Current Events > Its fucking amazing that Europe has so much tourism when they're so anti-service

(+) Yeah! (+)

my god if this were new York these people would be fired

I wonder if Europeans see Americans as entitled now

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https://youtu.be/kCpjgl2baLs
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Apparently they don't even give you free water? Or ice? I drink like 3-4 glasses of water during a restaurant visit.

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MorbidFaithless posted...

Apparently they don't even give you free water? Or ice? I drink like 3-4 glasses of water during a restaurant visit.

I visited England, France, Germany, and Greece, and at most restaurants, there wasn't a free option for "tap" water. It was bottled water or a can/bottled soft drink. And in Greece, they give you a bread basket (without you asking), and then charge you for it. You can't not get this...

As for service, in most normal restaurants (not high end expensive ones), I totally agree that service sucks compared to US.

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Jabodie posted...

I wonder if Europeans see Americans as entitled now

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IdiotMachine posted...

I visited England, France, Germany, and Greece, and at most restaurants, there wasn't a free option for "tap" water. It was bottled water or a can/bottled soft drink. And in Greece, they give you a bread basket (without you asking), and then charge you for it. You can't not get this...

As for service, in most normal restaurants (not high end expensive ones), I totally agree that service sucks compared to US.

In the UK they have to provide tap water for free, if they are licensed to sell alcohol.

In regards to service, the overly friendly service many Americans are used to can often be seen as fake here. We expect decent, but being overly friendly just comes across as sucking up and uncomfortable when we want to be left alone. Obviously not true for everyone of course.

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DenetraSenegar posted...

https://youtu.be/kCpjgl2baLs

cant believe this is nostalgia man

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People generally go to Europe for art, history, culture etc.

Not food.

But if you go for food, you're held captive anyway.

No incentive for service.

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Aren't most restaurant servers in Europe non-tip reliant? American servers are overly friendly because their job relies on tips as the majority of their wage. If that isn't the case in Europe, I could see why they are just doing their job and little else more because they don't have to put on that fake, overly friendly front to try and lure a bit more money so they can afford to pay their bills.

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MorbidFaithless posted...

Apparently they don't even give you free water? Or ice? I drink like 3-4 glasses of water during a restaurant visit.

Europeans will praise socialism and then sell you fucking water like a bunch of fat ass monopoly men

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Blightzkrieg posted...

Europeans will praise socialism and then sell you fucking water like a bunch of fat ass monopoly men

Nestle ceo

They just have a different approach to it... They're letting you relax and enjoy your shit, they're not forcefeeding you refill after refill of soda and then serving you the bill as soon as you put your fork down after that last bite.

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Just to be clear, when Americans say Europe isnt service minded, do they mean that in Europe service sector employees arent trained to debase themselves at every whim of an asshole dangling bills in their faces?

BurmesePenguin posted...

Just to be clear, when Americans say Europe isnt service minded, do they mean that in Europe service sector employees arent trained to debase themselves at every whim of an asshole dangling bills in their faces?

Pretty much
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Thank God Europe and Asia don't have tipping culture.

Tipping culture is shit and slavery
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Itd be nice for servers in the UK to not act like its such an outrageous imposition when asked to get you something.

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Eliza3 posted...

Itd be nice for servers in the UK to not act like its such an outrageous imposition when asked to get you something.

Where have you been where any of them here are actually like this? Always been friendly in my experience of a customer and working in the industry. Will come and check up on (depending on the person, obviously) They simply don't go overboard with it.


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When I was in Europe the waiters were friendly enough, but my god they took forever. I have to drink a lot of water to get through a meal, and it was hard to get a refill. I eventually realized you have to get their attention if you want a refill or if you want to pay.

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I wouldnt say they are anti-service but yeah, most of the restaurants I visited in Spain had shitty service and mediocre at best wait staff.

The Middle East however the service was absolutely amazing everywhere we went in both Lebanon and Jordan. The Arab people truly took pride in doing their job well and where very kind.

China and Singapore had great service as well.

I think Europeans are just snobby.

BurmesePenguin posted...

Just to be clear, when Americans say Europe isnt service minded, do they mean that in Europe service sector employees arent trained to debase themselves at every whim of an asshole dangling bills in their faces?

The mentality where customers should walk on eggshells around waiters and not ask for anything is also ridiculous. You get a scowl just for "may we have some paper napkins please"

SaltyWet posted...

People generally go to Europe for art, history, culture etc.

Not food.

lol what. people go to Europe for the food. that's one of the top reasons people go there @SaltyWet


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I've never had any problem with service in Europe Maybe less obsequious small talk if anything, but that's a good thing.

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Theon_Greyjoy posted...

When I was in Europe the waiters were friendly enough, but my god they took forever. I have to drink a lot of water to get through a meal, and it was hard to get a refill. I eventually realized you have to get their attention if you want a refill or if you want to pay.

You have to do the eye contact and and raise your head trick lol

Noumas posted...

The mentality where customers should walk on eggshells around waiters and not ask for anything is also ridiculous. You get a scowl just for "may we have some paper napkins please"

I think that really depends on how you asked them for that lol.

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I'd much rather eat out in Europe than the US.

American service is too fake and full on. The food isn't as good either.

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Choco posted...

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Do they do that annoying thing where they interrupt your meal to ask you how your meal is going? If not, that's already an improvement over the US.

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Theon_Greyjoy posted...

When I was in Europe the waiters were friendly enough, but my god they took forever. I have to drink a lot of water to get through a meal, and it was hard to get a refill. I eventually realized you have to get their attention if you want a refill or if you want to pay.

