Five Ways British and American Meal Etiquette is Very Different (American Reacts)

[@robtyman4281]

Brits generally don't like waiting staff coming over ever few minutes. We find it intrusive, and after a while - quite annoying. If I need more water or wine I would rather do it myself than have a waiter/waitress rush over and do it for me. It makes me feel awkward and like I can't do anything myself. We Brits like to be left alone once we have our food, are quite capable of pouring our own wine without getting angry about it, and will only alert a waiter if we need them. Otherwise we expect them to stay away and come back when we have finished a course. The Americans like being 'fawned' on and fussed over.... Brits don't.

[@G1NZOU]

It's pretty similar in Japan apparently where they don't want to have intrusive wait staff constantly coming over. Take the order, deliver the order, hand over the bill, job done. Seems we Brits share that "don't want to make a fuss" attitude.

[@raylightbown4968]

When I've dined in an expensive hotel or restaurant, I have had 3 or more server/waiting staff exclusively hovering round my table (even when eating alone). It was a bit disconcerting the first time, particularly for someone to unfold the napkin and place it across my lap, but it hasn't been intrusive. It's been quiet, discreet, attentive and easily ignored.

[@peterdurnien9084]

It's the same with the romantic violinist, bugger off.

[@eileencritchley4630]

True we don't and yes it's intrusive especially when you are deep in conversation or just popping your fork full of food into your mouth. We like to be left alone and we'll call you if we require further help. We don't like 'pushie staff'.

[@dmmoctober]

Unless you’re at like a work dinner - love them topping me up then so u don’t have the embarrassment of reaching for the … water all the time!

[@RushfanUK]

I'm in the UK and will always tip if the service in a restaurant has been good, it's not expected and therefore has more meaning for the staff in the UK.

[@JonInCanada1]

My mom once, many, many years ago mentioned that TIPS stood for To Insure Proper Service; which is why when I travel to the UK and Europe, I tip accordingly. As for the boisterous US dining experience, I actually find dinning across the pond a more relaxing experience than in North America.

[@Harani66]

When visiting Americans to have a meal, never ever offer to help lay the table 😬

[@libbysevicke-jones3160]

@@JonInCanada1 yes that theory applies in the US where the server will in go over the top to give you good service in the hope they get a generous tip, as that tip pays their rent. Tipping here however, causes confusion- if you try tipping in here in New Zealand we give the money back. We get paid a liveable wage.minimum plus benefits. Unfortunately I noticed Canada has a few habits they have adopted from the USA like tipping. But my experience having worked in Canada many years ago, is that Canada also pays a liveable wage and has all the other benefits we too enjoy like free healthcare etc.

[@VivaCohen]

@@Harani66 Why not?😮

[@Harani66]

@@VivaCohen because "lay" is slang for "have sex with" 🤣

[@CRINOTH]

Here in the UK the servers will generally just check in with you and do the "Is everything OK?" thing just once during the meal - much more than that can be considered to be intrusive to the customer. I do generally tip but it's done as a small gesture of appreciation rather than being something that the server needs to survive.

[@shoutinghorse]

If out for a meal with a group of friends the general rule is we all put a pound coin in for the tip. So if it's say six or us (three couples) the tip will be £6.00 whatever the price of the meal. We don't work out the percentage.

[@peterdurnien9084]

I was asked 15 times if everything was alright at a restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

[@peterdurnien9084]

@@shoutinghorse I can't do percentages either.

[@CRINOTH]

@@peterdurnien9084 By that point I'd be finding it hard to not look annoyed

[@MarkPMus]

My sentiments too.

[@kalinaphillips9779]

If the server would come to my table more than once, I would be unhappy. I prefer when after asking me if everything is ok/fine/good the server leaves me alone to enjoy my meal and the company.

[@cgi2002]

Thats just how good customer service in the UK works. Serve the food and drinks, give you a few minutes to find any issues, approach and politely ask if everything is ok, and when given the response, leave. Further interruptions are deemed rude, if your not summoned, your not needed. If plates need clearing, ensure everyone at the table has finished eating before approaching, unless it's a large party and some ordered additional courses/desserts or more drinks, then just apply a bit of common sense. As for tipping, quality of service is important but the most important thing is often quality of the establishment. Higher end establishments are the places were tipping is much more common.

[@WideCuriosity]

I'd rather that they didn't come once. It's an unwelcome interruption which means that I have to respond rather than carry on enjoying the meal, and any company I'm with. It's an annoying American activity that UK eating places seem to want to copy; as if we didn't have our own culture. If I need to discuss something with the waiter I'm perfectly capable of initiating a discussion.

[@nick7076]

If servers were paid a decent wage, and didnt have their tips considered part of their wage, there wouldn't be a need to tip except for good service.

[@mrtappyasmr7702]

Yep, I disagree with tipping entirely. I'm not a wage subsidy for a piss poor cheap business. I went to one place last week and the minimum tip was 18%!!!!

[@traceys8065]

Exactly!! Glad it was covered coz it makes us Brits look cheap when we're not lol

[@staceyenglish8936]

Don't forget a lot of places add a service charge anyway! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@dazza9326]

Agreed. America is tip mad. Brits tip for good customer service, not just because we have too.

[@sysiphuscorinth]

that's how it works in Europe, a tip is a gift for good service, not an expectation for not spitting on your burger.. or a contribution to your paycheck

[@babycakes8918]

Holding a knife and fork correctly is one of my biggest bug bear. It doesn’t matter if you’re British or from the USA. I’ve been around people that have said grace in the UK. As an atheist I just sat quietly, but it does happen. Tipping is a toxic culture!!! Change your minimum wage!!

[@showmoke]

Exactly - it shouldn’t be on the onus of the customer to pay a large proportion of the wages of the restaurant staff. The company should be paying the wages of their staff and NOT the customer. My brother and his family were in New York and they left the restaurant without leaving a tip and they got CHASED DOWN THE STREET by a member of staff and asked why they hadn’t tipped. Disgraceful behaviour on behalf of the staff.

[@showmoke]

@@etinarcadiaego2259 - where’s me fork ‘n knife? Dunno, where did you fork’n leave ‘em?

[@mrtappyasmr7702]

I hate it when someone holds the knife like they're about to start surgery on something

[@stanleywoodison8699]

@@mrtappyasmr7702 I have more important things to worry about....

[@stuartcollins82]

I've always eaten left handed, I have no idea why but my brain can't correct it. It really annoys a lot of people. I used to live in a religious house, and grace was said before every family meal, if you weren't at a dinner table it wasn't expected. I'm actually a fan of the tipping, and it's becoming way more common here in the UK. The biggest problem is when it's expected! Have a fair liveable minimum wage, and tipping can be the extra incentive for great service. If you don't offer great service, don't expect the tip, just get paid your basic. That's how it works in most other jobs.

[@Tugsim]

I'm 40+ and I've never been at a dinner table where we've said grace. Ever. Oh, and tipping in the UK - because we pay our servers a better wage than in the US - isn't as common, but I *always* offer a tip if the service has been good, and I think many Brits are the same.

[@OrganMusicYT]

My granny would sometimes throw in:- "Right, * so n so * (Usually me) say grace". Me:- "Grace" Granny:- "That'll do"

[@julespeace8376]

I'm older than that and I remember having to say grace at school.

