One thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is how loud a lot of American restaurants are. People in the US talk so loudly that you almost have to shout at the person sitting next to you just to talk to them.
I've never experienced that in an establishment that would be primarily described as a restaurant. I have experienced it in places that would be primarily described as bars--but even then, the shouting in necessary because of music that's being played way too loud.
In the U.S. people are expected to bus their own tables as well in fast food restaurants (and some not quite so fast as well). A good rule of thumb is that if the restaurant has table service, the restaurant will handle all the cleanup. If it is counter service, there is a good chance that one will also see the trash bin with a place to put trays, plates and silverware nearby because the customers are supposed to clear the table themselves.
True enough. This never happened before the 1950's when the fast-food model was created. Expecting customers to clean up was the downside of not having to tip. When fast-food was first introduced, there were signs in the restaurants which read "no tipping." That confused the heck out of a lot of customers for at least a decade.
Another rule to go by is if the garbage receptacles are easily accessible. Bussed restaurants usually have receptacles in the back/kitchen for better aesthetic.
any restaurant in the US where you get food on a tray, the social norm (except in specific fast food places, but its pretty rare) is that you take your tray to the trashcan on the way out.. literally walking right by it. its considered trashy to leave a mess unless there's no place to put the tray after you dump it in the trash.
As a Canadian it is interesting to see how our restaurant culture is similar to Europe in some ways and also similar to the United States in other ways
Diane valet parking is usually provided from restaurants that don't have their own parking facilities. Most restaurants that do valet have arrangements with near by lots or garages, so customers don't have to 1 pay full price for parking and 2 not have to trek sometimes several blocks to have dinner. I was the GM of the largest sports bar in Boston back in the 90's with generous parking. But finding parking for sporting events at Fenway or The Garden was limited and very expensive. We had a shuttle service to take fans to and from the game and our only requirement was that you have dinner and drinks at our establishment
@@moonpie1971 I felt like such an old person because in 2012 when they first became a thing, you needed a special app to read them, but now they’re just built into your phone’s camera and you just tap the push notification to take you to the website
@@AslanKyoya1776 I'm still afraid to scan a QR code. My niece (18) keeps telling me that it won't install a virus but whatever comes up is too small to read on my phone anyway!
@@moonpie1971 for most modern phones you can zoom in and out with two fingers, so it should be less of an issue. Of course though if the menu isn't formatted for a phone that can really make for a lousy experience.
This was a kind of interesting as I've experienced both of the basics and extremes in Europe dining and dining in the USA. In Canada it's a kind of hodgepodge between the two. Like a box of chocolates you never really know what you're going to get. In a semi fancy restaurant in France, they brought the found out covered in silver domes and the Maitre De coordinated the servers lifting the domes so it happened together. We just sat there and looked at the food. The staff looked crushed. We realized as we watched other groups that we were suppose to celebrate each courses unveiling with oohs and aughs , clapping etc. We did this for every other course and staff were much happier with us. Differences.
Yes, QR codes are very much a thing in the States, though now there seems to be a mild backlash against them in the post-pandemic time we're now in...it seems some folks are yearning for the printed menus that we all took for granted, pre-Covid.
Most, but not all restaurants I encounter still have real menus. Those who don't will still print one upon request. Restaurants with a lot of older customer still need real menus because many of them do not own smartphones or have trouble using them.
I’m on a road trip in Oz with my parents from TX, & I’m eating out ALL THE TIME, so this video was very apt. It’s actually helped me think through a few things I’ve been cringing over. They’re slowly cottoning onto the restaurant culture after a couple of weeks
I don't know if this is common in Europe, but in the 1970's a friend and myself dined out at a restaurant in London. They seated us at a table for four that was already occupied by two people. It was a little awkward for us at first, but after about 5 minutes we got into a nice conversation with a father and son from Wales.
A fantastic ( and American Irish) neighborhood bar and restaurant in New Orleans, Parisol’s has a compact dining room, and diners are expected to share tables with people in other parties. It’s a bit unusual for the U.S., but the roast beef poor boys tend to make everyone feel at home.
@@LindaC616 My fiancé and I just had joes Shanghai this weekend. Their new location on Bowery isn’t like their original location when it comes to seating. Though, I didn’t mind that communal seating at their own place. Their soup dumplings are good enough to endure a bit of awkwardness.
@Campioni1092 aren't they though?! My friend in New York moved from Brooklyn to the Bronx about 10 years ago or more. In the interim it has been really hard to get her to go into the city so I haven't been to Joe's in ages. We did ditch her husband one day who cannot have Indian and went to Jackson Diner in Queens because it's close to them. But now I just get my soup dumplings from Trader Joe's and not Shanghai Joes 😔
Wow, that audio difference is barely even noticeable! I was expecting it to be as super echo-y as the audio on your DBD video explaining where you disappeared to, but this one still sounds completely normal.
Having eaten in both, I'll stick to American restaurants! I do admit, the servers in the UK seem to understand Americans and it seems like they go the extra mile so make you feel comfortable. In Germany, it's a whole different story.
Enjoyed the video Diane! This was a fun one. I enjoyed learning the differences between american dining and european dining. Good stuff! Some of it I kind of figured but also some of it surprised me! :) Thanks for creating the video!
We took our first trip to Europe this summer and found many of the differences you point out very refreshing. The food quality was very impressive, especially in the smaller towns we visited. My kids loved the coke with lemon and peach tea. The biggest adjustment was how to order water and not get a small shot glass to drink with. Luckily we had dinner with a friend in London who grew up in England and gave us pointers on various differences since she had spent a lot of time in the States. Bottom line from our experience, the US has a lot to learn to make dinning out more enjoyable and fulfilling.
