wouldn't have a response, but rather that she'd feel taken aback at first that a stranger would ask her that
Not just the surprise. In Europe we ask it when we actually care about that person. So usually we give a deeper, more personal response than I’m good.
@@rawfish_8.3 it’s a bit like the American “have a nice day” it’s patronising and cynical. They don’t mean it or care. They possibly hope you don’t have a nice day at all. Basically they couldn’t care less.
@@abraxas2563 I don't agree at all! When I was living in the UK, they have the same custom with "are you alright?", and regardless of knowing, that it's just their way to say hi, I found myself answering them several times.
Now, I know, that they didn't ask seriously, but I can't remember any distinctive situations in 4 years, when anyone wouldn't have been polite to listen, nor that I would have felt it faked.
I might just had my luck with the environment, but I couldn't believe, that it's so much the other end in the US.
About this lady ... Proof that you can live in Europe without changing a bit!
right, glad she is back home..
Examples?
@@theender664 restaurants. A restaurant is not a Fast Food but still nobody waits 30 minutes to be brought the menu and order drinks. Lie 1. Lie 2 was the shots.. teaspoon. Typical american bragging. She was a waitress and probably a very bad one as she understood nothing about this profession. A good waitor overlooks the place and sees when guests need him/ her, Is certainly Not harrassing the guest with ´how was it? , you want more? every 5 minutes. In a restaurant we share time with our friends or family, not with the service people.
So, just one example...she understood nothing about Europe.
@@oulibemusic1257 sounds good to me
@@oulibemusic1257 this women really is a terrible person for this. i am happy to never been served by her XD
No a shot is not a teaspoon size in Europe she's trolling there a shot is about 45-50mL about 1.5 to 2 US fl ounces.
In Europe when we go to a bar or restaurant we don't like to be bothered by the server every 5 minutes if we want more we like to spend time with others and when we want something we hail for the server that's it !
Why is the service slower in Europe ?
Because servers get paid a decent wage they don't rely on tips like in the US because of crappy wages.
Slave wages $2.30 per hour + tips.
dude, the whole "servers get served a decent wage" here needs to stop. servers are different in europe and the USA because the culture is different, but if you listen to people who actually work as restaurant servers, hearing of people making an absurdly high wage once you facture in tips is quite common.
yes, they work for tips, but it's not slavery. a bigger tip is not "decent money" it's "even more money" in many cases.
low wage worker in the USA do get abused. but you can't lump servers in with like mcdonalds workers.
@@grischad20 Well we're not talking about fast food workers really we're talking about restaurant, bartenders they definitely get crappy wages in the US that's a fact compared to those in Europe.
The tips don't really make up for that
tips can go up or down in amounts that they receive it's not a source of good extra income .
Alcohol all across Europe is measured in CL and not ML. The measuring spoons they use at bars are 5ml.
@shades2.183 I know this I am just using standard metric units used for volume so most people ,except Americans, can understand .
Most other countries besides those in Europe don't measure alcohol volumes that way .
Sitting for half an hour before acknowledged in a restaurant?! That's not ok. (I'm European.) We don't go to a restaurant to just feed ourselves because we don't cook; we eat out for the experience mostly. Any self-respecting restaurant wants the customer to enjoy their evening, spreading the word about them; not have as many customers as possible. Good service should be as inconspicuous as possible - we don't want the waiter to chat us up!!
Europe is vastly different from country to country. So the experience may be very different as well. Imagine comparing how fast the service is in Finland vs Albania. Different climates, different lifestyles, different people, same continent.
That was probably just a busy day
Some customers walk into a restaurant and just go ahead and seat themselves somewhere out of sight without making sure the staff even knows they're there, sit there literally for an hour without ever seeing a staff member and then have the audacity to be pissed that they weren't served faster. Yeah, Karen. Maybe make sure someone knows you're there next time?
She is very exaggerating in her comments of everything. She really needs to stay in America.