[@xxxthestuffxxx]

A better wage yes, but a good wage, unfortunately still no. I wouldn't just tip if the service had been good, I'd always tip unless the service had been actively bad.

[@shaunpcoleman]

@@julespeace8376 I remember saying the Lord's Prayer at school. I'm not sure what "saying grace" refers to.

[@julespeace8376]

@@shaunpcolemanBefore meals... "For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful".

[@jeperstone]

The guy seems obsessed with the idea that we in the U.K. are spending most of our day repressing things. Just not true. Keeping the volume down in a restaurant is respectful to other eaters. I don't want to hear a noisy gobshite whilst I'm eating

[@annfrancoole34]

Nor loud back ground music. I want to chat with my family or friends at the table while we enjoy our meal and not being interruppeted by waiting staff coming over asking is everything all right - I will call you over if I need anything.

[@ellisonsimon]

My god… how I love the word “gobshite”

[@Aloyus_Knight]

They're yanks, what would you expect from a bunch of idiots who have a major misconception of what the UK is like. They think that downton abbey is really accurate history documentary & that we're all like that even to this day.

[@annfrancoole34]

@@ellisonsimon how about "eejit" same thing

[@annfrancoole34]

@@Aloyus_Knight try being from the other side of the Irish sea they think we all go around saying " top of the morning to you" with all the men wearing cloth caps, women wearing shawls and children bare footed.

[@grahamstubbs4962]

I was flying back to the UK from Boston. A young British girl said to her mother, 'Oh, that man must be American' due to the fact I was only eating with a fork. At that point I realised that I had gone native. It hasn't occurred since. If only I'd taken the opportunity to say "Sshh! I'm under cover."

[@neilgayleard3842]

In Britain recently some places have tried to pull that tipping trick. Thankfully many British people see right through it. Paying for something twice and using your workers to do it doesn't work here. Any tip is for them not the company. Pay by card with no tip but give the staff cash if you're happy with the food and service.

[@stuartcollins82]

Exactly, we normally have a whip-round, "right, who's got some coins we can leave?"

[@nick260682]

Are you from the north…?

[@gavvo-7640]

I used to work nights in a Holiday Inn Express and one time we had a group of American golfers staying the weekend. After serving them drinks at the bar for the fri and sat night both me and my colleague were tipped, each receiving a $100 bill! for our service. I was blown away! After that I was always excited when we had American guests ;P

[@steveray2529]

As regards tipping, I'll never forget the first time I went to the States in 1978. I was with a couple of mates and we weren't aware that tipping in bars was the usual thing. My friend ordered a round of drinks at the bar and the barman asked where the tip was. My friend said to him "That's the difference between England and the States. In England tips are RESpected and in the States they're EXpected". It wasn't until a couple of days later, when we were in a bar in Chicago, and went outside for a smoke. We got talking to one of the barstaff and he mentioned the wage he was on. It was pathetic. For the rest of our holiday we always made sure we tipped well at every bar we went into!

[@stevesymonds7724]

When I was at Sydney Uni, we used to get American exchange students regularly. For a start they were very pleased to discover that the drinking age in Australia is 18 and there were bars at the university. The manager at Manning Bar was telling me that the bar staff loved the first fortnight of each semester when the American students arrived. It took that long for the Americans to learn that tipping in bars was just not done in Australia but the bar staff were never going to tell them.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

OMG that is just hilarious. It really must be weird for Americans to go to other countries and realise that, although tipping is okay, we really don’t do it to bar staff as it’s more of a waiter and waitress kind of thing and it is definitely done via a small tip calculation rather than being something you actually have to genuinely calculate based on how much your meal cost. I’m a British university student and a bar on Penryn campus at Falmouth University in Cornwall is called The Stannary. Really cool place with a lot of different events and other sports things going on and recently got a mega extension that took almost 2 years to complete over the period of Covid happening. Just got to enjoy it for the first time in my third and final year.

[@brianmusson1827]

As I am an atheist I cringe when people say grace at meals . This is usually at some organised function but not so much at family gatherings . When it does happen and I am present I just stay quiet respectfully hating every second of it. We only tend to tip people if they do a good job and offer a good service. I get annoyed when a restaurant put a service charge on the bill. Another good video👍

[@stevenjohnson4190]

I attended a church of England school for most of my childhood, and we had to say Grace before a meal. "For what we are about to receive may the Lord God make us truly thankful. Amen"

[@brianmusson1827]

@somebody Maybe so but a bit silly to thank something that doesn’t exist in the first place!!

[@stevenjohnson4190]

@somebody because... And I really don't know why this has to be explained.... God has chosen to give you food while allowing, or choosing, others to go without food

[@brianmusson1827]

@somebody I never said I know everything nor did I say I was clever. This is just my personal take on saying thank you to something that does nothing exist! If you have a different view in that then that is fine. Perhaps you haven’t learnt to read properly yet. No quite sure how you inhale a meal! We are all very selfish creatures I am afraid and that is part of life.

[@B-A-L]

Bloody good job you aren' a NASCAR fan because they all have to stand in silence before every race whilst some religious nut prays to God for a safe and fruitful race but judging by the amount of crashes and cautions it's pretty obvious he's too busy watching F1

[@Gadgetonomy]

Tipping in the UK is based around receiving good or exceptional service. It should never be something to make up the wages of your server. We have minimum wage legislation, so it doesn't really apply here. I occasionally tip waiters but I would never tip a bartender.

[@j.wellens5660]

That's a weird take? - table servers can provide exceptional service but bar staff can't? UK tipping culture is based around the 'keep the change', or 'have one for yourself' sayings.

[@Gadgetonomy]

@@j.wellens5660 well there is a difference. A bartender opening a bottle of beer and handing it to you is hardly comparable to someone fetching and carrying everything to you throughout your meal and dealing with all your micro requests in-between. But having said that I admit that I have in the past said "keep the change" to bar staff and taxi drivers, though usually this is out of convenience rather than exceptional service. But my point above is that this shouldn't be an expected or obligatory practice in the UK, when staff are paid a minimum wage.

[@jerry2357]

In Britain, I wouldn’t tip in a pub, or if I just had a coffee and snack in a coffee shop. I would tip if I had a meal in a restaurant or cafe with waitress service, about 10% rounded up to the nearest pound if the service was OK. I would only tip in a hotel restaurant if there was a space to add a tip on the bill I was signing, when charging the meal to the room. I also tip taxi drivers (usually not more than 10%, or round the fare up to the next pound). But I don’t tip if it is a pre-booked and pre-paid car service, because it would be a bit weird to tip if it’s not part of paying for something. Personally, concerning restaurant service, I find the US practice of the server continually coming to the table rather intrusive, and I prefer the more reserved European style of service used in Britain.