I know that there are places in high rent urban areas with valet parking, but i don't know if I've ever actually seen one. Also, smaller towns and cities have a lot of shopping center storefront on site and take out eateries, some with servers and some without. There's more variety than you might imagine if you look around. I'm guessing that's probably true in Europe as well
There's one in my small city (which is in a resort, as in Hoywood people can stay at a cabana by the shore and no one will ever know they were there)--even if all you want is a drink at the bar, or to watch the.sun go dawn over the ocean on the lawn with a cocktail--they force the valet parking on you
Big hello from Texas! I always enjoy her reports on the cultural differences between U.S. & European countries. BTW, some American restaurants & bars will let you smoke on their outdoor patios. Keep up the great work Diane!
Don't kid yourself, servers can make bank given the right circumstances. They can walk out with a few hundred dollars in cash after doing a single shift. Switching to a regular wage would be a step down. Of course, this varies by restaurant. Waitstaff and bartenders often prefer the flexibility that their jobs offer.
Your content is outstanding! I enjoy you showing the difference between the continents. I have yet to see a server make as low as $3.00 an hour in the last 30 years, but their wages are low, so tipping is important. When I was in Europe, I spent most of my time in rural Scotland, but I did go to Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands. The food is different and more filling.
I haven't worked in a restaurant in over 20 years, but the last time I did, the servers were only making something like $2.12 an hour. According to the law in my state, if they didn't get enough in tips to bump that up to at least minimum wage, the employer had to pay them the difference. Nevertheless, there were restaurants that would have the servers come in and do prep work before the establishment was even open for business and then still try to pay them only $2.12 an hour, when there was no possibility of them earning tips.
The main differences you mentioned are not required tipping in Europe, the server paying extra attention in the US (to get a tip), no free refills of soda/pop in Europe, and no ice in Europe.
Hello, my name is Blah and I will be your waiter You won’t hear this in Europe when you go out to eat And in America don’t forget to bring your calculator To figure out the tip when you get the receipt And thank you ED, for blocking the audio hater Diane is doing her best and likes to keep things upbeat
Honestly, when it comes to free refills, I think this is more of a fast food thing. I usually don't expect a free refill at a regular restaurant (except coffee, which I don't drink). Don't assume those refills will be free.
Happy Wednesday to you Diane! Here's to another very interesting and enlightening video! I really do appreciate hearing your insights and thoughts on these varied subjects. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You look beautiful as always Diane. Have a great rest of your week and be well! 👋😎❤️
I've never been to a restaurant with a valet. I didn't know that was a thing outside of Uber fancy places Also, 20% tip is upper range. 15% is the norm
Here in Los Angeles, California, USA, there are restaurants that have smoking sections and many that do have smoking sections have it in an out door patio area. I remember when it was considered polite to putyour trash in the bins and the tray on the holder in fast food places and rude if you didn't. Thoughi think people will either will/won't do this depending on the area(niceness)
Hi, D, C, and ED! Yes, more than 90% of US restaurants don't have valet parking either. (It's a big-city thing.) A follow-up to the reaction video on the universe (because YT gets persnickety about my comments): Great video (with some minor mistakes)! Charles and Ray Eames did a similar video way back in the 1970s called Powers of Ten ( YT video 0fKBhvDjuy0 ) Happy Clerc-Gallaudet Week!
McDonald's in the US does ask that people dispose of their own trash after eating and put the tray in the stack for washing. However, they don't say anything to people who don't do it.
I don't know what fast food places you've been to in the US, but I've never heard of leaving your tray on the table when you're done. Maybe it's a generational thing, or, I have rarely eaten IN a fast food restaurant, so maybe this has changed. I may need to go investigate this myself.
Jason's Deli is a minor chain that busses tables. You order at the register, pay, and find a table. They bring your food to the table on trays and then just tidy things up (if you are kind) and they remove the tray after you've departed. Otherwise you are left alone to dine and chat at your leisure.
@Diane Jennings- Please do a video on places to visit and things to do in Ireland! My daughter is getting married in October and has chosen Ireland for her honeymoon! I've shared this video with her, but believe you can share more insight as to what to expect while there. Love the channel, Ben watching for years! Keep up the good work and stay safe! Sharon
Here in Washington State, discounting minimum wage for servers is not allowed so they get full pay plus their tips. Since our minimum wage is going up to $15.74 an hour along with no state or local income taxes, a server here will have a far higher quality of life than most of the country
Most places in South Louisiana- below U.S. Hwy 190- most places won’t bat an eye if you order alcoholic beverages for kids under 21. We also have drive thru daiquiri bars. You should come visit.
Always fun to hear your take on things. Yeah, smoking is probably one health area where the US may be ahead of Europe. We seem to be getting away from vaping now that they’ve discovered that vaping brings in metals and other hazards to the user. It’s still exists, but there’s big effort to exclude kids from it.
I can't speak for other european countries but here in Portugal indoor smoking and vaping is forbidden in every public place. There used to be separated smokers' areas in restaurants but they've also been banned. If anyone wants to smoke/vape during a meal they have to go outside and the restaurants must provide some sort of container where the smokers can put out their cigarettes.
Does restaurants in Europe give free stuff. In US restaurants you get free water, at Italian place you get free bread, steak places you get free rolls, Mexican restaurants you get free chips and salsa. All fast food places you get free condiments.
Servers do get paid between $2-3/hrs, BUT if they make cash tips, they don't have to report them... I've known servers who have made $300 in a single 8 hour shift. And I don't live in a particularly wealthy area.
Actually, waitstaff must report all their tips for tax purposes. Of course, since the tips aren't accounted for on the bill (usually) if the transaction is in cash, it's fairly easy to cheat.