Like the comment on the shots. German shot glasses at least would be several tablespoons worth of liquid, not a single teaspoon (unless Americans somehow have comically large teaspoons). Same as "kids" being unattended at a bar. She probably means "teenagers", not "children". If an actual child was at a bar, unattended, this would get the attention of the staff rather quickly and then there would be consequences. Again in Germany, there are certain types of alcohol one can buy and consume even under the age of 18, but the minimum is still 16. As such, anyone under 15 being present would raise suspicion.
"Well.... I just changed a job and my kid went to college. My wife lost her job and fall into depresion. Our dog died and today I'm making spaghetti for a dinner. I'm also thinking about changing a car".
And this is how you confuse American when asked "How are you?" on gas station.
I really hate it when people ask that question without expecting an answer. It’s like they’re adding “Just kidding, I don’t care!” right after it.
Yeah, right??
The thing is that in usa people ask "hey how are you" just as another way to say "hello", while here in Italy if you ask someone "how are you" one assumes they really want to know HOW ARE YOU, and you start describing them your actual feelings. So you say "how are you?" just to people you really care about and you want to know what's really going on with their lives lately.
I realized this when, working with american clients, after asking me the question i would proceed telling them about my day as they were already changing topic, making me realize they really didn't care about knowing the answer to their question.
It feels a little bit fake and superficial for us, if you ask me how i am while you don't really care to know.
That's how they pronounce 'hi'.
I've never been anywhere in Europe where you wait 30 minutes to get served, but it's not rushed like what I believe it is in the US. You might come in, sit down and settle and look at the menu - if you're a larger group you'll probably get asked what you want to drink first, before ordering maybe 15-20 minutes in (again depending on how many of you there are). But you'll probably get your starter some 10-15 minutes after ordering, and the main maybe 20ish minutes after that (so you're usually 45-mins to an hour in by then). Then you'll get asked if you want dessert and if you do that'll usually come quite quickly. Then you'll be asked whether you want anything else to drink. So at a minimum you're talking an hour and a half (in southern Europe in particular it'll often be longer). Here in the UK you'll usually have a table for a 2 hour slot, but if there's no-one booked after you, you can pretty much stay and drink until they close if you wish. And you always pay at the end.
Hi from Spain. When I order food I am assuming they will take not less than 20 min to prepare it. If the meal comes sooner it means that it was cooked beforehand and they have just heated it. I would never come back again. Wait! 1.50€ is the standard price for a not-so-bad bottle of wine at the grocery store
Curious where in the UK u are? I'm in Scotland and here the waiting staff just leave you to it. Theres no 2 hour slots.
The youngest person ive seen in my local was 2 days old, the dad was enjoying a pint with the baby sleeping on his shoulder😂 wanted to give mum a break to try and have a sleep
I've never seen a shot less than 35ml in europe, with the standard usually being around 40-50ml
25ml in the UK
in denmark its only 20 ml per shot, atleast in my area and the cities around.
In Germany it's either 20ml or 40ml, depending on the establishment, drink and price. From my experience, pure hard spirits are usually served in 20ml, mixed ones and those with less alcohol % in 40ml
As someone who lives in Europe, I know some places have 20ml shots, but every place I've been it has always been around 40ml, give or take 5ml. 20 would definitely feel a little too small for a shot to me - more like just a taste. A tablespoon is 15ml.
Schnapsglas ist genormt und liegt bei 2cl (20 ml) doppelte bei 4cl und in Österreich bekommt man auch einen dreifachen mit 6cl.
US do high turnover at restaurants so staff can maximize tips, staff in restaurants in Europe don't rely on tips because they they a decent wage compared to the US. Longer times for a meal is expected
Eating culture simply is different - apart from in fastfood joints. We usually go out (atleast in the evenings) to enjoy our time and not just to get something to eat.
It's more than likely the other way around, the method of employment adapts to customs in an area.
@@Dewkeeper The method of employment adapts to the working protection legislation which is almost non existant in the US which is why the high turnover in the US is due to maximizing tips and fast eating culture while in Europe only the slow eating culture dictate the lenght of the meal. Staff is more pushy in the US because if they sell more drinks they earn more tips. In Europe, if they sell more drinks the restaurant owner get more money, so staff don't have to be pushy and can instead respect the european culture where we like to not be bothered by staff while we are spending a good time with friends or family.
