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As an American that visits Germany, I absolutely hate how eating at a restaurant is seen by many as an event where you hang out forever, as opposed to a routine

As an American that visits Germany, I absolutely hate how eating at a restaurant is seen by many as an event where you hang out forever, as opposed to a routine service I expect as a fairly quick and formulaic pitstop between other obligations. There seems to be no difference between classes of dining out, in this regard. I also suspect you are out of touch. QR code menus and payments were not a thing in the US before the beginning of 2020 either. It was a very quick adaptation because the infrastructure was already there.

RalfWausE 5y ago
As i mentioned: No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally). Your observation is correct: Many germans like to stay in an restaurant es an event, not just to eat something quick ... for this purpose there are tons of Pommesbuden, bakerys or Dönerläden.
- vmception 5y ago
  Although I do hate it when aspects of Germany become more like America, I do wish that sit down nice restaurants had wait staff that checked on us a little more frequently with the expectation that maybe we want to leave!
  - ThePadawan 5y ago
    I've had an OK experience with just demanding the bill when your table's last plates are being taken away.
  - ubercore 5y ago
    As an American sitting in Germany right now, I think that wait staff here aren't bothered if you try to actively get their attention like they might be in the USA. Making eye contact or a polite wave, etc. Feels rude based on US service, but I see people doing that more often here.
    - RalfWausE 5y ago
      The best thing in most restaurants is - as soon as the waiter is something near you - just say "I would like to pay the bill", or in german "Ich würde gerne zahlen".
  - herbst 5y ago
    The not 'checking on you' is the whole point we prefer about our 'system'. Just call them if you need something and otherwise they let you enjoy your time without permanent nagging or time pressure
  - brummm 5y ago
    I actually find this super irritating in American restaurants. Just let us enjoy our meal in peace...
    - vmception 5y ago
      Yeah there is a happy medium that alot of wait staff gets wrong here in the states
- squiggleblaz 5y ago
  > No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally). Is that something that very much depends on the region, or a personal obligation? I've eaten in restaurants in Hamburg, Berlin and Munich during pandemic (summertime last year until about November, and since June this year). Eating this year has been limited to outdoors, but that's fine. (None have had this crazy QR code link menu idea. I have always received a traditional menu and ordered by asking the staff what I want at the appropriate time.)
  - RalfWausE 5y ago
    >Is that something that very much depends on the region, or a personal obligation? Its a personal obligation: My wife and i, we life in the same building as my older parents (in a big old half-timbered farmhouse)... so, until now (both parents are vaccinated, my wife got her second shot yesterday and i will get it soon) we were careful...
    - wombat-man 5y ago
      Ah, wow, glad you were able to finally get it
MarkusWandel 5y ago
If you think it's weird to linger over food, take a meal as an event, rather than just a quick supercharger pit stop for the body - did you encounter the kind of restaurant where you're expected to sit at a table with random strangers? Party of three, there's room for three more, what's the problem? I've been to one where the side dishes were simply put in bowls on the center of the table and you helped yourself as needed. I'd lived in North America for a long time by then (left Germany when I was 13) and initially this seemed a bit strange, but you get used to it. Eating as a social occasion where you might even meet interesting people. All before COVID of course.
advanced-DnD 5y ago
> I absolutely hate how eating at a restaurant is seen by many as an event where you hang out forever, as opposed to a routine service I expect as a fairly quick and formulaic pitstop between other obligations. Cultural difference. If you don't want to spend time with your friends then don't accept invitations of going to a restaurant.
- atatatat 5y ago
  What if I want to socialize with people before, during, and after we eat...just for 20 minutes, though, not an hour plus?
- nitwit005 5y ago
  It is a cultural difference, but it's fairly clear it wasn't always enjoyed. People in some parts of Europe really appreciated fast food places when they first started appearing, as it gave them an option that cut out much of the restaurant meal time expenditure.
- vmception 5y ago
  Nope, I’m going to enjoy the cuisine experience with friends or solo and still want to get out of there in a timely manner. It’s not the only thing I am going to do that morning, afternoon, or evening.

RalfWausE 5y ago

As i mentioned: No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally). Your observation is correct: Many germans like to stay in an restaurant es an event, not just to eat something quick ... for this purpose there are tons of Pommesbuden, bakerys or Dönerläden.

vmception 5y ago
Although I do hate it when aspects of Germany become more like America, I do wish that sit down nice restaurants had wait staff that checked on us a little more frequently with the expectation that maybe we want to leave!
- ThePadawan 5y ago
  I've had an OK experience with just demanding the bill when your table's last plates are being taken away.
- ubercore 5y ago
  As an American sitting in Germany right now, I think that wait staff here aren't bothered if you try to actively get their attention like they might be in the USA. Making eye contact or a polite wave, etc. Feels rude based on US service, but I see people doing that more often here.
  - RalfWausE 5y ago
    The best thing in most restaurants is - as soon as the waiter is something near you - just say "I would like to pay the bill", or in german "Ich würde gerne zahlen".
- herbst 5y ago
  The not 'checking on you' is the whole point we prefer about our 'system'. Just call them if you need something and otherwise they let you enjoy your time without permanent nagging or time pressure
- brummm 5y ago
  I actually find this super irritating in American restaurants. Just let us enjoy our meal in peace...
  - vmception 5y ago
    Yeah there is a happy medium that alot of wait staff gets wrong here in the states
squiggleblaz 5y ago
> No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally). Is that something that very much depends on the region, or a personal obligation? I've eaten in restaurants in Hamburg, Berlin and Munich during pandemic (summertime last year until about November, and since June this year). Eating this year has been limited to outdoors, but that's fine. (None have had this crazy QR code link menu idea. I have always received a traditional menu and ordered by asking the staff what I want at the appropriate time.)
- RalfWausE 5y ago
  >Is that something that very much depends on the region, or a personal obligation? Its a personal obligation: My wife and i, we life in the same building as my older parents (in a big old half-timbered farmhouse)... so, until now (both parents are vaccinated, my wife got her second shot yesterday and i will get it soon) we were careful...
  - wombat-man 5y ago
    Ah, wow, glad you were able to finally get it

MarkusWandel 5y ago

If you think it's weird to linger over food, take a meal as an event, rather than just a quick supercharger pit stop for the body - did you encounter the kind of restaurant where you're expected to sit at a table with random strangers? Party of three, there's room for three more, what's the problem? I've been to one where the side dishes were simply put in bowls on the center of the table and you helped yourself as needed. I'd lived in North America for a long time by then (left Germany when I was 13) and initially this seemed a bit strange, but you get used to it. Eating as a social occasion where you might even meet interesting people. All before COVID of course.

advanced-DnD 5y ago

> I absolutely hate how eating at a restaurant is seen by many as an event where you hang out forever, as opposed to a routine service I expect as a fairly quick and formulaic pitstop between other obligations. Cultural difference. If you don't want to spend time with your friends then don't accept invitations of going to a restaurant.

atatatat 5y ago
What if I want to socialize with people before, during, and after we eat...just for 20 minutes, though, not an hour plus?
nitwit005 5y ago
It is a cultural difference, but it's fairly clear it wasn't always enjoyed. People in some parts of Europe really appreciated fast food places when they first started appearing, as it gave them an option that cut out much of the restaurant meal time expenditure.
vmception 5y ago
Nope, I’m going to enjoy the cuisine experience with friends or solo and still want to get out of there in a timely manner. It’s not the only thing I am going to do that morning, afternoon, or evening.