I find the term "car park" interestingly different... It makes you think of a beautifully landscaped green space, designed for cars to hang out and enjoy the day.... I think "parking lot" kind of explains the truth of the situation better. 😏
Why, why did you not have this public service announcement before my only trip to Ireland? We didn't know about going to the bar to order, so we left an establishment in Temple Bar because we didn't have anyone take our order. Someone else just walked up & ordered so we got the idea, but we were already on our way out. Oops. Once again you could have saved me looking like a 😓 tourist. Thanks for the extra videos
Does Diane think that most American restaurants have valets? If I wanted to see a valet, I'd have to drive 80 miles to the nearest big city--and I still wouldn't use the valet service because I couldn't possibly afford to eat in a restaurant that had valets. And bars in restaurants in America? Sure, such a thing does exist--but it's pretty rare, at least where I live. If you're going to be drinking and dining, you'd be more likely to go to a bar that serves food than a restaurant that serves alcohol. Even in restaurants that do serve alcohol, there's not necessarily a bar. The drinks just come out of the kitchen like everything else. Once upon a time there was this thing called Prohibition in America, and its effects can still be felt. If you think that's just an American thing, look at the alcohol laws in Scandinavia. As for tipping--when I went on the Grand Tour of Europe way back in 1984, I was given a little booklet as a gift. This booklet had information on every country, and one thing it stated was tipping rates for each different country. Has tipping disappeared in Europe in the last 40 years, or was that booklet a bunch of bunkum? As for smoking in public places, I'm old enough to be able to remember when there were no restrictions whatsoever. Then the first restrictions came, and restaurants would have a smoking section and a non-smoking section. The division between the two was usually just an imaginary line down the middle of the restaurant. All the smoke would waft over from the one section to the other--which kind of defeated the purpose. I noticed no change in sound after Editor Diane warned us there would be one.
Already subscribed, anything else I can do for you today? 😁 I've seen a QR code for the menu recently, due to the thingy. Not sure how many restaurants got it or still have it. I would have to watch myself, cause here I can end having a full soft drink before my food even comes out....
Of course American restaurants don't have car parks either, it would be fun to see a place where the cars all play together like my dog does at the dog park........
@DianeJennings I'm guessing you don't go out much in Spain? You haven't run into one of those tapas bars where you have to decide if you're going to have tapas or regular portions. Only those ordering regular meals get to sit at the tables. Those who just want appetizers, no matter how many, have to sit/stand at the bar
Two more things I've noticed as an American who has spent a lot of time in Europe... only fast food places serve in the middle of the afternoon. Sit down restaurants are preparing for dinner service, and too busy to make meals at say, 3:00. So if your flight arrives mid afternoon and you don't want McDonald's, go to a grocery store and buy some deli items. Second, in many countries, well behaved dogs are welcome in restaurants. Also, "Cat Cafes" are a thing- a thing we enjoyed.
Not true for the Nordic countries (well many are closed but then but many is open so fairly easy to find somewhere to eat) but VERY true for France. Have not enough experience of the rest of Europe
I like the notion of attentive waiters in the US. I enjoy eating out in the UK, but sometimes you wait ages to get served, or if you want more drinks or perhaps your bill, your waiter is nowhere to be seen. This can be slightly frustrating.
When going to fast food place in America you are expected to take tray and dump your stuff into the garbage. Some people don’t and they are just considered to have bad manners…
M from Wisconsin. I can't force myself to drink anything warmer than 2°C. Our tap water is nice and cold. I hate going to Mexico or China and get a 22°C soda. I would not ask for ice in either of those countries, so I usually pass on drinking anything with food there.
On the carparks. The reason America is different is because of cities are built around the ubiquity of cars, consequently, outside of some major cities and one towns, you need a car to really get around because most places are built up significantly in the 20th century and was built around everyone having cars.
I had fun today are there good places to eat near your where you can hang out and enjoy a good meal. I see Chewie was having a good snooze. Hope you have good time gearing up for Christmas and hope we see you drink a Ritz Fizz this year
The US Federal minimum wage for tipped employees is only $2.13/hr, but with tips they must make at least average $5.15/hr for a wage period. The normal minimum wage (unchanged since 2009) is $7.25/hr, but this can be much higher depending on the particular city or state. From 1938 to 1968, the US minimum wage not only kept pace with inflation, it rose in step with productivity growth. If the minimum wage had kept up with inflation since 1968, it would be $13.70/hr, but $24/hr had it kept pace with productivity.
Servers here in America get paid far less than any other worker in the country. This is because they earn tips. I'm sure it could seem annoying to an outsider how often servers keep checking on you, but we understand this is how they earn the best tips, and the only way they can make a decent living out of being a server.
I live in the U.S., and none of the restaurants where I live have valet parking. I think that's more of a big city thing. As for tipping in restaurants, there is a little misinformation, here: In most states, if the server does not get enough tips to increase their wage from the service industry minimum wage to regular minimum wage, the restaurant is required, by law, to pay the difference. Of course, if that happens a lot, the server can lose their job. As for fast food places, it is always expected for the customer to throw away their own trash. Unfortunately, there are some AHs who refuse to do so.
In the US you can smoke just outside or further from the door; however, typically not in the outdoor seating locations. The smoking laws depend on each state and in VA for example, a single restaurant can have a smoking area and a non-smoking area. They must be separated by walls and doors and have different HVAC systems.