I live in EU and never heard of such low portions of shots, on the contrary, every country I visited, they fill the shot glass to the brim. Sometimes you even drop alcohol on yourself because the glass is too full. So, I’m a little confused about that part XD I also don’t see this as a cultural thing, it’s just how each establishment decides to serve their clients.
you have to fill it to the brim in the UK.
@@sopcannon25ml is standard in the UK for spirits
@@colz22 In a lot of european countries, 40ml seems to be standard. Here in Denmark it's typically 20ml, both for shots and for a "unit" in a cocktail/drink.
@@Qalibrated lol i guess my nation are big alcoholics because here the most common one is 50ml
13:50 The waiters asking for a refill feels like an invasion into your group, it is more usual to 'flag' the waiter. You want to chat with your group, that's why you are there and maybe to dance or shoot pool, eat, whatever. But the main thing is that you want to enjoy the company.
I'm italian. A tbs is a misura only for cookers. We do not have shots. We serve good glasses of alcohol
5:45 The concept of a bar is very different in Europe. A lot of bars in Europe, specially in southern Europe, are more like coffee shops where you can buy alcohol. In Europe is very common to have a beer in a terrace, which is usually placed in publix space in front of the bar, while your kids are playing in the middle of the square. At those bars, you will see people having a beer or even a whisky but you'll never see anyone drunk or not behaving properly at those places.
"No wonder you drink so much in Europe."
The USA has a higher or similar per capita alcohol consumption compared to half of Europe.
50% drink more than the average person....
@@fredrik3685 However, 50% drink *less* than the average person, so it averages out. 😉
Well compared to half yes. But the nordics and east europe drinks more then americans
@@John-Is-My-NameNo
@@fredrik3685I wonder if anyone will get the joke
4:48 she was clearly exaggerating
Wait stuff in Europe do not need to relay on tips as part of their income so they do not need to rush people out to make room for new clients. That's one. Two, in Europe you go to a restaurant to hang out. No one expects you to leave right after your meal. More often than not a waiter will bring you manu again for a dessert or cocktail card. Chances are you'll spend more money the longer you stay :)
I was an au pair in the U.S. (Florida) for 12 months back in 2013 when I was 20 years old. I remember really liking the food the family made at home, but they hardly ever cooked. We ate out about five times a week, which I found very confusing because the restaurant food tasted much worse, it was so bland! I offered to cook for us, but they didn’t want to bother me with it. They were very sweet.
I also remember being surprised at how cheap clothes were, and how you could make them even cheaper by using coupons.
But the thing that shocked me the most was how cold it was everywhere. Not outside, but inside. I had to wear long trousers and sweaters all the time because I was freezing - in the car, in the house, in the malls. Americans really love their AC.
Since I knew Florida was a very hot place, I had packed mostly summer clothes, but I didn’t need them as often as I expected. I ended up having to buy warmer clothes instead.
But I had a lot of fun in Florida. The people are great, but I would never fit in. I'm always impressed by people who can move so far away from what they're used to.
I think it's a genuine problem in the USA that it's usually cheaper to eat out than buy food from a shop and make it from fresh - definitely contributes to the obesity problem there. Even in Europe, where obesity is a problem in many places, going out for food (even a takeaway) is something you do sometimes for a treat, not the norm.
Dubai is the same, cold malls and bland food both at home and out.
This. It is much cheaper to eat out than to cook good food in the US hence why they often eat out every meal and hence why it is a mundane task and not to socialise.
The check is there before you are even finished? Unsolicited?? WTH???
I would say I want something more xd
that sometimes gappens when they shift change, and your waiter is going home
I guess average American expects service to be offered. (What a we in Europe would take as pushy and be annoyed over)
While average European expects server/bartender/etc to leave me alone unless I ask for service. (What an American would take as slow service…)
To each their own. I hate the pushy American style though, feels like they’re stressing me out.
“I came to this bar to chill with my friends and enjoy a beer, if I need another one, I’m an adult, I can ask for it. Stop interrupting our conversation”
You never disturbe people that are eating and drinking enjpying their time to relax.. People tell if they want somtihing.. Your job is not to disturbe and interrupt!