[@johnpublicprofile6261]

WE DO TIP IN THE UK. The differences are:- A) That it is illegal to pay staff less than a working wage. B) Typically, we tip as a reward for good service or food etc. This is understood to be in addition to a wage, not a critical part of the wage. C) Many would class, me included, frequent interuption of the dining service as bad service. When going out to dine with friends or a partner the main direct interactions are expected to be with the people you went there to spend time with. Servers are meant to 'serve' and not to gratify themselves. Obviously part of providing excellent service requires interaction and non-intrusive "is every thing OK" whilst already at the table. But badgering will black-mark an establishment for me. D) Offense is caused by establishments that automatically add, or request, a tip ('Service Charge') to their actual bills. This goes against the very grain of what a tip is in Britain. E) It is allowable that people might not be able to pay more than the minimum as they may be having a special treat that is at the edge of their ability to afford. People who can afford to tip well should, but there is the opposite side to that scale. I say these things as someone who grew up in a UK restaurant. I will personally tip moderately, tip generously or not tip at all, depending on genuine good service and circumstances.

[@PoppyBucket]

I'm in the UK and don't often tip... and especially not pub food or these chain eating places... I'd have to be in a decent restaurant with good service before I do

[@begitteolsen3784]

I from Denmark, Scandinavia. I always use knife & fork at dinnertime. Even "the typical smørrebrød. I don't into saying grace but in Denmark we use the sentence : Velbekomme, which means " may it become you well". No, I don't tip a waiter..unless the food and service are excellent. Our waiters get paid well every month

[@albertjanik8532]

Okay, this was in Canada - but - I had invited some friends out and when I asked for the bill, the waiter had put on "recommended tip" which was 25 percent - and this was not a cheap place. I actually felt quite offended and thought, no way you're getting away with that! So I gave what I thought appropriate - clearly not what he expected...

[@mrtappyasmr7702]

Hahahhana good.

[@bernadettelanders7306]

Ooooh, shoveling food in your mouth with a fork is a no no here in Australia. We use cutlery same way you did it UK way. And all cutlery used, soup, main, desert, start using cutlery from outside - so soup spoon first is on outer right hand side. Unless your left handed, you swap .

[@chrisrock34]

Tipping has become more common here [Northern Ireland] than it used to be, but it depends on the situation. in a decent restaurant most of us will usually leave a tip, but not the 15 to 20% common in the USA. Maybe a couple of pounds on the bill, or 10%. Just as a courtesy for the serving staff, not to make up their pay !!

[@doctorf1144]

Grace is said, in Latin, in Oxford and Cambridge Colleges before the evening meal in Hall.

[@seraphinaaizen6278]

Yeah, saying grace in the UK would be considered a bit of an oddity. I'd say most of these are pretty accurate. In fact it kind of reminds me of a video-blog I saw of a group of Japanese wrestlers who were in the states and one of the Americans they were doing the show with got them a reservation at the most popular restaurant in town, and the volume inside was insane. The Japanese girls looked visibly uncomfortable, and I think I would be too. In the UK, there's a general rustle of controlled voices in restaurants. So you're aware people are around you and they're talking, but it's never loud. And anyone who WAS being loud would probably be considered extremely rude. Yeah, would not be okay with servers coming over to my table all the time. I want to be left in peace while I'm eating. We do tip here generally speaking, but it's usually just a matter of putting down a few pound coins. Because we pay people a living wage.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

I couldn’t agree more. You are absolutely right on all of that. I feel the same way for every restaurant I’ve been in including the volume level and when it comes to tipping. I usually don’t tip, although it’s mostly because I don’t go to many restaurants ever on my own and don’t have a lot of money spare but if I do tip then it might just be 1 or £2.

[@Donkeh245]

With the tipping thing, we do tip but not always, with my family if we go to a restaurant and the server is especially good we do tip and its just like a nice suprise for the server to say “you did a great job!”

[@5uper5kill3rz]

In England we used to say it before lunch at school every day

[@5uper5kill3rz]

@TheRenaissanceman65 did you go to a Church of England school? A lot primary/first schools are CofE but not all

[@nickowens21]

Another thing to add is that in the UK it is usually considered a faux pas to ask for your left overs to be bagged up to take away, particularly in higher established restaurants

[@vaudevillian7]

The history of the United States is that it was explicitly *not* a Christian nation, with church and state (supposed to be) very clearly separate; now, parts of it were heavily Christian but not as much as you might think (the Great Awakenings are interesting periods) - the Christianisation has crept in over the years, that version of the Pledge of Allegiance only goes back to the 1954

[@VivaCohen]

Very true ... it's still not a Christian nation, no matter what some people may claim. It's becoming more atheist again as far as what the population sees themselves as. But church and state are separate for sure.

[@VivaCohen]

@TheRenaissanceman65 There is separation of church and state. It just means that government can't officially recognize any one religion. It's definitely talking about religion in general, not an official church.

[@vaudevillian7]

@TheRenaissanceman65 yes I’m well aware of the history, by solely focusing on the 1st Amendment though the discussion around that and various Supreme Court rulings that support the concept of ‘separation of church and state’ in the US are missed; there’s more to it than just the 1st Amendment, as central as that is.

[@VivaCohen]

​@TheRenaissanceman65 But it is what it is 🤷🏻‍♀️ This is what's taught in every government class. I also wrote my thesis on this a few years ago and the meaning of separation of church and state is very clear (whether the wording is or not). Stuff like having "in god we trust" on bills and stuff came later as a way to unify a bunch of people who don't have nationality, language, religious beliefs etc. in common. They made sure to not recognize any specific religion. Now way more people are agnostic and atheist etc. but no one uses cash anymore anyway 😛

[@nick260682]

TheRenaissanceman65 “There was never a separation of church and state”. You then quote the line that officially separates church and state. 😂

[@pimperneldog]

I'm British, a Londoner to be precise. Reading backwards, tipping in restaurants is for particularly good service. Generally bills will come with a 12.5% service charge added, which goes to the staff; anything over and above that is seen as a compliment for a very good time. Waiters can ask once whether the meal is good; if they do it a second time, my standard response is, 'No worse than the last time you asked'. We don't like to be interrupted, which goes for small children, who can be seen but not heard. That's not an old-fashioned attitude but good manners on the part of the parents/guardians. Cutlery manners are important to the British. I can remember, as a small child, having table etiquette drilled into me, particularly as I am left-handed - which was regarded as no excuse when it came to holding anything if I wanted to eat. If I got it wrong, the fork or whatever was taken off me, put back on the table, and I was invited to try again. I was a hungry and thirsty child, so I learnt quickly. When I see somebody with cutlery and food flying in all directions, I am left wondering whether he has also managed to put his boxers on back-to-front.

[@lynnhamps7052]

As a kid in the 70's. at school before lunch we would all mutter, 'for what we are about to receive may we be truly grateful', it wasn't really considered to be religious just habitual and polite, but that is the only 'grace' I've ever experienced. I must admit that I can't abide how the American's hold their cutlery and say fork and knife instead of knife and fork...in certain British accents it sounds like 'fucking knife' lol

[@rachelpenny5165]

I used to say that at primary school. But nowhere else. Because I am left handed I don't necessarily hold the cutlery the correct way. I just quietly switch the cup, knife, fork and spoon around. The staff in restaurants would just smile at me. But even in shops not just in restaurants I prefer to be left alone and call for the staff when needed. I only tip if the service is good. But I have never been to the US.

