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Seconded. As a Brit living in the US I often find US waitstaff's behavior intrusive. In particular, the 'is everything OK?' asked five minutes after the main co

Seconded. As a Brit living in the US I often find US waitstaff's behavior intrusive. In particular, the 'is everything OK?' asked five minutes after the main course is served always bemuses me, especially when it interrupts someone talking. It's cultural for sure.

bluedino 13y ago
The reason they come back right after delivering the food is so they can make sure your meal is as you ordered. Is something cold or taste especially bad? Was the wrong sauce or filling used by the cook?
- fragmede 13y ago
  Everyone understands that as the reason for it, but it doesn't make it less rude or overbearing. If I have a problem with the food, I'll get a waiters attention - perhaps with a snap of my fingers - which is expected and not at all rude and let the waiter know. Snapping my fingers at the waiter isn't something I'd ever do in the US though.
  - rmc 13y ago
    Finger snapping would be viewed as rude in Ireland & UK as well.
- MaysonL 13y ago
  In other words, they trust neither their own ability to take the order correctly, nor the kitchen staff's ablility to fulfill.
  - proofofconcept 13y ago
    More like they are accounting for any source of human error which is impossible to completely eliminate even with a top-quality staff.
  - statictype 13y ago
    Yes. And unit tests are only for programmers too sloppy to get everything right the very first time, all the time.
    - Dylan16807 13y ago
      I expect code to be wrong. I expect writing to have minor flaws. I expect a sandwich to be a sandwich. Mistakes that aren't noticed by the time all the food is handed out should be rare, and there's no problem in flagging someone down in that case.
dalyons 13y ago
I'm an aussie and I find it really annoying as well. Definitely cultural. Be polite & friendly at point of order, and then stay out of the way. A reply below you says its to make sure you got what you ordered, etc. I could count on a few fingers the times ive ever got the wrong thing/meal, and then you just ask.
mdda 13y ago
The primary reason they do this is less altruistic, though. Once you've agreed that the meal (as presented) is satisfactory, you're on the hook to pay the bill.
- sejje 13y ago
  Bar/restaurant owner here, and I assure you, this is NEVER the reason we check on the table.
Gormo 13y ago
As an American living in the US, I also find the "is everything OK?" interruption to be especially annoying. One thing I've noticed, though: this happens in chain restaurants regularly, but in smaller, independent restaurants only rarely. It's not really cultural: I think it's a product of the disconnect that naturally occurs when people without any feet-on-ground presence are making policies to be followed by the staff, and the other end of the feedback loop isn't isn't in place.

bluedino 13y ago

The reason they come back right after delivering the food is so they can make sure your meal is as you ordered. Is something cold or taste especially bad? Was the wrong sauce or filling used by the cook?

fragmede 13y ago
Everyone understands that as the reason for it, but it doesn't make it less rude or overbearing. If I have a problem with the food, I'll get a waiters attention - perhaps with a snap of my fingers - which is expected and not at all rude and let the waiter know. Snapping my fingers at the waiter isn't something I'd ever do in the US though.
- rmc 13y ago
  Finger snapping would be viewed as rude in Ireland & UK as well.
MaysonL 13y ago
In other words, they trust neither their own ability to take the order correctly, nor the kitchen staff's ablility to fulfill.
- proofofconcept 13y ago
  More like they are accounting for any source of human error which is impossible to completely eliminate even with a top-quality staff.
- statictype 13y ago
  Yes. And unit tests are only for programmers too sloppy to get everything right the very first time, all the time.
  - Dylan16807 13y ago
    I expect code to be wrong. I expect writing to have minor flaws. I expect a sandwich to be a sandwich. Mistakes that aren't noticed by the time all the food is handed out should be rare, and there's no problem in flagging someone down in that case.

dalyons 13y ago

I'm an aussie and I find it really annoying as well. Definitely cultural. Be polite & friendly at point of order, and then stay out of the way. A reply below you says its to make sure you got what you ordered, etc. I could count on a few fingers the times ive ever got the wrong thing/meal, and then you just ask.

mdda 13y ago

The primary reason they do this is less altruistic, though. Once you've agreed that the meal (as presented) is satisfactory, you're on the hook to pay the bill.

sejje 13y ago
Bar/restaurant owner here, and I assure you, this is NEVER the reason we check on the table.

Gormo 13y ago

As an American living in the US, I also find the "is everything OK?" interruption to be especially annoying. One thing I've noticed, though: this happens in chain restaurants regularly, but in smaller, independent restaurants only rarely. It's not really cultural: I think it's a product of the disconnect that naturally occurs when people without any feet-on-ground presence are making policies to be followed by the staff, and the other end of the feedback loop isn't isn't in place.