Your thought Ryan is all about the money! You really do not understand that there is totally other values in life that is much more important.
The revenue difference. Compleatly American answer
Restaurants in the US are trying to make as much clients as possible, in most of Europe they are trying to keep their clients as much time they can.
In my experience germans still really like their cash payments, so her "cash is king" statement might be largely influenced by that. In my country the netherlands we do a lot of things with bank cards. Most people just have a phone and a few cards instead of a wallet. Buses don't even take cash anymore, you can check in with a bank card.
I've lost count of the number of times I've been in a restaurant and am totally engrossed in a conversation and the waiter/waitress comes up and interrupts the conversation to ask if everything is OK. It is really annoying.
The (Not so) funny thing is that she compares America to a continent...... Europe contains 44 countries and every country is different....
Indeed..that's a very American thing to do.
she said germany and italy
Too be fair, America is a continent too, with different countries. And even if you single out the USA, it has 50 states with very different cultures too. So if you do broad comparisons for entertainment, it is fine to use America vs Europe.
I mean Europeans like to lump "Americans" (usually meaning people from the USA) together too, but it is not like Hawaiian people would be the same as people from south Dakota or something....
Stop acting like Europe doesn't have a lot in common. We have a lot of shared culture, especially when compared to Americans who are quite different to all of us.
@@Neme112 to hovoríš len preto že česko a slovensko sú si podobné? nie je UK v niektorých ohľadoch podobnejšie amerike ako iným európskym krajinám? ľudia v severnej európe sú väčšinou introverti na rozdiel od južnej európy
As a french person, i can say kids, even little ones, is perfectly normal in a bar.
You can have more than just alcohol in a european bar, you can have cofee, chocolate milk, sodas, fruit juices, water... You can even eat in a bar.
Of course it is not allowed for kids to order alcohol, and it is a violation of licence to serve alcohol to kids.
also, regarding hospitality. When they give you the menu they usually come after 10 mins to ask about beverages, and after that you either make a sign to order food or wait to order when they bring the beverage. Also, you can call the server to order more/ask for the check. If the place is not crowded, they will not push you to pay/leave. In US even in empty restaurant I felt like they were in a rush. Also, we do not drink tap juice at restaurants. We have tap for sodas only at fast food (Mcd, kfc, subway etc). When we are at a restaurant, we expect to have glass bottle Coca cola/Pepsi, natural squeezed Orange Juice/Lemonade or water from glass bottle.
Speaking from Spain, here a bar is a much more family friendly place, it doesn't have the "adult only" connotations that it has in the US.
It doesn't mean that children are served alcohol in bars here of course, in many countries in Europe you can go into a bar for a coffee, a juice, etc. Europe bars and US bars are very different places, even if they go by the same name.
One shot is 25mls in England and Wales. It’s not a lot.
Kids aren’t allowed at the bar. But they are allowed in pubs during daytime hours (pre 6pm) as pubs are for also for eating. Not just drinking
Here in Germany, it's 20ml. Even less. But if you order a "big one", you'll usually get a 50ml glass. (This may vary by region.)
Kids at bars aren't allowed here either, but in pubs, yes, of course, during daytime. Probably much the same as in England.
@@eisikater1584and then there are slavic countries where normal is 40ml and 20 small one 😂
@@Titanium_God Or "sto gram" (100 grams) even, which is 100ml.
In Ireland a single shot is 35.5ml. used to be 1/4 of a gill, i.e. 1/16th of a pint (imperial pint).
I think this young woman is comment farming. Quite a lot of what she has to say about life in Europe is nonsense. Teaspoon tots is just one example.
Maybe she meant tablespoon
@@textedthriw7920 Maybe then she should communicate clearly.
You're not supposed to take it literally.
A shot in Germany is 20ml, compared to 33-40 ml in the US, but definitely not a teaspoon.
@@aidanclarke6106 A 20 ml shot is terrible value. That’s like a spoon full of medicine
We went to Vegas 2 years ago and it felt awful: rushed to order, rushed when finished, bill presented and get out. No thanks, go away and leave us to enjoy our time without constant interruptions. Just awful. You eat out to have an evening out.
