American Reacts to 5 Ways British and American Etiquette Is Different!

[@jamesleate]

It was only a couple of years ago that I realised Americans don't learn how to use cutlery properly.

[@kevinhayes7830]

We have a strange way of doing things in Europe and the UK we expect the employer to pay the servers wages not the customer 😂😂😂

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

One day, I may hire a personal waiter to take around US restaurants obviating the need to engage with their system. A Jeeves like person, it could be spectacular.

[@Varksterable]

Next time I'm abroad from the UK, I'll make it a point to go up to the bar/reception at the end of the night and declare (as loudly as my UK upbringing permits); "Hey! Do you pay your employees a reasonable wage, or am _I_ expected to do that through tips?"

[@jaidee9570]

When I first arrived in the US many years ago, watching Americans eat I wondered if they were taught to eat by pigs: shovel food in until their mouths are full, talk with partially masticated food, use a drink to swill down their food, hold and use cutlery like a chimpanzee. I was genuinely shocked at the lack of civilized table manners. The shock wore off quite quickly, but I did get asked once where I learnt to eat, along with being told "it's so refined".

[@dcallan812]

it drives me mad, most just use a fork to shovel it in. Very few Americans I met know how to use both a knife and fork as we would. I have no idea what they would do with 3 or 4 courses with the cutlery set out on the table. 🤣

[@GlynJones-j9r]

After 57 years in the north of England, I have never heard prayers before food.

[@jaimemurphy2208]

Only when replicating The Simpsons

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

School. Definitely in my primary school . I’m 71

[@LowPlainsDrifter60]

"For what we are about to receive, may the lord make us truly thankful. " --- London 1960s;

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

You poor benighted heathen, you!

[@bobhale7302]

68 and the Midlands here and I have literally never eaten a meal (apart from when I was visiting friends in Chicago) where anyone said a prayer before eating.

[@jillybrooke29]

I dont know anyone who says Grace in UK

[@planekrazy1795]

Our local Vicar said he wanted to say Grace at my wedding of course we said ok as he did a good job in the Church and he's a really nice chap. He said "If You Would All Bow Your Heads" uncomfortable shuffling, he then said "Thank The Lord For What We've Got, Give Us Strength To Scoff The Lot.......Amen" immediate chucking 😂 This is why he is so liked in the area by the religious and non religious.

[@ivylasangrienta6093]

The way a lot of Americans keep the utensils in the correct hands, cut the food, put the knife down and then switch the fork into the right hand always looks so so wrong. Like a toddler, really. I've never said grace in my life, it's not a thing anymore.

[@justmandy6572]

To me, a waitress telling me she'll get the check without me asking for it, is really rude. They might as well say: We got your money, now get out.

[@MsPataca]

That's exactly the point. It's a way of shoveling the customer off the table to make way for the next group, in the interest of turnover maximisation. Restaurants that exhibit this behaviour are the worst.

[@justmandy6572]

@MsPataca I know. Still I think it's rude. 😃

[@robopecha]

that is the last time i went to that place.

[@wltb3486]

When I was at school (early 1970s, Scotland) we always said "grace" before lunch was served. Spoken in unison "For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen". I have never said grace before a meal since leaving school in 1975 (50 years!).

[@davidbreathwick8313]

we used to say, for what we are about to receive, the pigs have just refused.... amen

[@Annikilou]

Same time (nearly), same country, same grace. Then moved to an English school and it was 'Benedictus benedicat'. I've hardly heard it since, but I do think saying grace is a very civilised habit, although I'm not remotely religious.

[@shirlgirlc6734]

I was brought up in South Wales I remember in Primary school we said: Thank you for the world so sweet Thank you for the food we eat Thank you for the birds that sing Thank you lord of everything amen Did anyone else do this in UK school

[@artemisfowl66]

Yes. We often sang it too 😊

[@clymtc]

yes, did the same in the West Riding

[@MrBulky992]

Yes, the same at infant school on Tyneside (1959-62).

[@slytheringingerwitch]

Yes, living in the South West, we did that one as well.

[@maxthecat14]

I did. I grew up in South Devon, we sang it a school and and bedtime at home.