What’s funny about smoking - when I was a kid, it was totally normal to see people smoking EVERYWHERE. Up through my teens, you could smoke in a restaurant. When you went in to eat, the hostess would ask you “smoking or non?” Meaning “do you want to sit in the smoking area or the non-smoking area?” The hilarity of it is that the two areas were side by side with zero divider. It was ludicrous lol in my early twenties they started to fully ban smoking indoors. People were livid. I never thought it would stick. But now it’s the norm. As a kid, people in my family would smoke indoors all the time - in the house, that is. It was normal everywhere. I remember hearing that my friends mother would actually go outside her own house to smoke because her husband wasn’t a smoker and couldn’t stand the smell. I thought that was insane. Fast forward to my husband and I moving in together and there was no question that he’d go outside to smoke. When I first went to a family gathering of his, it was like stepping through a time portal - everyone was sitting in the living room smoking. I hadn’t seen that since the late 80’s lol should I reference that I was born in 83 and have never been a smoker? Lol I feel like I need to give this context
I think the biggest difference restaurant-wise, is that of the idea of what is actually considered a "restaurant" and what is considered a café or bistro. Places like Chili's or TGI Friday's in Europe would be much closer to a café/bistro than a restaurant. That makes the major difference between whether or not you're seating/helping/clearing up yourself, or you have a waitstaff. Fun video DIane! And Mark....c'mon man. What're you even doin' here man?
I think only the fanciest US restaurants would have valet parking. Never heard of it before this, actually. I wish you had discussed what people should wear to restaurants in Europe. I'm wondering if it's more formal than in the US (which wouldn't be hard considering what I've seen).
In the U.S., in fast food restaurants and cafeterias where you carry your food to your table on a tray, you definitely clear your own table -- or should. Buying a drink for a minor in the U.S. is definitely not done. The restaurant would probably lose its liquor license. Of course that wouldn't stop someone from giving a sip to a kid at the table and I don't recall a waiter ever asking to see anyone's ID. BUT - circling back to my first point - that's because buying the drink wouldn't happen in the first place.
I've been scooted out of a restaurant maybe once or twice in my entire life. It depends on a lot of things such as the length of the patron queue, available staff, available tables. I have a French friend who would visit once a year in the before times, and even though she ate with the same kind of anachronistic "mannered" eating with the permanently upside down fork and all, she always finished eating before me. I don't remember the last time I've been asked to leave to make room for someone else. I've always had enough time to finish my food, or at least eat until I'm full, and I've often been encouraged that there was no rush to leave, and I even told a server once to not refill my soda anymore after I had already paid because I was full and we were just talking for a bit before leaving. If a place asks you to leave before you finish eating, it's a bad place that you shouldn't go back to, it's not an American thing. At the same time, I've rarely felt the need to loiter at a restaurant for very long after eating has finished, and more often I've found myself waiting for the server to become visible so I can ask for the check.
I go to a fair number of fancy city restaurants, but I've never had the money to go somewhere with valet parking. Or maybe I have, but didn't have the extra funds, just just parked on my own. I don't know that I've encountered valet parking in the US. The QR code/phone ordering is getting pretty common. It annoys people without smartphones. I absolutely will go order from the bar if my server hasn't come around. I order a glass of wine with lunch OFTEN. It helps the afternoon pass less stressfully. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT (in the US) where it was okay to leave your tray/trash on the table. EVER.
One thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is how loud a lot of American restaurants are. People in the US talk so loudly that you almost have to shout at the person sitting next to you just to talk to them.
Never been to Mexico, huh?
They are quite loud now that you mention it 😂
I've never experienced that in an establishment that would be primarily described as a restaurant. I have experienced it in places that would be primarily described as bars--but even then, the shouting in necessary because of music that's being played way too loud.
@@bigscarysteve Cracker Barrel restaurants are very loud.
Not at nice restaurant.
In the U.S. people are expected to bus their own tables as well in fast food restaurants (and some not quite so fast as well). A good rule of thumb is that if the restaurant has table service, the restaurant will handle all the cleanup. If it is counter service, there is a good chance that one will also see the trash bin with a place to put trays, plates and silverware nearby because the customers are supposed to clear the table themselves.
True enough. This never happened before the 1950's when the fast-food model was created. Expecting customers to clean up was the downside of not having to tip. When fast-food was first introduced, there were signs in the restaurants which read "no tipping." That confused the heck out of a lot of customers for at least a decade.
Exception to that rule are the buffets, some of which post No Tipping signs, but will still bus your table
@@LindaC616 I always tip at a buffet restaurant, because they are going to pick up a lot of plates.
Another rule to go by is if the garbage receptacles are easily accessible. Bussed restaurants usually have receptacles in the back/kitchen for better aesthetic.
@@dongleason9878 yes even though there was a sign on the table saying we weren't supposed to we always attempted to give the person something
Key rule (that applies not just to restaurants, but things in general)-watch what the "locals" are doing, and then do the same thing.
any restaurant in the US where you get food on a tray, the social norm (except in specific fast food places, but its pretty rare) is that you take your tray to the trashcan on the way out.. literally walking right by it. its considered trashy to leave a mess unless there's no place to put the tray after you dump it in the trash.
As a Canadian it is interesting to see how our restaurant culture is similar to Europe in some ways and also similar to the United States in other ways
Oh, can you tell me more? I only know European restaurant culture 😅
This is a generalization, but many of our mom and pop restaurants use parking on the street but like the Americans we do have tipping.
Diane valet parking is usually provided from restaurants that don't have their own parking facilities. Most restaurants that do valet have arrangements with near by lots or garages, so customers don't have to 1 pay full price for parking and 2 not have to trek sometimes several blocks to have dinner. I was the GM of the largest sports bar in Boston back in the 90's with generous parking. But finding parking for sporting events at Fenway or The Garden was limited and very expensive. We had a shuttle service to take fans to and from the game and our only requirement was that you have dinner and drinks at our establishment
It's also NOT popular outside of major metropolitan areas.
QR code menus are a thing here, but many places have gone back to regular menus as most people seem to prefer that.
I just don't understand QR codes. Please hand me a menu.