[@BedsitBob]

"This guy makes bangers." He makes sausages? 😁

[@leighhall2198]

My family never used to say grace before a meal, but I remember at primary school (ages 4-11) we were made to say grace before we were allowed to eat our lunch. We also used to have to sing hymns in assembly, but i dont think that's done in most schools now, unless they are a catholic school.

[@rickybuhl3176]

'Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..' or 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name'? For me it was the [former] traditional one, at Wootton St. Andrew's Church of England, circa 1987. The only time my Mum ever asked anyone to say Grace was as a wind-up at the Christmas table - we're quite an irreligious -branch- twig of the family..

[@michaelblundell8608]

@@rickybuhl3176 For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful and if you can do anything about the cold lumpy custard then that would be great. Amen

[@leighhall2198]

@@rickybuhl3176 Before lunch we used to have to say "for what we are about to receive, may the lord makes us truly thankful, for Christ's sake, Amen. When we had to go to the church across the road I remember the vicar leading the lords prayer, the traditional version, I dont think I've ever heard it said any differently. The hymns I remember are all things bright and beautiful, give me oil in my lamp and hes got the whole world in his hands. They were fun to sing!

[@rickybuhl3176]

@@leighhall2198 Yup lol I'm not gonna pretend that I didn't enjoy my early schooling though, Semolina aside. It's a shared experience for so many of us, even if we've not uttered the words for a few decades - they linger around. May have been a different experience if we'd come from more faithful families, I imagine.

[@rickybuhl3176]

@@michaelblundell8608 I'm gonna pretend I'm not old enough to play 'I can do worse than that..' and just add (a) Semolina and (b) now that we're adults - seriously considering *how* they made it (the custard) simultaneously lumpy and thinner-than-milk at the same time, whilst still keeping it entirely opaque *and* getting us to bloody eat it.

[@davidmcilroy4697]

Great to see you’ve now hit 20k plus subscribers. You deserve it and more.

[@omegasue]

As a teenager, many moons ago, I work in the US as a mother's help and therefore lived in and had my meals with the family - no grace was ever said. As a child growing up in the 50's at primary school when I stayed to school dinners grace was always said (this was in London) (In the 1950's dinner was what we nowadays term lunch) The knife and fork debate was discussed when I worked in your country, but not in a negative way. To tell the truth and depending what meal I'm eating, I find it comfortable to eat with only a fork; mostly I use both. Sometimes in restaurants a service charge is added to your bill, but if it isn't and the service has been good we always give a tip.

[@TrepeGB]

I don’t know anyone in the U.K. who holds their cutlery like he demonstrated. Everyone I know holds it closer to what he demonstrated for Americans.

[@leehallam9365]

Tipping in the UK varies from person to person and with circumstances. Some people make a principle out of not tipping ever, some tip if they had really good service, but not if it wasn't, others will routinely tip. Some restaurants add a "voluntary" service charge to the bill, but mostly they make little effort to encourage tips. In fact the move to contactless probably means we tip less. On the whole you would tip in a restaurant, but be less likely to do so in a cafe or pub, and hardly ever in a retail environment. I really hate over the top service, I want to be left in peace not bothered all the time. What you want in the UK are friendly staff who notice when you are in need of assistance, that's a real skill. All to often though it's hard even to get someone to give you the bill. I have never come across saying grace, or actually been told by anyone that they did it in their home. I'm sure it happens, but where it does its a very private matter. And Joel you will need to work on your handling of cutlery! 🤣

[@j.wellens5660]

I'm from the UK , and the idea of a 'voluntary' charge that is automatically added to my bill that I need to involuntarily remove, in the words of Sarah Millican 'Boils my Piss'. Something that is automatically applied is not voluntary. Anytime that 'bullshit' is added onto a bill, I will automatically remove it. The other service charge that I fundamentally disagree with is when there is an extra charge for a cover over a given size.- no - just adjust the price that you charge per item ordered from the menu so that it reflects the cost to you , whether I am a party of 1 or 20.

[@peterdurnien9084]

I had a meal in a hotel in Manila where my friend and I each had a server stood behind us, take a sip of wine and it was automatically refilled by one of the staff. Very intimidating, ate down scale after that.

[@madmaxine12]

I agree on all points. I grew up in New England, worked for years in California, NYC, and Miami, and have spent a lot of time in England, France and Spain. I observed all these things. In Miami where I now live, and especially Miami Beach, you need to be alert to whether or not a tip has automatically been added to your bill. The reason, of course, is the great number of European tourists that come and fail to leave tips.

[@ianbeswick3051]

Congratulations Joel on 20k subs. Well deserved, and thanks for all the videos you post

[@bugmancx]

The "under God" thing wasn't in your original pledge of allegience. It was amended by some Chaplin who pressured for it to be changed, where it was added 1954. It's religious people who have forced their beliefs onto what was your secular foundation. This is the same as the "In God We Trust" slogan on your currency. By adding references to God in all of these places, religious people are trying to normalise their religion and weave it into the fabric of society rather than keeping it separate.

[@gingercat777]

Indeed, so many morons there think America was founded on "Judeo Christian Values".....🙄

[@pomx2900]

It also does not state that it is under a Christian God. I thought there was no official religion of the USA.

[@ian1957ruth]

One thing you will never here a Politician say ..." I am running for Office, oh and I am an Athiest.

[@karenstrong8887]

In Australia we are all paid a living wage. We don’t normally tip but my husband does for really good service. When I was 19 I got a job nights working as a drinks waitress. I owned the Mezzanine level and that meant carrying two full trays up a spiral staircase all night in heels with a skirt that was shorter than my hair. Every Saturday night I had an American man who ordered for the whole table. I earned $2.68 an hour but my weekly rent back then was only $16.00 a week. I told him tipping was not necessary but he tipped me $5.00 for every round of drinks I served. He bought me a new car just for serving him. I know it doesn’t work that way in America and they need the tips to live. Everyday at school we had to say Grace before we were let out to eat lunch. We also had to wash our face and hands and brush our teeth after recess and lunch. It depended which grandmothers house I was at If we said Grace before a meal. We said it at our house and we said our prayers at bedtime with Dad. I was the eldest and by the time they got to 6 kids everyone was done saying Grace. I was usually feeding the baby vegetables before I ate. I go with whatever is happening wherever we are eating. I know what I believe it but I respect everyone’s belief’s.

[@maxineamelia7549]

I actually remember when I was a waitress at Wetherspoons (big pub/restaurant chain in the UK) a lovely older lady was so happy that I'd been looking after her and her husband that she slipped a £20 note into my apron and like I tried to give it back but omg such a sweet person 😊

[@hughmuir3063]

In the UK it would always be appreciated if you tipped at least 10% but check the bill because some will say service included and others service not included.

[@johanwittens7712]

11:30 If waiting staff acted like that here in my country, people would get annoyed and irritated. A waiter coming to your table every 5 minutes would be considered borderline rude. If I want something, I'll call for you. Oherwise leave us alone to enjoy our evening in peace you annoying nosy waiter/waitress! Especially when you know they're only friendly because they hope for a bigger tip, so they can earn a decent living wage, the American way just feels so incredibly fake and degrading to waiting staff. Also, spending an entire evening at the table talking, chatting, drinking is perfectly normal. Getting the check/bill shoved in front of you before you've asked for it, that would be considered down right insulting here. You easily spend 3-4h in a restaurant here. Very different dining culture indeed.

