Thursday, January 11, 2007

Eric Three Thousand Talks International Dining.

We just got back from London and I thought I'd share a little dining observation before I get to a quick review of our trip. Let me know if you have had the same experience or if I'm just crazy.

OK, so this is how dining works in Los Angeles: After you've finished your meal your server will come to your table and ask you if there is anything else you would like, at which point you can say, "No, thank you; we'll just take the bill." This process seems to make sense but it is not practiced everywhere.

In fine-dining restaurants in New York, for instance, this is how it seems to work: After you've finished your meal your very attentive server stands patiently nearby so that you can signal him or her to come to the table and you can ask for your bill. I completely understand that it can seem rude for the server to simply bring you a bill, as that can appear as though they are trying to kick you out of the restaurant; and this system works perfectly well as long as you realize you have to do this. The first time I was in a nice restaurant in New York many years ago with some coworkers from Los Angeles we sat at the table for a very long time wondering when we would get the bill.

Now, I'm not sure why I've never noticed this before, but this seems to be the system in London: after you've finished your meal your server, who has been very attentive up to this point, suddenly refuses to acknowledge you existence, hiding at the far end of the room and refusing to look in your direction. After a while you eventually give up and are forced to set your table linens on fire, at which point your sever will come to the table and you can request your bill. I really don't understand how this is supposed to work. Does anyone have any insights?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah! Eric is back! And as hilarious as ever!

angelwingshealoneself said...

Yeah eric international dining is fun.
In Asia, the one member of the table, excused himself or herself to use the toilet, and viola, the bill is paid when you asked for it.
In Uhrope, the tables do not turnover for the night. one sitting per customer experience. coffee is served as the last course, after the dessert, cheese plate then coffee, italian style.
the check, who knows, the highest fancy title pays for the tabs, all on company expense. lol
In good old us of a, yeah, they kick you out once you managed to finish your texas sized (supersized) meal. the table turnes over 4-6 times per evening. Americans eat early, and other parts of the world eat really2 late.
the funny joke about US portions is it is called American sized it, and for extra2 large portions, they called it texas sized. How sad. no wonder all US people are the heaviest in the world. sad but true. l;ol

Anonymous said...

Welcome home!

I'm waiting with bated breath for when you have the chance to watch the last two Top Chef episodes and write up your reviews. If you haven't already heard or watched yet, the ninth episode, called 'Seven' is a doozy! It will be comedy putty in your hands, sir!

Vic said...

Darling, welcome back. We've all missed your humorous insights.

I do so love eating salad after the main course and drinking warm beer. And those Brits have it all figured out, don't they, with those little white marks on the wine glass telling servers how far to pour.

Top Chef has hit highs and lows since U Been Gone. I've been positively shrill on my blog and all my humor has left me.

Hope your trip was divine.