@@moonpie1971 I felt like such an old person because in 2012 when they first became a thing, you needed a special app to read them, but now they’re just built into your phone’s camera and you just tap the push notification to take you to the website
@@AslanKyoya1776 I'm still afraid to scan a QR code. My niece (18) keeps telling me that it won't install a virus but whatever comes up is too small to read on my phone anyway!
@@moonpie1971 for most modern phones you can zoom in and out with two fingers, so it should be less of an issue. Of course though if the menu isn't formatted for a phone that can really make for a lousy experience.
Editor Diane dropping the hammer. I got chills.
😬😬😬
This was a kind of interesting as I've experienced both of the basics and extremes in Europe dining and dining in the USA. In Canada it's a kind of hodgepodge between the two. Like a box of chocolates you never really know what you're going to get. In
a semi fancy restaurant in France, they brought the found out covered in silver domes and the Maitre De coordinated the servers lifting the domes so it happened together. We just sat there and looked at the food. The staff looked crushed. We realized as we watched other groups that we were suppose to celebrate each courses unveiling with oohs and aughs , clapping etc. We did this for every other course and staff were much happier with us. Differences.
Yes, QR codes are very much a thing in the States, though now there seems to be a mild backlash against them in the post-pandemic time we're now in...it seems some folks are yearning for the printed menus that we all took for granted, pre-Covid.
Most, but not all restaurants I encounter still have real menus. Those who don't will still print one upon request. Restaurants with a lot of older customer still need real menus because many of them do not own smartphones or have trouble using them.
It's always fascinating to a deep dive the differences between American and European restaurants.
I’m on a road trip in Oz with my parents from TX, & I’m eating out ALL THE TIME, so this video was very apt. It’s actually helped me think through a few things I’ve been cringing over. They’re slowly cottoning onto the restaurant culture after a couple of weeks
I don't know if this is common in Europe, but in the 1970's a friend and myself dined out at a restaurant in London. They seated us at a table for four that was already occupied by two people. It was a little awkward for us at first, but after about 5 minutes we got into a nice conversation with a father and son from Wales.
NYC Chinatown. Shanghai Joe's will do this, although they tend to seat Americans together, and Asians together at a different table
A fantastic ( and American Irish) neighborhood bar and restaurant in New Orleans, Parisol’s has a compact dining room, and diners are expected to share tables with people in other parties. It’s a bit unusual for the U.S., but the roast beef poor boys tend to make everyone feel at home.
@@LindaC616 My fiancé and I just had joes Shanghai this weekend. Their new location on Bowery isn’t like their original location when it comes to seating. Though, I didn’t mind that communal seating at their own place. Their soup dumplings are good enough to endure a bit of awkwardness.
@Campioni1092 aren't they though?! My friend in New York moved from Brooklyn to the Bronx about 10 years ago or more. In the interim it has been really hard to get her to go into the city so I haven't been to Joe's in ages. We did ditch her husband one day who cannot have Indian and went to Jackson Diner in Queens because it's close to them. But now I just get my soup dumplings from Trader Joe's and not Shanghai Joes 😔
STILL prevails in France. Not sure about UK.
IN many Asian countries as well
Wow, that audio difference is barely even noticeable! I was expecting it to be as super echo-y as the audio on your DBD video explaining where you disappeared to, but this one still sounds completely normal.
Having eaten in both, I'll stick to American restaurants! I do admit, the servers in the UK seem to understand Americans and it seems like they go the extra mile so make you feel comfortable. In Germany, it's a whole different story.
Enjoyed the video Diane! This was a fun one. I enjoyed learning the differences between american dining and european dining. Good stuff! Some of it I kind of figured but also some of it surprised me! :)
Thanks for creating the video!
We took our first trip to Europe this summer and found many of the differences you point out very refreshing. The food quality was very impressive, especially in the smaller towns we visited. My kids loved the coke with lemon and peach tea. The biggest adjustment was how to order water and not get a small shot glass to drink with. Luckily we had dinner with a friend in London who grew up in England and gave us pointers on various differences since she had spent a lot of time in the States. Bottom line from our experience, the US has a lot to learn to make dinning out more enjoyable and fulfilling.
I know that there are places in high rent urban areas with valet parking, but i don't know if I've ever actually seen one. Also, smaller towns and cities have a lot of shopping center storefront on site and take out eateries, some with servers and some without. There's more variety than you might imagine if you look around. I'm guessing that's probably true in Europe as well
There's one in my small city (which is in a resort, as in Hoywood people can stay at a cabana by the shore and no one will ever know they were there)--even if all you want is a drink at the bar, or to watch the.sun go dawn over the ocean on the lawn with a cocktail--they force the valet parking on you
Big hello from Texas! I always enjoy her reports on the cultural differences between U.S. & European countries. BTW, some American restaurants & bars will let you smoke on their outdoor patios.
Keep up the great work Diane!
Helloooo
@@DianeJennings 🤩💟
These are some interesting differences. I knew some of them and some of them I did not know. Thanks for the video.
My wife and I were in Dublin last month, we intentionally paid attention to the clearing away. Very interesting difference.
Thanks for sharing these differences Diane!
In Ireland when you order food they will always bring you boiled cabbage and if you refuse or complain they physically force you to eat it
It’s true 😳
@@DianeJennings with your a nus
What? 😮 I ain’t eatin’ no boiled cabbage 😂
I love boiled cabbage.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Don't kid yourself, servers can make bank given the right circumstances. They can walk out with a few hundred dollars in cash after doing a single shift. Switching to a regular wage would be a step down. Of course, this varies by restaurant. Waitstaff and bartenders often prefer the flexibility that their jobs offer.