[@stuartmcivor2276]

5:30 You steady the knife and fork by putting your index finger on the back like Lawrence demonstrated.

[@alexanderwiles2003]

You also normally have the fork a little lower down in the hand

[@miamonan9627]

The big difference in cutlery handling was a real revelation to me a while back. Even more so than the appalling lack of kettles.

[@peterholmes3011]

Scooping is wrong because you raise your elbow pointing it into the face of the person next to you. Use a knife for cutting - it has been designed with a sharp edge for some reason.

[@lulusbackintown1478]

You are quite right, elbows at your side no arms on the table, sit up straight! I've watched Americans eat it is quite amazing but not in a good way

[@tinap8227]

44 years and never heard 'grace' said in the UK. Even dated a vicar for a while and he didn't do it. He would come over after his service and never said grace even to himself (that I noticed).

[@rachelpenny5165]

We used to do this at school. This was what we said ' For what we are about to receive, may the lord make us truly thankful. Amen'

[@brigidsingleton1596]

At school we always had to say Grace before eating. Not since!!

[@fleuriebottle]

True

[@gennytun]

It is said in some families, especially among active church members.

[@stephenlee5929]

I remember saying grace in London 'Good Bread, Good Meat, Good God, Let's eat'. I think that was it, Sorry, no we didn't.

[@kevinhayes7830]

Britian doesn't have the cult of religion we just eat 😊

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

"Thank God Dinners Here" is about as close to Grace I have had. 😉

[@KenFullman]

@@jon-paulfilkins7820 My sister went through a phase of being extra religious and decided to say grace at dinner. My mother decided we should humour her and show some respect as she spoke. Which we did, but immediately after saying "Amen" we all just burst out laughing. That was the one and only time I've ever experienced grace at the dinner table.

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

@@KenFullman As a kid, my Uncle though they were referring to his "Aunt Min" (I think her real name was Minnie). It has become a family staple at church functions.

[@enemde3025]

Oh God. It's Lawrence again ! The guy who STILL thinks he knows what it's like being " British " ! We don't use the fork to cut food with . That's what the SHARP KNIFE is for ! Then there's the funny way that some Americans hold a fork !! (saw this on The Big Bang Theory/Amy). Also the hand swap thing with the cutlery ! NEVER said Grace before any meal in the UK. We don't call them SERVERS in the UK. It's just WAITER/WATRESS. When I am eating....just leave me alone. IF I want you I will ASK for you ! " host" ? It's just the same person that brings you the food. " Delivery servers " !? In the UK we pay our staff REAL wages...by law !! The minimum wage is £11.44 ($15) an hour outside of London. No need to tip. Maybe leave a £1 coin if you've had a good meal. A British waitress won't chase you down the street if you don't leave a tip !

[@vindscreenviper]

He usually seems quite accurate doesn't he?

[@tinap8227]

@@vindscreenviper he's had a few misses, here he doesn't even hold his cutlery correct.

[@ThornyLittleFlower]

When I was 19, I got a job working at the Hilton as a silver-service waitress. It taught me all the proper etiquette, including things like serving the eldest female first and the order of cutlery, etc. I took the job so that when the time came when I'd be dining with posh people, I would know what to do. I'm now 50; it turned out it was never going to be an issue in my life 😂

[@eleanorrichardson5262]

We are the rare religious Brit family, when we are with others who are religious we all pray before we eat, but not holding hands. When we eat with others who aren't religious, the adults will try and very quickly and subtlety, silently say a prayer before we eat. With regard to restaurant etiquette, I used to be a waitress. It's considered very impolite to constantly interrupt people while they're dining. We make sure to be there quickly after arriving to take a drinks order, then give a few minutes before a food order. A few minutes after receiving a dish we will check that everything is ok. After that you are meant to just stay close so people can get your attention if they need you. You never ever ask if they want the bill, that would be rude and they would think you're rushing them. The dining experience is so different between the countries though, when I was in America I was astounded how much you were rushed and rushed out. In the UK going for dinner is an entire evening event. When my friends and I go out for dinner we arrive at 7 and leave after 11pm it's a whole social experience. In the US you barely get enough time to eat.