[@ChrisAndCats]

Using a fork as a shovel or a spoon drives me bonkers. I'd have been in such trouble for eating like that as a child!

[@timglennon6814]

Lost in the Pond guy is called Laurence.

[@ianwelburn5158]

Congratulations on 20,000 subs. Love your videos

[@robertsim1028]

My family never really said grace before we ate meals. Sometimes if I can't be bothered using a knife then I will just use the side of the fork (depending on what it is). Sometimes I do tip when I'm at a restaurant if the service as been good but since we have a solid hourly rate of pay tipping doesn't seem as mandatory but in the US the tips is all that they get, which doesn't really make it a tip at the end on the day. When I was growing up I was always told that we just shouldn't speak when we're eating food, so I presume that's the same for some other people in the UK aswell. Also gob basically just means mouth

[@scokeatia]

As a family we have visited Disney in Florida a few times and would always eat out at restaurants. We became very friendly with all of our servers and I would take great joy in leaving large tips for them, in fact, it got to the point where when we entered the restaurant, the servers would come to us to seat us at their section which I would always find amusing. The amazing thing is, when we would return the following year (or 2) afterwards, the server would remember us, I will admit, this did make us feel rather special. Joel, many congrats on your 20,000 subs, keep making those evideos and I look forward to seeing you when you come to England xx

[@101steel4]

They do that for everyone. It's all about the money 😉

[@peterfoakes7569]

Never go out that much at home, but when on holiday in corfu, greece, I always eat out and tip, I know the staff keep all tips left, and share out at end of season They aren't that well paid abroad, and good service deserves a grateful reward

[@scottoftheworld]

Good video as always, Joel, and congratulations on 20,000 subscribers. In terms of saying grace. My grandparents were religious (although not church going) but I don't think I ever heard them say grace, and I've never heard it in anybody else's house either including my religious friends. I've only heard it in two meal settings in the UK. The first being at my primary school. It was semi affiliated to the Church of England, and provided meals for students at lunchtime rather than people having to bring in sandwiches which is the norm, and grace was said then at the start of meal service. The second was when I worked as a waiter at my university after graduating. The Lambeth Conference was held there where Anglican (I think they're called Episcopal in the USA) bishops and archbishops from around the world meet every 10 years. They would say grace before each meal. But those are literally the only two meal settings I've heard it in. Never in a family setting. Moving on to tips. Tipping is standard in most restaurants in the UK (except fast food), and in taxis we usually round up to the next pound, but it's not really standard outside of that. Maybe in fancy hotels, but I never stay in fancy hotels. That causes quite a few interesting experiences when travelling to the USA. New York especially, where they are VERY open about tipping culture. We arrived early at our hotel so had to check bags for a few hours and when we went to collect them the person in the luggage room moved the tip jar from the side of the desk right in front of us and slammed it on the table before going to get our bags. For somebody who isn't used to that sort of culture it seemed rude, although I'm sure it wasn't meant that way. But in that case we had just arrived in the country so didn't actually have any money to tip with. Also in NY, we did a few of those open top hop on and hop off bus tours. At least every 20 minutes on all of them the guide would go on a big speech about tips to solicit them from people when they left the tour. One of those turned out to be the best tour guide I've ever had, though, so we stayed on his bus for the whole route and left him a big tip. It all boils down to the wage people get though. People get paid a decent, living wage in the UK in most jobs and tipping is a way of showing appreciation for going above and beyond rather than an expectation. The people I have the most respect for when it comes to tips, though, is the drinks waitresses in the casinos in Vegas where they have to pay for the drinks themselves and then try to encourage the people on the slots to tip enough to cover the drink and help them get a wage that they can pay rent on. A lot of problems would be solved if people would just be paid a decent salary.

[@ElizabethDebbie24]

In my opinion here in the UK the more the waiting staff bother me and my fellow diners at the table and generally get on my nerves constantly asking me how things are going does put me off wanting to tip them as it seems intrusive I like to tip waiting staff for coming to me as and when I request them to. A tip should be earned and deserved not feel as an obligation that you have to do it to boost their wage packet and the gratuity should be the amount you want to give them, not say for example 10 to 20 percent of the bill

[@janbow5124]

I am British and lived in London all my life. I am 70 years old. I was brought up to say Grace before every meal and to give tips of about 10% especially when the service has been good. I was taught from an early age to use a knife and fork the "correct" way and to leave my plate tidy with the knife and fork laid neatly at an angle. This has stuck with me all my life ha ha.

[@petretepner8027]

But when we were growing up, service charges were not yet common, as they are now.

[@gordonsmith8899]

US restaurants also want to get customers seated, served and out as quickly as possible. Here in the UK and Europe in general, customers are left alone to enjoy their meal and to sit and talk for as long as they wish. Canadian cousins who travelled to France with me some years ago were amazed (and delighted) to be left alone to enjoy a meal minus being interrupted by a poor underpaid server begging for them to hurry up, hand out a tip, and go.

[@peterc.1618]

Don't some places here in the UK automatically add (usually 12.5%) and expect you to demand they remove it if you don't want to tip?

[@Sam88-l4k]

The tipping think is interesting. I worked in the restaurant for 16 years in the UK. I find when serving you really have to read your customers. Most people don't like constant interruption from there server. In fact I've known people to get really annoyed if you check them to often. But that's the British for you. But if you have regular customers they do tend to live to get to know the staff and I have created a lot of close friends through the job. But as I said you have to read your customers well. I always find tipping is hit and miss. I've worked in places where I have received at between £50-£100 per night, which I guess is a lot for the UK. But generally we are not big tippers. I think people have the attitude of well you don't tip people in a supermarket who can give you good service and in a similar wage and other customer service based jobs. I do remember years ago working for a window fitting company. And sometimes your tip would be cups of tea, bacon sandwiches, I think on a couple of occasions they will offer a full lunch or baked a cake especially. But they tend to be the older generation appreciating hard work

[@Whippy99]

I always make sure that any independent builders etc, who come to our house, get tea/coffee, cake/biscuits and anything else they want to eat or drink. We also tip them.

[@jakejake6791]

It's Britain if someone enters your house you give them tea and biscuits that's a standard

[@Whippy99]

@@jakejake6791 Agreed! :)

[@bonanddave49]

As for tipping, we tip well in the USA for good service. In the UK its not a thing unless its very exceptional food and service.

[@StanWatt.]

My Texan friend told me she wished she could have taught her kids to "use silverware properly". This cutting something, putting the knife down, transferring the fork to the right hand then eating is cumbersome and completely unnecessary.

[@perfectten3620]

Leave the Texans to their own devices 😂😂 there is more than cutlery issues for them 😂😂

[@Mangeosaurus]

?? You don't put the knife down or transfer the fork to the other hand, they remain in the hands. After cutting, your food should be already be pierced by the folk in a small enough piece to put straight to your mouth.

[@VivaCohen]

I've never seen anyone in the U.S. do the whole knife switch thing. Usually you use the knife in your left, fork in your right, and put the knife down when you're not using it (which you hardly ever use it unless it's something you can't cut with your fork). But never seen the switch.

[@StanWatt.]