Your content is outstanding! I enjoy you showing the difference between the continents. I have yet to see a server make as low as $3.00 an hour in the last 30 years, but their wages are low, so tipping is important. When I was in Europe, I spent most of my time in rural Scotland, but I did go to Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands. The food is different and more filling.
I am a server and make 3.01 an hour. I don't claim all my tips.
@@sherrismith9002 I am so sorry. That is criminal. What state are you in?
I haven't worked in a restaurant in over 20 years, but the last time I did, the servers were only making something like $2.12 an hour. According to the law in my state, if they didn't get enough in tips to bump that up to at least minimum wage, the employer had to pay them the difference. Nevertheless, there were restaurants that would have the servers come in and do prep work before the establishment was even open for business and then still try to pay them only $2.12 an hour, when there was no possibility of them earning tips.
Thank you! 🥰
@@loopslytle Ohio...
The main differences you mentioned are not required tipping in Europe, the server paying extra attention in the US (to get a tip), no free refills of soda/pop in Europe, and no ice in Europe.
Hello, my name is Blah and I will be your waiter
You won’t hear this in Europe when you go out to eat
And in America don’t forget to bring your calculator
To figure out the tip when you get the receipt
And thank you ED, for blocking the audio hater
Diane is doing her best and likes to keep things upbeat
Honestly, when it comes to free refills, I think this is more of a fast food thing. I usually don't expect a free refill at a regular restaurant (except coffee, which I don't drink). Don't assume those refills will be free.
Happy Holidays to you and your family Diane.
Happy Wednesday to you Diane! Here's to another very interesting and enlightening video! I really do appreciate hearing your insights and thoughts on these varied subjects. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You look beautiful as always Diane. Have a great rest of your week and be well! 👋😎❤️
I've never been to a restaurant with a valet. I didn't know that was a thing outside of Uber fancy places
Also, 20% tip is upper range. 15% is the norm
We generally don't tax food on menus. Drinks other then water may be taxed. But most states prohibit taxing food.
The info was valuable but . . . the bloopers were the best part!
I have a weird brainhead. When you said "The last thing that may shock you" my brain went to "an exposed wire".
Here in Los Angeles, California, USA, there are restaurants that have smoking sections and many that do have smoking sections have it in an out door patio area.
I remember when it was considered polite to putyour trash in the bins and the tray on the holder in fast food places and rude if you didn't. Thoughi think people will either will/won't do this depending on the area(niceness)
I love how in the bloopers the first one has you sounding so posh lolz
It was really interesting to hear the differences between our restaurants and yours Diane. thanks for the fun info.
I'm 63. I don't remember ever going to a restaurant with valet parking. Probably mostly in big cities or rich areas.
Hi, D, C, and ED! Yes, more than 90% of US restaurants don't have valet parking either. (It's a big-city thing.)
A follow-up to the reaction video on the universe (because YT gets persnickety about my comments): Great video (with some minor mistakes)! Charles and Ray Eames did a similar video way back in the 1970s called Powers of Ten ( YT video 0fKBhvDjuy0 )
Happy Clerc-Gallaudet Week!
11:57 Listening to peoples Starbucks orders can be quite entertaining.
Great one Diane
No you’re not the only one Diane. I smirked when you said it too
McDonald's in the US does ask that people dispose of their own trash after eating and put the tray in the stack for washing. However, they don't say anything to people who don't do it.
2:11 Smooth. I like it. They have a word for it in the media a cast ...
I took for granted how good the service in restaurants in the US is compared to Ireland.
I don't know what fast food places you've been to in the US, but I've never heard of leaving your tray on the table when you're done. Maybe it's a generational thing, or, I have rarely eaten IN a fast food restaurant, so maybe this has changed. I may need to go investigate this myself.
eating out for hours?! European restaurants must be very popular!
Jason's Deli is a minor chain that busses tables. You order at the register, pay, and find a table. They bring your food to the table on trays and then just tidy things up (if you are kind) and they remove the tray after you've departed. Otherwise you are left alone to dine and chat at your leisure.
Diane the Editor sitting in a restaurant and the waiter comes up:" Hello, my name is Salmonella Sam, I'll be your waiter tonight...." 😂
I always thought a great name for a diner would be "The Greasy Spoon"--but I'd be afraid to eat there!
I love ED. Why can't she have her own channel? Why are you holding her back Diane?
@Diane Jennings- Please do a video on places to visit and things to do in Ireland! My daughter is getting married in October and has chosen Ireland for her honeymoon! I've shared this video with her, but believe you can share more insight as to what to expect while there.
Love the channel, Ben watching for years! Keep up the good work and stay safe!
Sharon
Here in Washington State, discounting minimum wage for servers is not allowed so they get full pay plus their tips. Since our minimum wage is going up to $15.74 an hour along with no state or local income taxes, a server here will have a far higher quality of life than most of the country
Most places in South Louisiana- below U.S. Hwy 190- most places won’t bat an eye if you order alcoholic beverages for kids under 21.
We also have drive thru daiquiri bars. You should come visit.
Editor Diane is my favorite TH-cam personality 😆
I would never expect to self-serve in a restaurant. A cafe maybe and a fast-food place definitely.
I can't say I've ever tipped more than 20%. I have never heard of leaving the fast food trash on the table. That's nasty
Diane I noticed in the last few videos that E. D. Is doing a banging job! Could you consider giving her a raise. She is earning it. ❤🤩
ED gets a cut if you join Patreon or become a channel member, so you can help her out that way.
@@razzberrylogic Yep! And I suggest all viewers do that. For the rewards beyond their dreams.....
If only! 🤪 thanks I’ll pass on the message
Always fun to hear your take on things. Yeah, smoking is probably one health area where the US may be ahead of Europe. We seem to be getting away from vaping now that they’ve discovered that vaping brings in metals and other hazards to the user.