Just snap your fingers in the air and say "boy!", they'll come running. They love it when customers do that.

Yeah, noticed all of that while there. Pay to use the bathrom, pay for water. Love a lot of things about Europe, was generally cleaner than America (except France), but yeah, the standard of etiquette in the service industry is way below America.

France is shit hole country
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SaltyWet posted...

People generally go to Europe for art, history, culture etc.

Not food.

But if you go for food, you're held captive anyway.

No incentive for service.

Lmao, imagine having the shit food culture that is American food, and thinking this

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mattymad posted...

France is clean, just stay away from Paris. It's a terrible place for many reasons.

Yes stay away from the cultural, artistic, and historic capital of the country if you want to see the country. genius advice, @mattymad

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^that post is a dogwhistle if I ever saw one

(Not the post above mine, but the post it quotes)
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GodardOnGodard posted...

Yes stay away from the cultural, artistic, and historic capital of the country if you want to see the country. genius advice, @mattymad

Paris certainly has quite a few interesting cultural and historical sights, though personally I think the massive amount of tourists (not to mention the public transport and traffic congestion) make those sights not really worth it. Tbh, I wouldn't recommend any capitol city for that reason (in western Europe at least).
Fortunately there are are many, many other places worth visiting that offer everything the capitol cities have to offer, but less crowded.

Not entirely sure what some people find so particularly bad about European service in general. Sure, there are shitty places, though I wouldn't say it's that common.
One thing I do know is that waiting stuff doesn't approve if you act like you own the place. "The customer is always right" does not apply, and that's ok. Simply act like a guest (which you are), visiting someone else's place (which it is), be respectful, and the staff will be respectful back.
Tips can be appreciated here and there, but are completely optional and certainly do not command respect.

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European capitals are perfectly fine. Yeah tourists are annoying, so stay off the tourist streets then and that problem is solved. Paris can be a really nice city, you just don't need to tunnel in on going to the Eiffel tower and shit. And honestly while yeah sometimes the pubic transportation can be crowded, it's galaxies better than the poor excuse you see in American cities.
...although Stockholm is trying real hard to fuck theirs up

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JimmyFraska posted...

the standard of etiquette in the service industry is way below America.

It's different, but not worse.

I find American service to be horrible, but it's a cultural differences thing. I can see why people might prefer American style, but it's certainly not objectively better or worse.

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IdiotMachine posted...

I visited England, France, Germany, and Greece, and at most restaurants, there wasn't a free option for "tap" water. It was bottled water or a can/bottled soft drink. And in Greece, they give you a bread basket (without you asking), and then charge you for it. You can't not get this...

As for service, in most normal restaurants (not high end expensive ones), I totally agree that service sucks compared to US.

If you want free water just ask and you'll get a glass of water. In the UK anyway - I think they have to provide it free.

In my very limited experience of hospitality in the US the big difference I found was how quickly restaurants wanted us in and out. We had just finished eating and most of us still had drinks, in England we'd normally get left alone for a bit then asked if we wanted more drinks. In the US they were straight onto us asking if we wanted the bill. So we left when we would probably have stayed for a couple more.

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Noumas posted...

The mentality where customers should walk on eggshells around waiters and not ask for anything is also ridiculous. You get a scowl just for "may we have some paper napkins please"

This may have happened to you one time at one place (though I doubt it), but as a concept of European service it is something you made up.

scar the 1 posted...

although Stockholm is trying real hard to fuck theirs up

In what way?
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teepan95 posted...

In what way?

The Stockholm region is controlled by a conservative majority who has been fucking things up for a while.
For example, at the start of the pandemic they reduced the number of active rides to keep things profitable (without giving notice). Naturally this led to packed buses and trains which is not optimal during a pandemic.
The latest thing is that because they sealed off the front of buses, and they haven't managed to move the card reader to the middle, you have to activate your card at subway stops. Even if your bus stop is miles away. Otherwise they will fine you.

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IloveJesus posted...

It's different, but not worse.

I find American service to be horrible, but it's a cultural differences thing. I can see why people might prefer American style, but it's certainly not objectively better or worse.

On one hand, I liked them staying the fuck out of my face compared to American service. But on the reverse, I realized I liked the extra compliments received in America. We weren't acting obnoxious or anything, I'm very particular about treating service people respectfully. The best places of either continent strike a balance of both, but it's not common.

As much as I could complain about France, my favorite restaurant experience of Europe was there. Real sweetheart took care of us, provided excellent service.

Jabodie posted...

I wonder if Europeans see Americans as entitled now

After taking our money and protections, smh. They sound like Republicans getting mad at blue states.

Background_Guy posted...

After taking our money and protections, smh. They sound like Republicans getting mad at blue states.

Ah yes, because a discussion revolving around the difference in service at restaurants has everything to do with international politics. We are all our governments after all.

TheSavageDragon posted...

Ah yes, because a discussion revolving around the difference in service at restaurants has everything to do with international politics. We are all our governments after all.

But we're all caricatures of our countries? lmao

Background_Guy posted...

But we're all caricatures of our countries? lmao

I didn't necessarily agree with that statement you quoted by criticising yours and theirs, but hey...you're doing a pretty fine job at it right this very moment

Major difference is European service workers generally aren't expected to grovel and costumers are expected to treat them with respect. It's no coincidence that American tourists are stereotypically viewed as entitled and condescending. Try treating them as humans instead of servants and you'll see they'll be nice back.

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