I've seen them do it on TV during documentaries. Most of my American friends don't do that but two of them do including their families lol

[@charlestaylor9424]

My goddaughter told her American boyfriend that a condition of marriage was him learning to eat like an adult.

[@MCrvngraddip2013]

I'm British and I always tip. My parents always did. But I've noticed alot of my friends won't. Some places have tips included in the price but if someone has been great then I'll give something extra. I remember my grandma teaching me etiquette. No elbows etc. Haha. I kind of rebelled in my 20s but now 30, I see myself reverting back to those eating techniques.

[@Chris_GY1]

I have occasionally tipped but that was at one restaurant. In restaurants Britain we have waiters/waitresses I know some places might use a slightly different name. My family never said Grace before a meal, I know my uncle did he was a Methodist.

[@marialivingston8154]

I’m a English Catholic and it wouldn’t be weird to say grace, like if I went to my auntie’s house, she would say grace, because that’s what she was obviously brought up doing and that’s what her family does. My family personally, don’t do it, but similarly to the US, it’s hard to generalise, but it’s definitely a lot less popular

[@robertjohnson-taylor2596]

I remember when I was a small boy [1950s] when mother and I ate in a restaurant, mother would leave a tip on the table we were at, but underneath a plate. I always wondered afterwards if it was the server or the person clearing the table that got the tip.

[@wrongturnrick]

Good content JPS. Only recently began viewing your uploads and really like how you come across. So far very respectful 😀 In my experience people sometimes overstep the boundaries of good taste when comparing different cultures etc. BTW you really made me chuckle when opening up about your fork use hahahaha Your face was a picture as you cracked up with laughter and laughter is infectious 😂😂😂

[@pik-ull-deg5970]

I haven't had to say grace since primary school!

[@crimsonmoon7838]

Primary/high-school for me and even then I didn't take part init due to being the WONNABE badass of the school 😂

[@olienajh]

I never tip bar staff just for getting me a drink. I might say ‘keep the change’ if it’s a few pence. Waiting staff will generally get the bill rounded up to the nearest £5-£10. In a mixed group setting people would probably put in £1-£2 each depending on the size of the group.

[@charlesmorgan8440]

Funny! I've travelled mostly to East and West coast USA, with few visits to flyover country. I've never once in the US had anyone say grace, but then most friends there are pretty free of religion (except guns - one of the more surreal meals I've had with two West Coast liberals was hearing them discuss their immense handgun collections). I used to participate a lot on a US wine forum and there were inordinate discussions there on tipping etiquette. So I was primed from the beginning to expect to pay up, but being British nevertheless would tip a lot less for poor service (I'm looking at you waiter in Chicago who brought all my dishes at once despite me stating I wanted them separately). Here, if there is no obvious service charge added (check - many restaurants add a service charge and then keep the bill open for a tip on top), I tip the server 10% (or to the nearest sensible amount) in cash - that way I know from friends who work in the industry that it will more likely get to them. A friend who owns several top restaurants in London now ensures the pricing is all in and diners are not expected to tip. As to waiting staff chatting to you - if it's formulaic, they get nothing for it. With friends I really don't want to be disturbed, but I do recall a very chatty and relaxed server in a California restaurant when I was on my own. Service as it should be. I suspect one of the reasons Americans love grain fed beef is because it is so soft, hence, despite the immense size of most steaks there, it could be cut with a fork. I'd rather have the flavour of long aged grass fed beef and have a good steak knife. Which also comes in handy for cutting up the asparagus in US restaurants that is positively dildoesque in size! As to relaxed, chatty eating, isn't that what it's all about? Though as I age I hate too much noise. I do recall recounting lunch at the wonderful London restaurant to American friends. Their reaction to a meal of Faggots, Woodcock and Spotted Dick was utterly priceless.

[@HorshamSteve]

On the tipping…. In the UK I grew up to understand that you tip restaurant staff from 10% upwards as much as you like, also tip your barber, anyone who does work on your home, and at Christmas,.. the dustmen, postman, milkman(when we had a milkman). I still tip around 10% as a norm for ok restaurant service, and have no upper limit if someone brightens up my meal with friendliness and helpfulness. I can’t say that is general for the uk, it’s just how I grew up in the south-east of England. It is getting more and more common for restaurants to actually display an ‘optional’ service charge of 12.5 % on the bill now, and also more common in recent years for restaurant owners to keep all the service charges. The law is changing soon to stop that. Tips are for the person you wanted to thank, not the owner. Also common now for some restaurants to gather all the tips and share among all staff including the kitchen crew (but that is just so they can pay everyone less basic wage I think). Anyway, that is my experience, and not necessarily representative of all the other 60 odd million people in the uk.

[@brettsinclair4007]

Tipping in Britain has existed for a long time, but I've noticed it has only become more of a thing in the last 10/15 years.

[@xhogun8578]

Tipping in the UK has been around since Tudor times. Originally it was from guest staying overnight would leave a tip for the servants. The practice of tipping began in Tudor England. By the 17th century, later, customers began tipping in London coffeehouses and other commercial establishments. So there is a long history of tipping in the UK. But tipping was not thought of as a right or part of the basic pay but as s bonus. Also it was always for the staff, hence that is the reason owners of the businesses are not tipped.

[@JoeSurkitt]

Watching an American eat spaghetti is an event in its own!

[@rickybuhl3176]

Oh this'll be fun. 20 seconds in "Judgemental bastid-hat" on, I'm guessing: table manners, proficiency with cutlery, speed and volume of consumption..

[@jamesleate]

It's scary that we learn how to use cutlery at two or three and the Americans never learn.

[@eezablade]

I don’t know anyone that has ever said prayers, never mind at dinner time.

[@rickybuhl3176]

@@eezablade As a 'politely militant' atheist, I happen to have some numbers from a couple of years ago - though I'm sure more up to date ones are available, the last 18 months aren't good for statistics, with the amount of variables.. Anyone who went to a CoE Primary or Junior School will have had Morning Prayers in assembly and "Grace" before lunch - 'For what we are about to receive..' - That's roughly 1 million kids at the moment and about 14-15 million former students *still alive* or around a quarter of the current population. The Church of England has over 4,500 Schools, Academies and -indoctrination- Converter! Schools. It's the opposite to "who's the dick in your group?" - If it's not you that attended, it's likely (ceteris paribus) to be one of your 3 [English] friends that did.

[@lindamaes6454]

@@jamesleate You can't take most Americans to a proper restaurant in Europe.

[@karenmarriott4479]

No, we don’t hold our forks that way ! 😅

[@shinbios]

I remember when I first went to the USA in 2001, in Baltimore having polished off a particularly nice crabcake at a restaurant, the waiter told me that my tip was way too much and only took what would have been 15%

[@VivaCohen]

Aw, that was nice of them.

[@tersse]

As for tips, most places in Britain pay a living wage, tips are earned its not compulsory.

[@colinwelsh2874]

One thing that usually amazes Americans is that what they call a "Thanksgiving dinner", we have pretty much every single Sunday.

[@margaretnicol3423]

Only those who can afford it. If you can then be thankful!

[@Chris66able]

@@margaretnicol3423 Its easy to afford if you go to work !

[@margaretnicol3423]

@@Chris66able Rubbish. That depends on too many variables.