It’s still exists, but there’s big effort to exclude kids from it.
I can't speak for other european countries but here in Portugal indoor smoking and vaping is forbidden in every public place. There used to be separated smokers' areas in restaurants but they've also been banned. If anyone wants to smoke/vape during a meal they have to go outside and the restaurants must provide some sort of container where the smokers can put out their cigarettes.
Does restaurants in Europe give free stuff. In US restaurants you get free water, at Italian place you get free bread, steak places you get free rolls, Mexican restaurants you get free chips and salsa. All fast food places you get free condiments.
The bloopers for dessert were awesome too!! lol
Servers do get paid between $2-3/hrs, BUT if they make cash tips, they don't have to report them... I've known servers who have made $300 in a single 8 hour shift. And I don't live in a particularly wealthy area.
Actually, waitstaff must report all their tips for tax purposes. Of course, since the tips aren't accounted for on the bill (usually) if the transaction is in cash, it's fairly easy to cheat.
@@bigscarysteve Should've clarified... Yes, they are legally required to report them, buuuuuut...
I find the term "car park" interestingly different... It makes you think of a beautifully landscaped green space, designed for cars to hang out and enjoy the day.... I think "parking lot" kind of explains the truth of the situation better. 😏
I’m an American and I’ve never eaten in a restaurant with valet parking. We don’t have them where I live.
Smoking, a lot of people smoke in Paris. In Philadelphia far fewer people smoke so if you're at a cafe you don't smell the smoke even outdoors
Happy Weird Wednesday! I really enjoy this video.
Why, why did you not have this public service announcement before my only trip to Ireland? We didn't know about going to the bar to order, so we left an establishment in Temple Bar because we didn't have anyone take our order. Someone else just walked up & ordered so we got the idea, but we were already on our way out. Oops. Once again you could have saved me looking like a 😓 tourist. Thanks for the extra videos
Happened to us as well, but waitress took pity on us and showed us to a table.
Does Diane think that most American restaurants have valets? If I wanted to see a valet, I'd have to drive 80 miles to the nearest big city--and I still wouldn't use the valet service because I couldn't possibly afford to eat in a restaurant that had valets.
And bars in restaurants in America? Sure, such a thing does exist--but it's pretty rare, at least where I live. If you're going to be drinking and dining, you'd be more likely to go to a bar that serves food than a restaurant that serves alcohol. Even in restaurants that do serve alcohol, there's not necessarily a bar. The drinks just come out of the kitchen like everything else. Once upon a time there was this thing called Prohibition in America, and its effects can still be felt. If you think that's just an American thing, look at the alcohol laws in Scandinavia.
As for tipping--when I went on the Grand Tour of Europe way back in 1984, I was given a little booklet as a gift. This booklet had information on every country, and one thing it stated was tipping rates for each different country. Has tipping disappeared in Europe in the last 40 years, or was that booklet a bunch of bunkum?
As for smoking in public places, I'm old enough to be able to remember when there were no restrictions whatsoever. Then the first restrictions came, and restaurants would have a smoking section and a non-smoking section. The division between the two was usually just an imaginary line down the middle of the restaurant. All the smoke would waft over from the one section to the other--which kind of defeated the purpose.
I noticed no change in sound after Editor Diane warned us there would be one.
She's made a thriving channel on overblown generalizations about the US. It's a shame really.
Already subscribed, anything else I can do for you today? 😁 I've seen a QR code for the menu recently, due to the thingy. Not sure how many restaurants got it or still have it. I would have to watch myself, cause here I can end having a full soft drink before my food even comes out....
Did ya share?
@@DianeJennings just did.
Of course American restaurants don't have car parks either, it would be fun to see a place where the cars all play together like my dog does at the dog park........
Who knew when going out to eat Diane ever made it somewhere besides McDonald’s? What a shocking development.
Right?!
@DianeJennings I'm guessing you don't go out much in Spain? You haven't run into one of those tapas bars where you have to decide if you're going to have tapas or regular portions. Only those ordering regular meals get to sit at the tables. Those who just want appetizers, no matter how many, have to sit/stand at the bar
There's dodgy tap water in the US too. Like here in MS, I've literally peed blood after drinking our tapwater.
Editor Diane put the smackdown on Mark 🤣🤣🤣
Great cameo of Chewy!
Valet parking isn't common in the usa
Two more things I've noticed as an American who has spent a lot of time in Europe... only fast food places serve in the middle of the afternoon. Sit down restaurants are preparing for dinner service, and too busy to make meals at say, 3:00. So if your flight arrives mid afternoon and you don't want McDonald's, go to a grocery store and buy some deli items. Second, in many countries, well behaved dogs are welcome in restaurants. Also, "Cat Cafes" are a thing- a thing we enjoyed.
Not true for the Nordic countries (well many are closed but then but many is open so fairly easy to find somewhere to eat) but VERY true for France. Have not enough experience of the rest of Europe
In Canada you can experience either the European OR American type restaurant.
In the US lot of places let you split meals. They'll ask you if you want to box it up. Being portion size is so big. 🤠👍
I like the notion of attentive waiters in the US. I enjoy eating out in the UK, but sometimes you wait ages to get served, or if you want more drinks or perhaps your bill, your waiter is nowhere to be seen. This can be slightly frustrating.
When going to fast food place in America you are expected to take tray and dump your stuff into the garbage. Some people don’t and they are just considered to have bad manners…
love the video 💯❤️
M from Wisconsin. I can't force myself to drink anything warmer than 2°C. Our tap water is nice and cold.
I hate going to Mexico or China and get a 22°C soda. I would not ask for ice in either of those countries, so I usually pass on drinking anything with food there.