In the restaurant/bar in Denmark, great service is, take the order and bring it with a smile, and LEAVE THE PATREONS ALONE!!! untill they take contact to the staff. staff hovering would be SO annoying. Cash in denmark? mostly no, we have cards and phone apps for paying everything. even easy few touches transfer of money to other people. shots are 40 ml :-)
It's exactly the same in Spain, when I was in Copenhagen I just found a price difference, specially in alcohol, but everything else was the same. Haven't been to Germany though.
I felt that Italy was a bit more cash oriented, but I live 99,9% cashless here.
@jfernandez76 I'm Spaniard and I'm a cash guy. Half of citizens are still cash people in Spain, like Germany.
My take at service in restaurants is that I don't like being rushed. If I want more drink I'll tell you. If I want anything else or I have a problem with my order, I'll tell you. Having the waiter interrupting me every 5 minutes is annoying. I like to take my time and enjoy my meal or drink while I have a conversation with whoever I sit with. In general, in US it's more about being taken care of and in a kind of Sit. Eat. Leave; and in EU is more like serving what it is asked for, I'l call you if I need you. It depends on the mood and the situation. If I'm in a rush, US service style it's handy.
About beeing rushed in restaurant, here in france at least, when customer wants something, he will ask the waiter. It would be considered intrusive to have a waiter coming every five minutes (and feeling like we'r beeing incline to pay for more than we actually want). Usualy waiter will ask if everything is ok between meals.
A teaspoon for a shot is definitely an exaggeration. In germany a shot is usually 20ml.
Typical American, saying where she's from in the US, but not where she lived in Germany or Italy. That could make a huge difference, especially Germany and Italy are very diverse, even for European standards.
@@thomasfranz6467 probably she has never been to Germany or Italy. Her tales are full of clichés you can find everywhere in word (if she can read) or picture without ever having left Indiana or somewhere around Washington DC.
She did say where she lived in Italy. Perhaps you should pay attention!
@@rikmoran3963She said a little town, didn’t she? That could be anywhere
I can translate why american great service is offending europeans.
Essentialy they are saying "buy something els or pay up and fuck off".
Europeans generally find it irritating to be constantly pestered by waiters. If we want another drink or more food we’ll ask for it. We definitely do not want to be pushed to leave after a meal.
And if we are in a rush we simply catch the waiter’s eye ask for the bill, it’s not rocket science.
The big difference is, in my opinion, that bars and restaurants in Europe (or specifically in Spain, where I live) are more "social places". I mean, you go there to stay and drink with your friends and family, yes, children too. And it's a little bit annoying when the waiter is continuously asking you if you're finished or if you want another beer... Hey man, when I'll want another beer, I'll ask you for it.
Well, she still knows how to exaggerate!
In Spain you don't drink in the same way as in the US.
The Bar concept is different. Here a bar is more like a restaurant, you can drink yes, also eat or have coffee. While apparently the Bar in the US is what we know as a Pub.
I don't know if the same thing happens in the US but in Spain the soft drinks (Cocacola for example) on tap are disgusting. Nobody wants them, that's why when you order a soft drink 95% of the time it comes in a bottle or can. The remaining 5% is usually in establishments for tourists or US franchises (KFC, MD, BK).
So that shot thing made me google, and I learned something today! Whilst a shot in America is 1,5 ounces, it is only 3/4 of an ounce in Germany. France pours 1-ounce shots, and Japan gives you two ounces as a shot, so yes, shots can be and are different in serving size!
Edit: On restaurants and serving style, my husband (then-bf) and I used to go to a fancy restaurant / hotel near the place where we lived quite often. The staff knew us, knew that we, dressed like nothing much, would arrive around 3pm, start with some coffees and maybe something sweet, and then sit until late in the evening, having dinner there, have coffees until basically asked to get ready to pay because they were closing. One day, the actual owner of the place walks in for an inspection, sees us sitting with two coffees, 4pm-ish. 3 hours later, the place is packed. Only table without food: Us. Not even looking at the menu, which we knew by heart at that time. Still, two coffees on the table. Not the same, and we have to pay every single one of them. Boss lady has a few richly dressed gents who want a table, but there is nothing left. Gets to our table and asks us to leave, which we do. Staff apologizes because owners decision.