[@mattstacyandthepomskies]

Most of my village are somewhat religious, we have five churches! We used to have more. Catholic, All Saints, reformed CofE Oxford Movement, Methodist and Wesleyan. I find it amazing how from village to village in Britain customs change so wildly.

[@chrisdale5443]

When I was young the only time grace was uttered was when we visited an uncle who was also a lay preacher. As for Americans using cutlery it always looks to me as though they found the knife and fork yesterday and are making it up as they go along.

[@TheWebcrafter]

6:03 - SAYING GRACE - In my early years, we would say grace at school lunchtime. "For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly grateful." I recall Clint Eastwood being asked to say 'Grace' in the movie, 'The Beguiled' (1971)... "Good bread. Good meat. Good God, let's eat."

[@richardarcher7093]

Only time I did prayers was in the military at mess functions, I was asked to say grace in Belize, I was in panic & said “thanks for the shirt on my back, the shoes on my feet & the food I’m about to eat, amen”.

[@poppychu7443]

I’m 64 went to normal school we did assembly in the morning where we all sat on the floor, while the headmaster went about a religious story from the bible. We always said grace at dinner time it goes As what we are about to receive may the lord make us truly thankful Amen. I am not religious only gone to church for weddings and funerals.

[@sharonwelsh8102]

I grew up exactly the same way

[@LilMonkeyFella87]

Same here, the headmaster had a little book of psalms and he would read one each morning for the school assembly and teach some sort of morale to the children from it. It wasnt a religious school but we all said the lords prayer before dinner too. But that was 30 years ago. I don't think they do it anymore

[@Jamie_D]

Does the US have etiquette? 😅

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

For a European not noticeably.

[@graceperry2623]

there are videos of American etiquette here on KZbin. It is very different from the UK.

[@robcrossgrove7927]

At the various schools I went to in the 60's and 70's, we had to say Grace before we had lunch. I think from my point of view and that of most of the other kids, it was just something we were made to say. We never really thought about it, and neither me nor my family ever said grace at home, or even if we went to a restaurant.

[@ChloeAndBetty]

Oh FFS, Lawrence talking bollocks about Britain again.

[@AlBarzUK]

Born in the late 40’s in Cheshire. Living (then) with grandparents who were born in the 1800’s. They said grace every family meal. Granddad died, grandma moved, nobody said Grace since the 1960’s. Tipping - me mum would always leave a quid or two *on the table* so the waitress would see it when clearing the table, and we’d walk out without saying anything about it.

[@GuitarsAreHard]

Using the folk like a shovel? Ohhh, I've just fainted....

[@nolaj114]

Clutching my pearls as we speak...

[@gennytun]

Grace is said at formal dinners in Oxford and Cambridge colleges, usually in Latin, because they are very traditional institutions and this dates back to the middle ages when the colleges were founded. Even among practising Christians today, it is quite common not to say grace at every meal (though some do) but at church social gatherings and at special domestic meals in Christian households it is more likely. The British reserve about public displays of religion may lie behind the decline even among people of faith.

[@joolzessam1824]

I used to train waiting staff in the UK. This is how it should go. The customers are seated, given a menu and the waiter/waitress will take a drinks order. When they come back with the drinks they will ask if you are ready to order. Once the order is taken they will add starter cutlery, and/or swap any inappropriate cutlery such as changing an ordinary knife for a steak knife, etc. Food is served. Ask if they would like any sauces, depending on what they are eating. Walk away. They should give the customers enough time to taste everything, but not so long that they are half way through their meal, and ask if everything is okay for them. If it is not, this gives the restaurant enough time to rectify anything that isn't to their liking. This is done with every course. Throughout the meal the waiter/waitress will check visually from a distance whether their glasses are low and if so, approach the table to ask if they would like any drinks. The only time a customer should have to leave the table is to go to the loo. They shouldn't have to look around for their waiter/waitress. The British way is about being observant without being intrusive; it is all about anticipating what the customer needs. If a couple are on a date, you stay back more. If it is a business meeting, you also stay back. If the the customers are quite relaxed and chatty, join in. If it is a party and they are very jokey, join in the jokes and have a laugh with them. This is the UK so even banter is allowed. The American way is seen as intrusive, annoying and quite rude; after all, the customer is there to see the other dinner guests, not you.