On the carparks. The reason America is different is because of cities are built around the ubiquity of cars, consequently, outside of some major cities and one towns, you need a car to really get around because most places are built up significantly in the 20th century and was built around everyone having cars.
Chewy is laying there like a lazy lima bean! 😄
I've lived in the US my entire life and I've never even seen a restaurant with valet parking outside of a movie.
I had fun today are there good places to eat near your where you can hang out and enjoy a good meal. I see Chewie was having a good snooze. Hope you have good time gearing up for Christmas
and hope we see you drink a Ritz Fizz this year
I have never had valet parking, saw it a couple of times on tv,
Yeah there is a lot of differences from the US to European restaurants but also with in their own borders as well.
Chewie must have a very hard life, because he always look exhausted.
In Europe they actually pay staff.
The US Federal minimum wage for tipped employees is only $2.13/hr, but with tips they must make at least average $5.15/hr for a wage period. The normal minimum wage (unchanged since 2009) is $7.25/hr, but this can be much higher depending on the particular city or state.
From 1938 to 1968, the US minimum wage not only kept pace with inflation, it rose in step with productivity growth. If the minimum wage had kept up with inflation since 1968, it would be $13.70/hr, but $24/hr had it kept pace with productivity.
Servers here in America get paid far less than any other worker in the country. This is because they earn tips. I'm sure it could seem annoying to an outsider how often servers keep checking on you, but we understand this is how they earn the best tips, and the only way they can make a decent living out of being a server.
I live in the U.S., and none of the restaurants where I live have valet parking. I think that's more of a big city thing.
As for tipping in restaurants, there is a little misinformation, here: In most states, if the server does not get enough tips to increase their wage from the service industry minimum wage to regular minimum wage, the restaurant is required, by law, to pay the difference. Of course, if that happens a lot, the server can lose their job.
As for fast food places, it is always expected for the customer to throw away their own trash. Unfortunately, there are some AHs who refuse to do so.
In the US you can smoke just outside or further from the door; however, typically not in the outdoor seating locations. The smoking laws depend on each state and in VA for example, a single restaurant can have a smoking area and a non-smoking area. They must be separated by walls and doors and have different HVAC systems.
so lets talk about "eating out" - wait, I can't say that LMAO
What’s funny about smoking - when I was a kid, it was totally normal to see people smoking EVERYWHERE. Up through my teens, you could smoke in a restaurant. When you went in to eat, the hostess would ask you “smoking or non?” Meaning “do you want to sit in the smoking area or the non-smoking area?” The hilarity of it is that the two areas were side by side with zero divider. It was ludicrous lol in my early twenties they started to fully ban smoking indoors. People were livid. I never thought it would stick. But now it’s the norm. As a kid, people in my family would smoke indoors all the time - in the house, that is. It was normal everywhere. I remember hearing that my friends mother would actually go outside her own house to smoke because her husband wasn’t a smoker and couldn’t stand the smell. I thought that was insane. Fast forward to my husband and I moving in together and there was no question that he’d go outside to smoke. When I first went to a family gathering of his, it was like stepping through a time portal - everyone was sitting in the living room smoking. I hadn’t seen that since the late 80’s lol should I reference that I was born in 83 and have never been a smoker? Lol I feel like I need to give this context
I think the biggest difference restaurant-wise, is that of the idea of what is actually considered a "restaurant" and what is considered a café or bistro. Places like Chili's or TGI Friday's in Europe would be much closer to a café/bistro than a restaurant. That makes the major difference between whether or not you're seating/helping/clearing up yourself, or you have a waitstaff.
Fun video DIane! And Mark....c'mon man. What're you even doin' here man?
I think only the fanciest US restaurants would have valet parking. Never heard of it before this, actually.
I wish you had discussed what people should wear to restaurants in Europe. I'm wondering if it's more formal than in the US (which wouldn't be hard considering what I've seen).
In the U.S., in fast food restaurants and cafeterias where you carry your food to your table on a tray, you definitely clear your own table -- or should.
Buying a drink for a minor in the U.S. is definitely not done. The restaurant would probably lose its liquor license. Of course that wouldn't stop someone from giving a sip to a kid at the table and I don't recall a waiter ever asking to see anyone's ID. BUT - circling back to my first point - that's because buying the drink wouldn't happen in the first place.
I've been scooted out of a restaurant maybe once or twice in my entire life. It depends on a lot of things such as the length of the patron queue, available staff, available tables. I have a French friend who would visit once a year in the before times, and even though she ate with the same kind of anachronistic "mannered" eating with the permanently upside down fork and all, she always finished eating before me. I don't remember the last time I've been asked to leave to make room for someone else. I've always had enough time to finish my food, or at least eat until I'm full, and I've often been encouraged that there was no rush to leave, and I even told a server once to not refill my soda anymore after I had already paid because I was full and we were just talking for a bit before leaving. If a place asks you to leave before you finish eating, it's a bad place that you shouldn't go back to, it's not an American thing. At the same time, I've rarely felt the need to loiter at a restaurant for very long after eating has finished, and more often I've found myself waiting for the server to become visible so I can ask for the check.
No tipping but they might add a service charge in Europe. The food would cost more if the wait staff is paid more in the US.
I go to a fair number of fancy city restaurants, but I've never had the money to go somewhere with valet parking. Or maybe I have, but didn't have the extra funds, just just parked on my own. I don't know that I've encountered valet parking in the US.
The QR code/phone ordering is getting pretty common. It annoys people without smartphones.
I absolutely will go order from the bar if my server hasn't come around.
I order a glass of wine with lunch OFTEN. It helps the afternoon pass less stressfully.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT (in the US) where it was okay to leave your tray/trash on the table. EVER.
In Minnesota alcohol is served 10 am to 2 am. That is 2014 law that I know of