One week later, same setup. This time, boss lady tells staff to make us leave, and gets told no because we would earn them more than two fancy dressed peacocks who maybe have two drinks, share a plate, and then leave, whilst we sit for hours on end, ordering new drinks and maybe even a las-minute-desert. Yes, the manager of the place told us that, because we were on a first-name-basis in a german restaurant with the very german staff....
I'd actually be more curious about her culture shock when moving from Germany to Italy. As a Norwegian with an Italian girlfriend the cultural difference there is just as big as when I've gone to the States in many ways
In europe if u go to a restaurant u are expected to spend around 1-2hours there. You might order one drink. Or an appetizer or 6 course meal.
So if staff asks you to buy more, you feel like u are not spending enough or are being rushed out the door. Different people in your company might want to eat or drink different amounts. Also some countries it’s illegal to ask if someone wants more drinks. You should instead ask ”everything good?” Or ”anything else?”
Big difference is probably that most ppl in europe customers will ask for what they want,(staff won’t push you to buy stuff), unless it’s a Michelin star restaurant with set menu where the chef sets the tempo and presents the food to you.
Furthermore you usually start with drinks or an appetizer while you decide or while maincourse is cooked. So if you don’t drink or have an appitizer it might feel slow to just sit and do nothing while the chef makes your food. It’s not all ready alike american fast food. You are supposed to sit and enjoy your time with others, not stuff yourself with food and then leave. When u feel done ordering stuff you as a customer show that you are done by asking for the check. Once you paid you are expected to leave. So to get a check without asking is basically them kicking you out, this can happen if you spent more than 2-3 hours there and they have a booking for that table after you.
A German shot is 20ml, which is about 4 teaspoons (4x 5ml) or a tablespoon (15ml) plus a teaspoon (5ml). A US shot is 1.5 fl oz which is 44ml. Each country has their own shot sizes. Germany has among the smallest, most countries have 30-40 ml, the US has the second largest after Romania and Bulgaria, where a shot is 50ml (which would basically be considered a small drink in Germany)
9:53 yes, it feels like being rushed, to me at least, if I need something at a restaurant, I'll call the waiter myself. Plus depending on the bar, the customer could just use that small bit of beer left to signify they don't want to be disturbed, very different culture
When kids are exposed to drinking by responsible adults, when they grow up and become independent, they don't see it as "FINALLY I GET TO DO THIS WOOOOO BINGE ITTT". It's more like, sure its just there if I want it.
I live in Portugal and my experience is very different:
- I never waited half an hour to be noticed at a restaurant! Half an hour after I get there, I will be eating my meal. Things get a little bit more chaotic on Valentine's Day and near Christmas (with all the Christmas dinners and lunches), but on a regular day, weekday or weekend, they get me my meal in less than half an hour.
- bars and clubs are different things; you get asked for your ID in clubs and you easily go to a bar with your family.
- when you start a job where you deal with public in a new country, I think you should learn about the culture and what's expected of you in that environment. That's the best way to avoid these culture shocks. Asking if they want another beer isn't insulting, but it starts to get annoying once you ask it again. We know how to ask for another beer if and when we want it. I don't think it's a slow service, but we go to restaurants and bars to enjoy time with friends, not to be out of there quickly. If we are in a rush, we will ask things quickly and that's it. Also, if you rush people to get out of there, they won't like it, so they won't come back. So, overall, it's better for the bar/restaurant owner to do things as the customer wants, because then they won't lose a customer.
- the teaspoon shot isn't true here. She is probably saying that's what it looks like because she's so used to bigger sizes.
Unlimited refills are not a thing in Europe. Also there are no 16 year old kids in bars ordering shots, this is bogus. Legal drinking age in most auf Euorpe is 18.
If they’re giving you soft drinks by the glass, then they’re giving you the cheapest ones possible - post-mix machines, which means the machine has two hoses, one for syrup and one for water, so that means one syrup per flavour. If you did a comparison, the post-mix doesn’t taste the same as the bottles and cans taste different again.