[@Chris66able]

@@margaretnicol3423 Like being lazy, and thick.

[@margaretnicol3423]

@@Chris66able Do try to stop making a fool of yourself.

[@DarrenMalin]

53 year old Brit here, I can not remember ever saving grace at any meal.

[@NThorpyUK]

One thing that's really bothering me in all these kinds of videos that I want to get out there for people that don't know - we do not say "chips" instead of "fries"..!! We use both of these words because they're are different variations of the same product 🍟 "chips" are typically bigger in shape and size, Fries AKA French Fries is the sort of thing we get from Mcdonalds etc.. Thankyou 😂

[@animatechap1275]

I'm stubborn and use chips for both

[@gillionline]

Check out British etiquette info on how to hold a knife and fork !

[@thedogsdiddies8421]

I remember going to a Subway in the US and the cashier basically barked "Swipe and Go" at me. I was totally dumb struck, to me "swipe and go" would be to steal something, and I had to have someone else in the queue (line to you Yanks) that it was a question to know if I wanted to pay by card. Was also "citizen arrested" on a bus in Pittsburgh by someone who overheard me saying "Any crack?" to one of my friends. It took a long discussion to explain that it is an Irish word "craic" and it basically means "how are you?" kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXq8k6qOapyrbKc

[@VivaCohen]

😄 the crack lol

[@brianmccloskey8364]

Someone tried to place you under citizen's arrest??? Sorry about that. Part of America has lost their minds and have to be in everyone's business. That "Karen" thing is out of control here.

[@yeetntnt2903]

some people in uk do say grace before eating. my grandad was a devout catholic and he always made us say grace before eating (he was from liverpool btw and i'm from scotland)

[@eroldinch9405]

During my first visit to the States, I just left all the change from the bill and left. My server exited the restaurant and ran after me on the street insisting I pay more for the tip. Couldn't believe it and no, didn't pay any more. Why should I reward harassment?

[@marycarver1542]

horrendous tothink that the tip may have meant the difference by him or his famil eating that night. the USA is, in many ways a 3rd world country;

[@B-A-L]

@@marycarver1542 I'm pretty sure he would be allowed to take home some of the unserved food that can't be used the following day.

[@margaretlavender9647]

@@B-A-L YUK!

[@johnglover6883]

JPS your reactions are brilliant and always make me smile. Tips: we don’t always tip here in the U.K. but if the service has been good then 10% is average. Lots of restaurants here put a service charge on to your bill of 15% anyway.

[@alanjjeff]

I always delete the service charge, then tip if i feel like it. If its a £65 i may round up to £70.

[@VivaCohen]

I love that waiters come up to the table frequently in the US. I'm not flagging anyone down or waiting forever for the check, but they should be paid more ... I don't really know anyone in the US who switches hands with the knife. They hold the knife in the left hand when using it, fork in the right, and put the knife down when not using it. Funny, when I was younger I had a friend from Blackpool who held his fork and knife the European way and I always thought it was him holding it kind of rudely (which did not match up with his personality). But I never said anything about it because that would be rude and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. It wasn't until years later that I realized that was just how Europeans held their fork and knife 😄 The only times I've heard anyone say grace is before Thanksgiving dinner cos we have one really religious guy who married into the family. But JOEL... we are not a Christian nation. Separation of church and state.

[@alanjjeff]

Look on the back of a US dollar bill, the state shows its religious status.

[@VivaCohen]

​@@alanjjeff It's still not officially a christian country. I wrote my thesis on this and it's actually a pretty interesting topic. The dollar bill says "In God We Trust" but it doesn't say which god. All that religious "god" stuff on dollar bills etc. is very careful to not specify any one religion.

[@andyhowlett2231]

I'm left-handed. I use my knife & fork the 'conventional' way around (fork in left, knife in right), and if it's a fork-only meal I just put my knife down and keep the fork in my left. All the right-handers swap hands, which has always confused me.

[@showmoke]

Congrats on 20,000 subscribers!

[@timglennon6814]

That would annoy the hell out of me if a server in a restaurant came to my table every 5 minutes.

[@alanjjeff]

Yes me too. I would tell them to bugger off until they are called.

[@Lee-70ish]

Tipping in the UK gratuities must go to the servers . Some restaurants automatically add 12% on the bill then retain it so the government are going to outlaw that. However the general consensus is no one should need a tip to make up wages as they should be paid a decent wage in the first place.

[@waynechalkley6693]

In away tipping in the U.K. is just saying keep the change mate

[@j.wellens5660]

Interestingly, tonight I took my family out for a meal at a local Italian restaurant, which we have visited numerous times over the last 20 years. While we were choosing from the menu, we noticed that they had recently changed to charging in full pound amounts - some items were £9, some £12, others £18. The only menu items that were not round pounds were drinks, which were priced at full pounds, or pounds +50p, - eg £2.50, £4.50, £3.00. There was no restriction on choice from the menu, and different diners had more drinks than others, however when the bill arrived, the total ( which I double checked out of curiosity) was £100 exactly. If I had been paying cash, unless I was in the position of being able to offer up one £50 note, there wouldn't have been an opportunity to say 'keep the change'! I paid by debit card,( because it's 2021) and left a tip because a: the service as ever was fantastic, and b: they are a local family run business who have done their best and struggled through the last 18 months , and to be fair the price increases on their menu were long overdue.

[@paulharvey9149]

In my own and close friends and family company, I'm with you Jps, as regards the shoveling, cutting fork. If I'm serving up something that needs cutting up at home - I often do it in the kitchen before I even sit down to eat - which quite often isn't even at a table, by the way! In a more formal or public setting however, I do use my knife and fork properly - always working from the outermost inwards, if there is cutlery laid for multiple courses. That said, I don't always bother with the smaller items, such as butter knives and pastry forks; the latter often disappearing in my large hands anyway... Grace tends to just be said in more formal settings, or perhaps institutional ones. The thing is to know how to adapt your habits according to the formality of the situation.

[@SH-ii6uo]

Tipping is a sinister practice. It means that restaurant owners can get away with paying their staff low wages and hope that the customer foots the extra cost. In reality, they should be paying their staff properly. Tips in the U.K. are seen as a thank you for excellent service. You expect that the cost of your meal incorporates the full pay for the staff. A business that can’t pay its staff has no right to exist.

[@anitawhite2669]

In the UK I don't think Grace is ever said before a meal, but as a kid when we wanted to leave the table after a meal, we used to say "Thank God for my good tea, may I get down please, excuse me !!! and off we would go.

[@jillhobson6128]

I'm English and have never known anyone who says grace before a meal. That would be so odd to me.

[@cpmahon]

II've definitely had the piss taken out of me for using a knife and fork when visiting America!!! I think I've only ever known one family to say grace. Congratulations on the 20k subs and 5 million views.

[@ffotograffydd]

Sad that people from a nation that mostly eats like a child with no table manners would take the piss out of someone for using a knife and fork. I’m surprised the US doesn’t have a higher rate of death by choking the way so many of them shovel food into their mouths with their fork as though someone is about to take it away from them.