[@alexanderwiles2003]

10- 13.1% of people go to church weekly in all of britain, but it's important to point out that many families still pray, they just choose to do it at home and only go to church once holidays (it's partly because church is very different between the uk and america and the reasons we go are somewhat different too) also its notsble that 9 percent of schools in the england are catholic schools so its pretty so even non religious kids get exposed to it.

[@mattstacyandthepomskies]

I agree, millions of Brits will go to church only for weddings, baptisms, occasional mass and events, but pray privately at home. Up until very recently many state schools in England were Church of England aligned and held daily prayers at assembly and grace at meals, so most people should be at least familiar with prayer and grace, even if they no longer say either daily.

[@MoJo-dj8qb]

I'm nearly 50. Growing up my parents, sister & I DID "say grace". But only on Sundays, Christmas & New Year. Mind you Dad was a local preacher so......... Nowadays I only say grace when I go to my sister's at Christmas. Only because she is still very religious and her husband is a local preacher.

[@robcrossgrove7927]

I'm English. Sometimes I'll eat with a knife and fork properly, and sometimes I'll just use a fork, depending on what I'm eating, where and with whom. If I was eating a roast dinner, I would eat properly with a knife and fork. If eating something like sausages and mashed potato, I just use a fork. But quite often a knife is necessary to get things like peas, sweetcorn and baked beans onto the fork.

[@valeriedavidson2785]

We are talking about using the cutlery PROPERLY. Don't give Americans the wrong impression.

[@nicw5574]

How come when a server does ask us how the food is they always ask when I've got a mouthful. I usually give them a thumbs up. If we've had good food and the servers are friendly we always tip. We appreciate them, I work in customer service and know that the customer is sometimes a complete idiot.

[@lindaforbes9940]

When holding a fork here, your fore finger is placed above the tines of the fork so you can increase the downward force and keep the meat/vegetable steady while you cut it. Give it a try. You might like it.

[@WithChrisW]

I fear you eat like a toddler

[@onecupof_tea]

We're taught to use cutlery by our parents, and nursery schools will show children. I remember when McDonalds first opened, and there were not even paper plates, or knives and forks. People were genuinely confused that everything was chucked on a tray. We've got the hang of it now, but not the ice in coke.

[@julessimone4959]

My sister-in-law is a church of England vicar, married to an Oklahoman. We've never said grace when we've had a meal at their house.

[@annedunne4526]

Cutting your food with a fork and then shovelling it in is weird to me. Also "grace"

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

"Cutting' food with your fork is uncouth.

[@stevebills5716]

I was holdiaying in the US last year and after 2 weeks of US portion sizes all I wanted at the restaurant we were in - it was Olive Garden if i remember rightly - was soup and some salad. But before I'd finished my soup and salad the blinkin waitress came along with a second dish of soup and more salad! I felt obliged to eat it, but told her as clearly as I could that I didn't want any more! If I'd wanted 2 dishes of soup I'd have ordered 2 dishes. US restaurants can be completely mad.

[@vaudevillian7]

We said grace at my Primary school (Elementary) because it was a Church of England school but otherwise I’ve never said it or heard it said in the last four decades

[@joolzessam1824]

I have just had the revelation as to why we in the UK have a massive problem with knife crime, whereas in the States you have a massive problem with gun crime instead; it is because Americans aren't very adept at handling cutlery. lol

[@CatherineBeesley-n6u]

Brought up in a religious Catholic family. I’d literally never seen grace said in any home ever. First time it happened to me (that’s what it felt like) was when I moved to Australia. Hadn’t twigged that a place we’d been invited to dinner was with a born again Christian family. It was excruciating as my kids looked blank, then confused and then amused. They’d never seen or heard of it. Had to give them a lesson in hiding the amusement bit, but couldn’t really blame them for the confusion. They were all under 10 and I was hard put not to giggle myself.

