7 Weird Things About Eating Out in Germany | Restaurants | AGDW

[@ksinfl]

It's considered rude to bring the bill to the table without being asked. I am a German living in the US, and when I first moved here I thought it was so rude to have the bill thrown on the table without having asked for it. But I do appreciate the free tap water in restaurants in the USA. Whenever we are traveling back to Germany my American-born daughters always joke that Germans must be the most dehydrated people they know.

[@arnodobler1096]

No, because we have drinkable drinks, better whiskeys now, than the US. 😂 But she’s young, so okay!

[@simoms2545]

I guess the thing is that in Germany and also other countries like Austria (where I'm from) water is not really seen as a "proper" drink to go with a good meal. We will usually go for beer, wine or at least some kind of juice.

[@agdwchannel]

In the USA you can also order a beer or juice, etc. However, in addition you get free water that helps keep you hydrated. Don’t see any downside to that 😊

[@arnodobler1096]

@Type Ashton (former @The Black Forest Family channel) did a interesting Video about it today. Drinking Water US vs. Europe

[@ileana8360]

Free Water: Unless you are in an area in Europe where it is very hot during the summer or where it is custom to serve a glass of water with coffee, you will not get free water. With regard to Germany you hava to consider, that the food & beverage calculation is much different to the US as the employees for example get much higher salaries. The profit is earned thru the beverages and not the food. As you´ve mentioned our cultures differ as eating at a restaurant is an event on its own, you stay longer, enjoy talking to your company and continue to consume drinks, thus the emphasis in calculation is on the beverages Waiter/waitress not to be found and tipping culture: It depends where you go. I´ve worked for many years in restaurants of different calibers. From family restaurants to 1 star Michelin. In general it is deemed to be non-professional even invasive to constantly interrupt the guests. A good waiter/waitress is one who is always on the lookout for the guest who needs something: empty glasses, empty plates, helpless look on their face, reaised hand etc without intruding the personal space. The better they are in this passive attendence, the higher the tip. AND tipping is custom only where you have service at tables and not at take outs or drive thru.

[@loeganderichsweiler]

Hey guys, just wanted to say thanks for all of the content! I live in Texas and plan on moving to Berlin next summer and found y'alls podcast on Spotify about 9 months ago and just found your KZbin channel yesterday. Love listening to y'all and just subscribed to your channel. y'all have taught me so much especially from the podcast and it brought my mind a little more at ease because now I am a little more informed before my move so thanks again for everything!!!

[@agdwchannel]

You’re more than welcome! We’re glad we helped in even the smallest way. If you ever have any questions just shoot us a DM!

[@saltydagger6635]

I listened to you guys a lot on the podcast and found your KZbin channel a few weeks ago. So awesome to finally see you guys while listening to you 🎉😊 and the views are already impressive. What great start!!!

[@agdwchannel]

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

[@sonjaspillner4151]

That was fun. As a German living in Canada the last 50 years i always laugh about the house hunters wanting large kitchens in Europe to entertain. We meet friends in Restaurants and sometimes sit the whole evening, also there are lots of clubs that meet, skat, choirs whatever - but it mostly happens in a Wirtshaus or restaurant. Have gone back every year, was just in Berlin with my daughter who wanted to stay! Will watch again.

[@agdwchannel]

Thanks for the kind words. Another House Hunters fan :) Hi to your daughter! 😁

[@worldhello1234]

@4:01 Yes, but there is no mandatory tipping. You pay for it either way.

[@andreadee1567]

Sometimes, when I’m asking for the bill for the third time because I want finally escape from the smokers at the next table, I want to be in the US. Can you imagine how bad it was when smoking inside was a common thing and you couldn’t escape it? It changed a lot and I am so happy about it. There are restaurants with a great service here in my hometown which I love. I wish we could mix the best things of Germany and the US. That would be interesting. All in all I love German restaurants because I’m used to their service and I don’t miss free water, because I never had it. When I was in the US years ago my restaurant impression was a bit of a friendly but hectic efficiency. When I go to a restaurant I want to relax. But I can see how weird some things must be for an American. I like your videos because you have a good insight into both cultures.