[@catz4m8z]

oh dear, Im must be american then as I use only use my fork! My poor mother would still give me a knife every meal and it would sit there all sad and neglected...every meal. Ive def never heard anybody say grace though. I think in the UK its much more common to be religious by default (meaning you are christened as a baby and thats as much religion as you get!LOL).

[@06hurdwp]

How did they take the piss out of you?

[@adielawton651]

Only reason we dont tip is because our restaurant staff actually get paid well and dont need tips as majority of their income

[@jamesleate]

It's scary that Americans don't know how to use a knife and fork, we learn at the age of 2 or 3 and it seems completely natural. It's like never learning how to wipe your backside, just rub it against a towel instead.

[@kilgh]

It's scary that English people don't know how to use chopsticks. I got taught at the age of 2 or 3.

[@jamesleate]

@@kilgh If we did use chopsticks as our main way of moving food to our mouths, we would learn at 2 or 3 too. You have proven my point, you learn how to use utensils at 2 or 3, but Americans don't. Far more people in the US eat with a knife and fork rather than sticks.

[@kilgh]

@@jamesleate Using chopsticks is the main way of eating for a ton of people in England. I wasn't brought up in an arrogant white empiralist social bubble so I have learned to eat the British way, the US way, with chopsticks and with my hands. There is no such thing as a "proper" way to eat food.

[@jamesleate]

@@kilgh Oh sorry, did I hurt your little feelings. The rest of the world knows how to use a knife and fork and America doesn't. If the Chinese didn't know how to use chopsticks it would shock you wouldn't it? If you found that they held a stick in either hand and stabbed rice whilst swapping sticks to the same hand, that would be weird. Would that be a proper use of chopsticks? Everybody who uses cutlery around the world use it the "proper" way, so when I found out that Americans don't, it shocked me. I don't apologise for that, it was a genuine shock to me. Don't be so defensive and aggressive, I'm stating a fact, it isn't an opinion so why are you so upset? Both America (subverted) and China (overt) have an Empire today so people in glass houses etc. Grow up and learn to be a little more tolerant of people's reactions. I was shocked that Americans don't use a knife and fork properly, that is a genuine reaction, not an attack (and yes, just like chopsticks there is a right and wrong way to use a knife and fork, get over it.)

[@kilgh]

@@jamesleate I am genuinely concerned that you can't see how arrogant you initial post was. I don't care how people use their cutlery. Americans feed themselves so they obviously know how to use a knife and fork. It is your elitism that is disturbing. There is no "proper" way to use eating implements. Your way is an invention by British Upper Class types and nothing more. Can you honestly not see this?

[@michelle-io9dc]

Seems a few establishments in the UK have different ideas on tipping. In a restaurant I worked at all tips went into a pot and at the end of the week the contents of the pot were divided equally amongst all staff, so in effect a customer was tipping everyone, not just the person serving them

[@catherinewilkins2760]

I don't know how folks from the USA would cope with the multiple sets of cutlery when fine dining. Where you have multiple courses. You start on the outside and work your way through them. Waiters know not to bother people when eating, if you want something you will signal to the Waiters. Lots of places are self service.

[@VivaCohen]

U.S. has multiple sets of silverware in fine dining places too, just not in regular restaurants. Although I do just pick up the fork that looks "right" lol

[@ruadhagainagaidheal9398]

My family and I recently ate in a restaurant in England. The lassie serving us was very pleasant and helpful but not overly intrusive. When it came time to pay, she produced the card machine and skipped past the gratuity section and straight to the bottom line. I had to ask her to scroll back so I could give her the well deserved tip. She was surprised and pleased to receive 10%. If we ever say grace in my family we use the Selkirk grace also known as Robbie Burns’ grace: Some hae meat but canna eat and some wad eat but want it. But we hae meat and we can eat, sae let the lord be thankit.

[@06hurdwp]

Lol buddy all of that money went straight to the company's coffers. Always give a cash tip directly to the server.

[@capablancauk]

The religious part of the pledge of allegiance in the USA did not start until 1954. Treaty is often cited in discussions regarding the role of religion in United States government for a clause in Article 11 of the English language American version which states that "the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."

[@michaelkelly339]

If the symbolism is anything to go by it's Masonic

[@capablancauk]

@@michaelkelly339 Don't read into it to much. The knight Templar don't do as much as you think. You can easily start seeing things that aren't there

[@michaelkelly339]

@@capablancauk The Templars didn't have a whole lot to do with the Masons. Much of the symbology used in official America is Masonic ergo the Masons were or are influential in the American government. No conspiracy theories, don't know what, if anything they're doing there. But the symbols are there for all to see.

[@capablancauk]

@@michaelkelly339 The knights Templar is the direct predecessor of the masonic order know as the Freemasons. You see shadows in symbolism. These are not proof but could be distant pointers as to the roots of the ideas. Masonry is rooted in early Catholicism but the American ideals are rooted in the enlightenment and that is secular. Interesting eh?

[@chadUCSD]

I'm in UK (Scotland) and in my youth worked as a waiter in a few restaurants and generally always got tips from my customers and in a cpl of the restaurants a gratuity was added on the bill and every week on pay day those gratuities were equally split between the staff. Quite a few restaurants have gratuities added on the bill if you look over your bill.

[@margaretnicol3423]

If you want to look into ''proper'' table etiquette, especially around 'tea', take a look at William Hanson's critique on the time Jackie Kennedy went to tea with the Queen. :-) William Hanson's channel - ''Etiquette expert reacts to Netflix's The Crown''

[@ffotograffydd]

Reacting to The Crown isn’t the same thing as reacting to the time Jackie Kennedy had tea with The Queen. The Crown is fiction and most of it is made up. I actually know someone who’s had both tea and lunch with The Queen, The Crown gets so many things badly wrong.

[@margaretnicol3423]

@@ffotograffydd Of course it's fictional. I'm not sure but I don't think Netflix was around in 1961. No - it wasn't! This is why it's a good example of etiquette. If it was an actual recording of the Queen and Jackie I doubt there would be much to point out as wrong. It's just a way of pointing out how fussy the rules are when 'taking tea'.

[@ffotograffydd]

No, it’s a good example of Netflix inaccurate ideas of etiquette and what happened at the time, which is the point I’m making. It’s not accurate! It’s a shame you decided to go down the sarcasm route instead of considering that.

[@margaretnicol3423]

@@ffotograffydd Of course it is. That's what I said. That's why the title is ''Netflix's'' The Crown. Or if you prefer - What Netflix thinks is OK but it's not.

[@boothy9406]

The reason we don’t tip is because our wage is determined by government standards and we earn a lot more hourly so tipping isn’t required. So say if we’re earning £10 an hour you’d be earning like £2 and relying on tips. Which I think is wrong because the companies are taking all the money and relying on the public to pay therir staffs wages

[@Glund117]

Find it bizarre that tips in America are often compulsory, makes it no longer a tip. We do tip, but you tip however much you deem appropriate, usually not much

[@CatAndBearone]

In school here in the UK, we had to say grace before we had lunch. As for tipping; yes, we tip generally 10%. It's just good manners. Unless the service was awful and then we won't tip (rare but it happens). Having worked within food and drink, it was always nice to receive a tip, but it was a jar that was then split, so even if you were the one working the hardest to be polite and helpful, all the staff on the shift were given their share of the money in the jar.