[@christinewright110]

We used to say "grace" before our meals at home but that's because my mother is Catholic. We are English, living in England. We also used to say it at school before lunch, in the refrectory. I don't say it now at all.

[@Itshushhush]

Yeah CofE school had grace also. FOR WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE, MAY THE LORD MAKE US TRUELY THANKFUL,AMEN Edit: not at home, except Christmas & Easter.

[@theunreadcomment9834]

With regards to the cutlery I've seen that Americans will hold the fork in their left hand and knife in their right to cut something. Then put the knife down completely and switch the fork to their right and rotate it to pointing up before eating, and then switch it all back and go again. I've even heard one person remark that most people are right handed to eating with your left is awkward. We used to say grace in primary school, since it was a Church of England School. We would also say the lords prayer of a morning and sing hymns in assembly. The only time outside of school we said grace was eating with my grandparents (on my Dads side)

[@Sachielk30]

20% of world population are left-handed, according to stats I've come across, so can understand that remark. I'm left-handed but learned to hold the fork in my left hand, and knife in my right - my brother, who's ambidextrous, holds the fork in his right hand/knife left. Apparently (?) my way is standard for right-handed peeps, lol.

[@timidwolf]

A lot of restaurants include a "service charge" when they bring the bill in the UK. You don't have to pay it, BUT you have to ask them to remove it and Brits, being Brits, rarely do this.

[@maximushaughton2404]

The only time I have heard a blessing at a meal, was when my mother used to go over to some American friends of hers. Did you know that if you tip someone in Japan, they tend to take it as an insult. It's like saying your not paid enough, because you have a low skilled job.

[@helenwood8482]

If a waiter interrupts a meal, they are not getting a tip. It's the childish eating again. Americans want waiters to be like their Mum. Brits want the waiters to be invisible. If you need their attention, you just make eye contact.

[@G0Lg0Th4N]

I do wish you'd stop watching 'Lost in the Pond' videos. He's so out of touch and just feels like a parody of a British person at this point.

[@fleuriebottle]

I’ve been thinking the same thing

[@fleuriebottle]

Ex pats often stay in the decade when they left that country.

[@jamesleate]

He isn't out of touch and a lot of his videos are pretty good.

[@tinap8227]

@@G0Lg0Th4N he doesn't hold his cutlery correct, you don't put the ends in the centre of your palm.

[@FixTheLanes]

Agreed, he is very out of touch

[@mattstacyandthepomskies]

We said grace every lunch time at two of my three schools in England. We say grace now only at special events such as Christmas, weddings etc.

[@Sachielk30]

Were they Catholic Schools, if you don't mind me asking? We didn't have this in C of E schools, although we went to church every Wednesday for an hour, the one year I was at my first Secondary School (I973), before moving from a city to a town in Shropshire.

[@mattstacyandthepomskies]

@ no, both were state run Church of England schools.

[@Sachielk30]

@@mattstacyandthepomskies 👍

[@artemisfowl66]

If you ate like an American in my school you would be put on the isolation table in disgrace and letters sent home. The lack of table manners would be the source of very poor judgements on your family's ability to raise a child. It is not just Europe that eats properly, it's Australia, NZ, SA, basically every developed country in the world that does not use chop sticks. I know this seems strange but lack of table manners is taken very seriously in all of these countries and does reflect very poorly on the USA.

[@vaudevillian7]

We use a knife and fork a bit like two chopsticks, they work In conjunction - we tend to mix more stuff on the fork too where I’ve noticed Americans won’t combine parts of the meal but just eat one thing off the plate. Maybe that’s why you slather everything with multiple sauces because you only pick up one thing at a time 😂

[@lynnejamieson2063]

The only ‘Grace’ that I’ve experienced prior to a meal, is the Selkirk Grace by Robert Burns that is often said before tucking in at a Burns Supper. I grew up in a household where my Mum attended Church every Sunday, she was also highly involved with the Church and had us attend Church along with her until we were in our mid teens and allowed to make the decision of attending ourselves and I don’t remember ever having to say any form of ‘Grace’ before a meal.

