Expectations/norms are different across the world, even across Europe, so poor service to you might be seen as excellent service to a local. Everyone warned me

Expectations/norms are different across the world, even across Europe, so poor service to you might be seen as excellent service to a local. Everyone warned me before I went to Paris about rude and inattentive waiters. All the service mostly seemed normal to me though. More than a country vs country thing, though, I've noticed poorer service in super touristy areas that vacationers might tend to gravitate towards (even in my home city). The worst experience I had in Paris was near the Eiffel Tower. I can venture a few guesses as to why, entitled vacationers making demands that suck up more than their fair share of the waiter's time, unfamiliarity with the local cuisine leading to misunderstandings, pressure from managers to turn tables over too frequently, etc. But again, this is all anecdotal. :)