heights_yankee Posted June 19, 2006 Share Posted June 19, 2006 So true. Waiters in Europe suck. Granted we are a less patient society in the States and are used to dinning quickly. I have grown so accustomed to quick service that I come to expect it everywhere I am. I have spent much time in Europe and the service always drives me crazy. Usually I am just hungry and grumpy and expect a drink to be brought within 10 minutes of sitting down. For the most part I have chilled out and come to expect it when overseas. I usually end up tipping them 10% in europe if I think it will be appreciated. It is my way of saying: "Thanks for the service, I am a stupid American and feel it neccesary to tip you even thought your service sucked." I hear ya! My husband and I are prone to 2 hour dinners, so I appreciate when someone knows to be hands off. When I think of dining abroad, I'm thinking more about actually getting what you ordered, getting more than one plate at the same time, having the needed condiments. All the little things we take for granted, they just don't seem to care about. I did tip, too. I think that in some ways the waiters thought "here are some Americans. I'm going to be a little sweeter to them b/c they'll throw some extra coin my way." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted June 19, 2006 Share Posted June 19, 2006 I hear ya! My husband and I are prone to 2 hour dinners, so I appreciate when someone knows to be hands off. You would love my service, but I was also in the business of turn and burn, you would have been gone from MY table in about 45 minutes, an hour tops. You still would have felt that a 20% gratuity was in order, and would have still asked for me next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted June 19, 2006 Share Posted June 19, 2006 You would love my service, but I was also in the business of turn and burn, you would have been gone from MY table in about 45 minutes, an hour tops. You still would have felt that a 20% gratuity was in order, and would have still asked for me next time. LOL! That just happened to us in Austin. We were at this great restaurant and had a very leisurely dinner, but when we went to pay the bill we realized we had only been there for an hour. That waiter did exactly what he was supposed to. We never felt rushed or bothered, but he still managed to flip his table. He deserved and got a 20%+ tip. (I waited tables for 10 years if you include college, so I tend to be a very heavy tipper for the right service) When we got in to the car we were still marvelling at how he managed to get us out of there without annoying us even once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krix Posted June 19, 2006 Share Posted June 19, 2006 Well, waiters in Europe do get tipped, at least in Germany. It used to be 5%-10%, but with the Euro conversion, many restaurants raised their prices (which many hadn't done so in yrs), so now many only round up to the next Euro. Of course there were always the special rules: "if the boss waits on me, they won't get tipped" and "I'm a poor student, I don't have to tip at all". Btw, there is a profession in Europe (or at least Germany, Austria and Switzerland) that completely lives off tips: croupiers at casinos, they don't get a salary at all, they are paid from the "tronc", which is what you leave at the casino when you win. Apparently, croupiers are guaranteed a certain share depending on their position though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted June 19, 2006 Share Posted June 19, 2006 LOL! That just happened to us in Austin. We were at this great restaurant and had a very leisurely dinner, but when we went to pay the bill we realized we had only been there for an hour. That waiter did exactly what he was supposed to. We never felt rushed or bothered, but he still managed to flip his table. He deserved and got a 20%+ tip. (I waited tables for 10 years if you include college, so I tend to be a very heavy tipper for the right service)When we got in to the car we were still marvelling at how he managed to get us out of there without annoying us even once. Yeah, that was my cousin, he told me all about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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