[@skegbyguy]

After 62 years of life, I can honestly say I've never said grace before a meal, or know anyone who does.

[@derpderpington824]

Yeah. You use what we call "Toddler Style".😂

[@buidseach]

I think in the UK the previous one or two generations ago did it, especially on Sundays :)

[@andybaker2456]

I have a feeling that Americans absolutely love Lawrence. Brits...not so much! Basically, because it's been so long since he actually lived here, a lot of what he says about the UK is outdated or misremembered. Plus, the weird voice he puts on these days, and the way he puckers his lips making his mouth look like a cat's bottom winds us right up!

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Ironically, in this video the accent, pauses and tone of voice have all been err... toned down.

[@andybaker2456]

@JP_TaVeryMuch The video is at least four years old (I had a look on his channel), so may be from before he went a bit...odd!

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

@@andybaker2456 Oh no. I was hoping that even he had grown tired of the twang too.

[@danielferguson3784]

I am 70 years old & remember that when I was a child saying Grace before a meal was quite regular both at home & in school etc. In recent years, from maybe the 1960's this sort of thing generally stopped, & is very rare these days. Americans don't seem to know how to eat properly using a knife & fork, but this is something we learn when we are young children. Using a fork only is considered to be baby style feeding, not the way a grown adult should behave. Using one's hands at the dinner table is also not done in the UK, as this is reserved for only when absolutely necessary, as when eating bread or similar. Laurence is wrong, we don't use knives & forks when eating strawberries or other desert dishes, but usually only spoons. Using one's hands/fingers is OK for 'snack' foods, when one is often not at a dinning table situation, but somewhere less formal. This has increased since the introduction of American style fast foods, like Pizza, Hot Dogs etc, which only really began in the 1960's, but these sort of items are not usually considered proper for a dinner.

[@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey]

I used to tip my waitress in my favourite Chinese restaurant, I am in the UK, but one day she asked me not to leave my tip as they did not get to keep them. The bosses put them all in the safe and they never saw them again. At Christmas every girl got £10 bonus. I never gave another tip.

[@lindahartley8469]

At 59 I have not said prayers before food as an adult . In primary school we used to say prayers ( chant) lol ‘ for what we are about to receive, may the lord make us truly thankful, amen .

[@jamiesimms7084]

Weird thing is I've always scoped things the American way. I learnt to have the fork facing down to cut things when I was a kid, but then I always turn it back around. I do some things similar to both but I have my own etiquette and conventions

[@richardcook9794]

Love watch them eat they eat like kindergarteners , bashing everything with a fork hehehe

[@carolineskipper6976]

Saying grace in the UK happens in families who are particularly religious - but in the UK, that's a lot fewer than in the US. So most people here don't experience this fiirst hand. Your description of server etiquette is the same in the UK for the start of the meal, but once the food has arrived you might get a quick sweep past to check you have everything and its fine- but after that they will stay the hell away until they see from the way you position your cutlery (knife and fork placed side by side, pointing away from you) that you've finished, at which point they come, clear the table, offer the dessert menu, and repeat as above. They then leave you until you signal you want the bill. We wouldn't want it any other way.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

20:15 Pig blood? Do you intend to eat a Full English breakfast at all times as pig's blood is quite rare to find at other meals?

[@amsodoneworkingnow1978]

Re saying grace in Scotland i cannot recall a single evening meal growing up where grace was not said, my husband and I still say grace at our meals as do our children and grandchildren,

[@LPR579]

You hold the cutlery like a barbarian 😂😂

[@stonedninja7371]

Also , my wife and I think you have the most relaxing voice!👍👍

[@isoney]

I’d say grace is less usual in the UK but I used to volunteer for a Christian charity and we had grace when we had our work meals out (also, just prayers in general). But I mostly remember saying grace at primary school. My school was small enough that we could all start eating together at dinner time. Edit: just remembered last couple of Christmas we had grace as one family member is quite religious. But it clearly wasn’t a big enough deal to stick in my mind.