Served back in my days with some hookahs and occasionally spent it all at the same place😂 So at least in Ukraine, as a waiter/waitress the very first thing you need is being able to look around the whole lace WITHOUT disturbing your clients. The moment you catch someone looking "overheads" in search for something, that "thing" is your service. Otherwise leave them be, they're not coming to spend their time(and money, let me remind you that eating out in most cases and places is usually much more expensive than cooking by self😊) with you!
1 teaspoon = 5ml
1 tablespoon = 15ml
In the UK, legally, a shot is either 25ml or 35ml. A bar must choose one of these sizes and stick to it. They are not allowed to serve the 2 different sizes on the same day
Typically in Northern Ireland and Scotland, it is 35ml, and in England and Wales, it is 25ml
In europe there are not many chain restaurants, usually there are only local, independent, small restaurants and that is why there are no refills, you buy e.g. coca-cola you get a can or a bottle (often from the fridge so the drink is without ice) and a glass. There are no refills because they are not profitable. A small restaurant does not have the funds to buy a large canister of drink and give people free refills. I am from Poland you only get refills at KFC but for example you can't get them at McDonald's or Subway.
“Generally, a single shot is equal to 35 ml in Northern Ireland and Scotland and 25 ml in Wales and England. There is no official size for a single shot, except in Utah, where a shot is defined as 1.5 US fl oz (44.4 ml). Elsewhere in the U.S., the standard size is generally considered to be 1.25-1.5 US fl oz (37-44 ml).” “Denmark: 0.67 oz (19.81 ml) Japan: 2.02 oz (59.74 ml) Russia: 1.69 oz (49.98 ml) Italy: 2.02 oz (59.74 ml). “German 20 ml, France 25 or 35 ml.”
One teaspoon is 5ml, three teaspoons = 15ml or one tablespoon.
In the UK and mainland Europe people go out to eat to enjoy time with people - not because we need a quick meal to eat. If we want fast food we'll go to a fast food place. Being interrupted by server constantly is really irritating to most people over here. So although you might get a higher turnover of tables and tips if you had an american service style, you would not get much repeat custom and would soon need to adapt as you wonder where all your customers are.
The chicken chain Nandos walks a very neat line between the two and have a system with marker on the table so you are only interrupted by your server once after you've had your meal to check everything is okay. Then they leave you alone.
No, we don’t use teaspoons as measurements. We use grams and milliliters.
And 20ml (2cl) is the Alkohol standard... 40ml (4cl) is (in Germany) ein "Doppelter" ... so I don't know what it is in the USA... in Germany you can take "10 shots" without damage... LOL
So far she is right.. 2cl is'nt that much... (more than a teaspoon, but not very much)
@ it’s more reliable if you measure in units of pure alcohol; one unit equals 10 ml pure alcohol.
So if you order any drink containing 40% of alcohol, you’ll get 25 ml of that drink in a glass. That drink contains one unit of alcohol.
Same with wine. One standard glass of wine contains about one unit of alcohol.
A tea spoon = 5 ml, a table spoon = 15 ml. Normally a normal shot is 4 cl = 40 ml or a large shot is 6 cl = 60 ml.
A long time ago I stayed at the Marriott in Kuala Lumpur when I went there for a work trip and the one thing that really annoyed me was the constant "Good morning, sir!" "How are you doing today, sir?" "Are you having a good day today, sir?". There were tons of staff in the hotel and everyone was trained in annoying their guests as much as possible it seems.
As a Finnish person I don't want to talk to people unless I actually have something to say
6:00
you can legally get some taste of alcohol as early as 14 in Germany, but your parents would have to buy your drink, it's not unusual to have a drink of wine/beer earlier, but that's theoretically not allowed. buying your own drink usually requires an ID as wine/beer is only allowed to be sold/served to people 16 and up, while stronger drinks than that and sweet mixed drinks are only allowed for adults (18+). it's only mandatory to look at an ID if you're in doubt of the customers age though.