[@agdwchannel]

Thanks for watching! We agree, neither system is perfect. It’d be great if both could be combined :)

[@michaelgrabner8977]

Well I worked for decades as a waiter...my operating range was for roughly 50 - 60 people sometimes even more...so of course serving took a bit time...and that was decades ago with no computerized deduction...I had to do all the math myself for the bill which I had to write in front of the customer telling me what he ordered to pay which I had noted anyway..now imagine a table of 10 people having a good time for hours and then paying "getrennt" totally tipsy..to handle the amount of bills in roughly 10 minutes is fast... Now as a customer I always pay on spot when I get the ordered round of drinks (= Ich möchte das gleich jetzt zahlen)...it is highly efficient, I can leave when ever I want because everything is payed already...and the waiter gets a tip several times when I stay longer and have several rounds and I´m always already dealt with which is both a huge benefit for him as well. When I´m out eating I ask for the bill (Zwischenabrechnung) in the moment the waiter is collecting the empty plates, and when I´ve paid I subsequently order something to drink or coffee or whatever in order to start my routine I described

[@agdwchannel]

Interesting system. We never thought of paying for each round individually. We might try that someday :)

[@Ben_in_4k]

Now the new thing is getting asked to tip via the payscreen for picking up your order and getting coffee also went to a beer garden here the other day and the default lowest tip was 18% and upwards to 24% but being American even with shit service I still tip atleast 15 😢

[@agdwchannel]

Oh I hate that screen. I’ve also seen it even when I bought a single cookie at a bakery and the screen came up asking for a tip. A tip for what? I gladly click “no tip” in those situations. For a tip, some sort of service needs to be performed ;)

[@justkamala]

You forgot to mention that in Germany, one needs to watch out for the stammtisch 😅

[@agdwchannel]

True!

[@Hari983]

Water is not free in the US either lol. It's just hidden in a bill that is already 70% more expensive than what it would be in Germany.

[@agdwchannel]

Not sure where you came up with that 70 percent number 🤷‍♂️

[@Hari983]

@@agdwchannel really? looks like sarcasm never came to your mind lol

[@coolalvin2]

In America, everyone tends to wait to eat until the entire table has their meals. In Germany, you eat when your food arrives.

[@agdwchannel]

Ah interesting. Never noticed that, we’ll need to pay more attention next time

[@Christina-Maria_von_Gusinski]

No, it's the opposite: In Germany you wait till everyone has his meal and in the USA people starts eating directly.

[@simoms2545]

@@Christina-Maria_von_Gusinski From my experience, you just sit there in front of your meal and wait until somebody says: "Jetzt fangt doch an, das wird sonst alles kalt!"

[@Christina-Maria_von_Gusinski]

@@simoms2545 Das gibt es natürlich auch. 🙂 Aber man wartet immer, bis jemand das Essen eröffnet, entweder mit diesem Spruch oder damit, dass der Gastgeber Platz nimmt und den ersten Bissen verzehrt bzw. 'Guten Appetit!' wünscht. Anzufangen, ohne dass alle am Tisch sitzen und ihr Essen vor sich stehen haben, wäre ansonsten eine grobe Respektlosigkeit, besonders, wenn man privat irgendwo eingeladen ist.

[@arnodobler1096]

I recently saw a YT video. A couple visited a "German restaurant". They paid $36 for a pork knuckle, without tax and tip! and were happy 😊

[@agdwchannel]

Oh my…

[@BitterRealityBrewing]

Great job! (Subbed, of course) Keep up the great work, as I plan to eventually get over to Germany, as it is #1 on my bucket list. Water is rare here in the U.S., although most good wait staff and high-end places will always ask if you would like water, especially if you are drinking alcohol. Service in the U.S. is really good based on the location, as most of Florida is good, but in and around Atlanta, GA usually sucks. Almost forgot to thank you for the heads up about the smokers as I have a heart condition and can tolerate air pollution, especially cigarettes and cigars.

[@agdwchannel]

Thanks for the sub! True, service quality isn’t uniform everywhere. California is pretty good though :)

[@reinerbergkamen7852]

12:15 Metallica - Carpe Diem Baby

[@agdwchannel]

The song at the end? Unfortunately, not Metallica. We could never afford the rights ;)

[@reinerbergkamen7852]

@@agdwchannel Ja nee, is klar 😉

[@coolalvin2]

Americans have great customer service so when they travel they interpret a lack of that as being "rude"

[@agdwchannel]

That sounds definitely possible

[@JoseHall-v4e]

White Summit

[@sarahmichael270244]

Food is cheap in germany so restaurants making money with the drinking.