[@xenspace5764]

I was brought up in a mixed household religiously speaking - my father was non-religious and my mother was a born-again Roman Catholic. As my mother had a larger role in my upbringing, I attended church and considered myself Christian until the age of 12, when I gave up on it. I'm really wondering if 'saying grace' was something I experienced as a child; it seems familiar but I honestly can't be sure (it might be a false memory gained from reading American literature, such as Maya Angelou's autobiography). Having said all this, ironically I do quietly speak words of gratitude before eating a meal, and have done for probably the last 25 years following a spiritual experience in my early 20s. I'm an atheist, and converted to Buddhism (an atheist religion) in my mid 30s, and continued with the practice as it seems to be in harmony with Buddhist practice. The words I say before eating are: 'I give thanks for the food, and thanks to the foo,; may I use its energy well'.

[@gerardburns2500]

I've never said Grace in England but I usually still tip in England. Im English

[@valeriedavidson2785]

In Britain it is considered bad manners to eat with a fork in your right hand. You keep the knife in your right hand.

[@bigdaddigaming]

The tip in America is usually between 15 and 20% so Laurence is right but so are you, it all depends on how generous you are and if you think they earned more than the 15% expected

[@lulusbackintown1478]

I can't remember saying grace but may have done at a wedding reception. We didn't say grace at school lunch as different years went in at different times. As we had eaten midday we had high tea at home which we had before my father returned from work. He ate his dinner alone and us children had to be quiet so he could have his meal in peace. My grandparents were victorian so I think my parents were quite strict

[@robcrossgrove7927]

The only times I ever tip are when I get a taxi or if I go to a restaurant. Although it's very rare I'll go to a restaurant, and these days, service is often included, so I don't need to pay at all. In fact, last time I went out to eat, I was digging in my pockets for a tip and the manager/owner himself told us service was included.

[@eddisstreet]

At my primary school we said grace before meals - since then I've been to a few formal dinners where grace was said and then there would also be a loyal toast

[@mcgeorgeofthejungle6204]

Mostly in primary schools during the 50s-00s you may get kids to give the Lords Prayer before dinner time "Oh lord .. we thank you for the food we are about to receive". Since the 00s more and more kids are not religious or parents don't want it enforced on their kids in the UK. In the US Christianity is still a large thing. But yeah I am sure some families in the UK will do grace/lords prayer before eating, but not many.

[@bengtolsson5436]

Here in Europe we also have Grace at the table. Although that was in the 19th century.

[@michaelhodgson662]

Lord, for what we are about to receive may we all be truly thank full, amen.

[@natashafletcher600]

In the UK grace is probably "rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub" if it's said at all

[@wulfgold]

I've introduced saying grace to meals since seeing Talledega Nights, but we only do it at crimbo and not sober. It also gives "that uncle" the opportunity to get it out their system.

[@Cleow33]

Britain is a much more secular society than the States on the whole. We used to say grace in primary school...but i am very old! We also used to have religious Christian assemblies but most schools don't now unless they are faith schools.

[@MissSJ4429]

I cannot understand how Lawrence has kept a wife in the US. He comes across as rather smug and his attempts at humour are cringey.

[@ozzyprogdomino8815]

If I went to dinner at someone’s house in the UK and they did holding hands and praying before eating.I may ask to leave pretty sharpish 😮

[@ConnorDunn-p5r]

For pudding / dessert. It's a spoon and a fork

[@sailingayoyo]

We never said grace. Then some Native American teachers come to the UK and my family did some work with them, we all assumed that blessing the meal was a Native American thing, turns out it is a general American thing 😂

[@tinap8227]

Sevuce staff giving their name is extremely odd to me whenever I have been to the US. Why would I care? Also had to tell them to stop interupting us.

[@LolPleb]

Sorry, I just cannot stand watching videos by this guy - he seems to be permanently doing an bad impression of Alan Partridge or some other "funny" presenter, with his weird vocal style full of fake sarcasm and non-jokes.