A shot is 2cl here in Germany. And on EVERY glass there is an "Eichstrich", a calibration mark.
one key thing with some resturant or pubs is that if they have people serving YOU as an custumer looks to the service worker raise an hand for an wave to call them over and THEN they tell you what they want
10:35 if I go to a restaurant I want to relax and chat, not be stressed by staff. If I'm in a rush, I get pasta at home!
France here, there's another reason not to ask how are you... Sometimes you could come accross someone that would tell you all his life and miseries and... You don't know him really so, you're just locked listening to him, since you asked, and it's so uncomfortable. So, better not ask, so the person won't talk to you for hours. Anyway, if he had any specific help to ask, he'd already asked you.
In Europe you only choose a restaurant by the quality of the products and the atmosphere, so you wait and aren't in a hurry. There is lots of street food, if you don't have the time.
So the woman exaggerates quite a bit, some of it is just nonsense.
The guest with the beer perhaps had to drive, or was simply no longer thirsty, I completely understand him.
You don't want people constantly approaching your table to ask if you want this or that or another drink or whatever, when you want something you signal to the waiter and ask for it. Having your conversations and meals constantly interrupted would be annoying lol
Once you've ordered a drink or whatever, if you want another else you call the waiter/waitress over.
I don't have cash. My last Euro in my wallet was months ago. So, not totaly true what she said about cash in Europe. Also she was wrong about most things. She just had weird experiences.
Small towns in Italy specifically tend to take cash over card, especially the smallest ones with less tourism. I've been to a fair few, it's all cash.
In fairness it differs a lot across Europe. Here in Ireland cash is rapidly disappearing. On my last trip to the UK, I didn’t see a note or coin, once. Friends who’ve been to Spain and Sweden say the same. However I was in Rome about 18 months ago and in so many places if I tried to pay with a card, they had to go and get the machine, and plug it in, and wait for it to connect, etc., etc., so I just went to the ATM - hey, “when in Rome…” (literally!). And apparently Germany is very cash-oriented.
@@fricatus But she keeps saying in "Europe". Here in the Netherlands almost everything is paid by cards too.
@@ilaphroaig True, Europe is not just one place!
@@ilaphroaig most of all she has lots of fantasy
Yes, we messure in teaspoons but only the amount of suger we enjoy in a cup of coffee
How is insulting?
I'm a client in that bar and I will choose the time, when I want to drink another one.
Funny you should ask, here in England we use teaspoons for stirring our tea!
Oh ye bloody purists!
In Germany even the shots size is regulated by law. 2cl it´s normally (0,00676 US fl.oz.) and each glass has a mark, the "Eichstrich" and the bartender has the fill the glass to that mark :D
In Finland too, size is regulated by law, and a couple of years ago, you didn't even get doubles like double whiskey, etc
Oy, she sounds a little contrived. When she lived for such a long period of time in Europe, in Germany and Italy in particular, where kids could - in theory - drink under supervision of a parent in moderation, she must know about that habit. Yes, we do allow children into bars (not nightclubs! Different story!) when being accompanied by adults. Yes, they sit there and sip on their alcoholfree drinks while the adults have a beer, a glass of wine, or sometimes something stronger. What's the big deal? I don't get all that over-hyped hysteria of people in the USA when it comes to that. And the waiting staff thing once again! I hate when they rush you, when they come to your table every ten minutes, when they bring you the bill without someone had even asked for it. I'd rather sit and wait for twenty minutes for a waiter or waitress to come by and take my orders than being constantly harrassed by them. But usually it doesn't take that long, she is totally exaggerating here. Maybe a couple of minutes, depending on how crowded the place at that moment is. Oh boy, don't believe all that random people on the internet claim to have experienced or knowledge of. TikTokers do that for controversy, clicks, and money, in the end. The more ridiculous their statements, the more clicks it might generate. That's their modus operandi.
Your ‘teaspoon’ reaction could be a clip in a ‘not so smart Americans’ video. (I don’t think she literally meant ‘teaspoon’)
... a waiter constantly in your face feels like an over eager sales person, it feels like being rushed and it feels disrespectful to your personal space. Danish perspective
Three cokes at dinner! How can you taste your food if you are drinking coke with it?