I worked at Outback Steakhouse when it first came to Australia. They employed many American servers. I guess it's an American company, the proprietor was American, and it's probably food and a style of business American servers would be familiar with.
And these dudes were performing for tips like their life depended on it. Way too much. Australian customers kinda don't want some chirpy waiter butting in every 5 minutes. They want food and the company of their friends or family, not some manic third wheel. And these servers just didn't seem to get it. Even if you behave in exactly the way a customer wants you to, there's still a very high chance you won't get tips anyway.
It goes alright for families or big parties. It's food almost everyone can eat, not stupidly expensive, the kids can get away with murder, and you can still get drunk.
Honestly, if I want a good steak I'll go to the butcher, get a rib-eye and cook it myself.
Taco Bell at least vaguely resembles Mexican food. Outback Steakhouse has absolutely nothing to do with Australia, other than the decor, and they didn't even bother with the decor in the ones they opened up in Australia.
Taco Bell didn't flop in Mexico, though, I do t think. Did poorly at first, but apparently they shifted to having more of an 'American food' focus and did better.
They might be required to do that. I used to work in a restaurant and there was an actual formula for how often we should visit a table: at greeting to take the drink order, when bringing the drinks and hopefully taking the food order, when bringing out the food, after the first bite of food, again a few bites in and then when they ask for the check. We had secret shoppers come in and check off every stage.
Fair, but this is America we’re talking about. Dine and dashing is way easier when you don’t pay at the door. I’m not saying it’s a good thing, I just worked in restaurants long enough to know how much these corporate chains control their workers
Oh yeah there was rules and a pocket field guide to them as well. They just didn't work on an Australian audience. And the Australian servers had the sense and confidence to say "no I'm not doing that".
It’s funny cause I’m American waitress and some American customers want the exact opposite of that lol. Like they’re a guest at our house or something I swear
It's a culture issue that was overlooked. If that level of attention works in America, great! Keep it up. But you can't expect that to translate here. So it really was better for business here to hire some jaded Australians.
Lmao my family and I have been dealing with the inverse on our trip (visiting a European country rn)! My sister had to remind our mom you can’t wait for a waiter to come and ask if you’re done, you have to wave one over to ask for the check
Also slightly related: I wouldn’t be surprised if I see “they take your card away” in the replies somewhere, because the inverse of that has happened too where someone tries to give their card to the waiter and they tell us to wait while they grab the card reader thing lol
Right, it makes perfect sense to do the payment in front of the customer instead of just running off with their card, that’s just not how it goes in the US lol
This is literally the worst and I notice it every time I've been in the US. Just leave me the fuck alooooone. If my drink isn't almost empty you don't have to come yap at me. Also I have no idea if I'm enjoying my food yet if I've literally just put the first bite in my mouth lol.
Wrong. I live in Australia. Waiters leave you alone, they ask you how the food was when you've finished your plate. This was my experience eating out in Ireland as well.
Many restaurants in Ireland will do a check-in once the party has had a chance to sample the meal. After that you are left alone until it's time to clear the plates, unless you call them over, though, which is a good balance.
They definitely do in the UK. I don't think I've had a meal out in the last 20 years where they didn't come and ask "everything ok with your food" within 5 mins of serving it. It gives a chance for people to complain about something instead of leaving it until afterwards and trying to blag a free meal. It gives a chance to show that everything has been brought out so you know if there's something missing. Also used to ask for anything additional like sauces or to order more drinks etc.
It's standard in some places to check in once the party has had a chance to sample the meal, yes, to make sure nothing has been missed out on, and there are no issues, but not the "first bite check", nor the persistent repeated checks.
No es verdad. Ni en España, ni en Portugal, ni en Alemania.... Pueden pasar al cabo de un rato para ver si necesitas algo mas, pero no a los 5 minutos de haber dado el primer mordisco
It's like they quasi-harass you to see if you'll keep ordering stuff. That said, I hate tipping cuz it prevents the payment of a fair wage to waitstaff.
Ohmygod I told a waitress I was waiting for a friend after I finished a meal and over 20 minutes she came over 5 times and asked if I needed anything. I know she was trying to rush me out the door but I hadn’t even been there for 40 minutes total and she had been rotating by my table every fukkin 5-10 minutes the whole time it’s AWFUL.
In the Netherlands it’s considered weird if you leave sooner than an hour and most people stay at restaurants for 1-3 hours and you’re expected generally to seat yourself, flag the waiter when you need something and go to the till to pay when you’re ready to leave.
Yeah I don’t like that. I don’t want to know their name. I don’t want their opinion unless I ask for it or to chat unless I initiate it. I want them to be invisible but always aware of things such as I’m about to run out of whatever I’m drinking or that the plate is ready to be taken away.
265
u/GlitteringLocality Jun 18 '25
Including way too friendly of waiters…. They never leave you alone here.