[@EdDnB]

Ar Har.. that’s all hes missing!! 😅

[@distracted5097]

Okay as an English person who had a grampa that was a pastor. I grew up having to sing this one prayer every time before I eat. Looking back on it is so weird now. 😂 I still remember every word and note lol

[@CatholicSatan]

I've lived and worked all round Europe, West to East, South to North and eaten dinner with French, German, Portuguese, Montenegrin, Bulgarian, Dutch, Polish, Welsh, Irish etc.etc. people and families. I've never heard anyone say grace before eating, ever.

[@bigbird2100]

Great video 👍I think Lost in the Pond is lost and out of date 😂😂😂😂

[@rosemarymcgrory-eb2gd]

I think he sank , in the pond lol 😊

[@watfordjc]

The only reference I have for saying grace is US TV/film. The same reference also suggests that if hand-holding is such a thing, you do it the Hokey Cokey way rather than the Auld Lang Syne way (I've never witnessed anywhere outside of song where a circle of people might hold hands in the UK, with the possible exception of crossing a fast-moving river if three people count as a circle). The only time I have said Amen after grace in the UK was before an imaginary meal (Captain Hook was not offstage). The previous line was "For what you are about to receive, may the Lord make you truly grateful." and the next line was "Please, sir, I want some more." I think Mr Bumble is the only person I have ever seen say grace in person.

[@Sparx632]

Waiters definitely do check on you in the UK, it’s just more subtle. They’ll be walking past to serve another table and will give a quick “everything good?” then everyone will reply “oh yes it’s lovey thank you” and they’ll say “great” and move on.

[@MorDreadful]

Saying Grace or giving thanks for the food was actually a thing in England but since the decline of Christianity and the promotion of "caveman think" called Atheism (just diving in), it has virtually disappeared. My family would say grace when we were kids, My grandparents were that way, it was quite common. Did you know that talking during meal times is actually bad manners to the chef. If in restaurant, burping because you are full to chef is and should still be considered the highest compliment, because all the gas built up in the stomach has been forced out as the food takes up space. Also, talking in a restaurant while eating is also a bad manners thing unless the food is not even good for a dog to eat. IF the food is good, so good you are really enjoying the floasvours, then don't talk. Enjoy, as being quiet is also showing the chef or whoever how much you are enjoying the food. If asked a question and expected to reply? then just say, if you do not mind but can we talk after the meal? I am enjoying and would like to continue enjoying the food and flavours, something like that. It tells the chef how good their food is and how much you appreciate their hard work. How did i know? my dad who has done some hospitality/ran the kitchen for even Royalty, Head of State and so on. I can't say much more. Tipping, as someone from the UK, I would take tipping as an insult due to the lack of a decent wage, or like begging because the restaurant is so cheap to pay a decent living wage at the very least, in fact, I wouldn't even take the job in the first place.

[@mooxim]

We never say grace but we are an unreligious family. We might have Mum say "tuck in" or some might say "bon appetit". At special occasions we might clink glasses and just say "cheers" I have, maybe once in my life, been around folks who would say, as a form of saying grace, "Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub."

[@helenwood8482]

In a restaurant, we try to talk so we are not audible to the next table or the staff.

[@trevorcook4439]

Outside of the US, we don’t call the bill the cheque. It’s not the cheque. A cheque is a way you can pay the bill if you are in the 1980’s. No other countries expect tipping to pay the wait staff. Waiters not servers. Servers?! How derogatory.

[@cliffordwaterton3543]

Wish I hadn't watched this because now i feel i have to correct him on everything. 2:47 yes that's true but I wouldn't eat spaghetti or curry like that. what we don't tend to do is swap hands (cut the food, put the knife down, put fork in right hand) which I see a lot in US tv shows. You would be seen as ultra religious if you said Grace here. 11.37 of course we converse when we're eating out but we're not shouting. Being asked if I'm enjoying my meal every five minutes is gonna piss me off. Yes - we tip! We really do tip - so tired of videos saying we don't.

[@stephenleader-s9x]

The last time I said grace was at school, I left school in 1974.

[@trevorcook4439]

US cutlery use is like watching a toddler eat 😂

[@tracymuckle8512]

I'm 50, from the west of Scotland and I've never heard anyone say grace before a meal

[@slytheringingerwitch]

We should do a course on how to use cutlery. Americans seem incapable of using them effectively.