35 Examples Of People Getting Absolutely Shamed By Servers In Foreign Countries
Interview With Author
The obvious needs to be said: other places around the world aren’t like where you grew up! Heck, your neighboring country or even the next town over might be very different in terms of culture, cuisine, and communication. That’s why we travel—to broaden our horizons, learn about how vast the world is, and discover new depths about ourselves as individuals… at least in theory.
Some people, however, use travel as an excuse to continue being exactly who they are, take selfies, behave like they never left home, and order cups of (non)coffee in historical European cities. Quelle horreur!
New York comedian Andy Haynes fired up a roaringly good thread over on Twitter about the experiences people from all over the world had while traveling. And a ton of the stories that social media users shared revolve around the one thing we all love best—food! The culture shock trying to order what they wanted was, well, shocking.
Scroll down for the funniest stories, upvote your fave ones, and be sure to drop by the comments to share your own tantalizing travel tales, dear Pandas! And, be honest, which of you ordered coffee with oat milk on your Eurotrip?
Andy, who's been a comedian for around 18 years, was kind enough to answer Bored Panda's questions about traveling abroad, standing out online with our wit, and his career in stand-up. Read on for our interview with him.
More info: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | imandyhaynes.com
Image credits: imandyhaynes
Meanwhile, also scroll down for Bored Panda's chat about coffee culture and authentic food in Italy with travel expert, best-selling author, and investor Rick Orford. He revealed to us what to say if you want a latte and what reaction you're bound to get if you order a cappuccino after lunch!
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"I've been to Europe a few times. I actually split my time between London and New York now, but that's less of an adjustment than the Continent," stand-up comedian Andy told Bored Panda.
"In England, I just know that if I want a cold brew or some other caffeinated American indulgence, I have to go to Starbucks, or maybe a hip coffee shop. But everything is pretty much available," he said.
"For instance, Tesco has plant-based milk and meats, etc. In France, or Italy where I am now, it's pretty unlikely that I get something like that, unless I go to a specific restaurant or cafe, so I just kind of give up and go with the flow. That Oat Milk latte was a long shot, and clearly a miss."
Consistency, according to Andy, is the secret to standing out on social media. "I will say that Twitter is my weakest link. I've never had a tweet explode like that, but on other visual mediums, it's just about putting out content on a regular basis and trying to make sure it's of decent to better quality," he said.
"I think social media is all about feeding the beast. I mean most influencers aren't very deep, it's more like look at my body, or money, with a hit song to accompany it. Disclaimer: I'm not very deep either," he quipped.
Andy started doing comedy right out of college, about 18 years ago. It started out as a hobby. But once he got more work, he turned it into a full-time job.
"I love it, and I feel extremely grateful for the life it's given me, but I also don't have the traditional career trajectory. Where most comics get a little momentum and either build their fanbase and go on tour, write for television, or act, I've kind of done a million parts of the job and keep on going," he opened up to Bored Panda.
I can't be sure for the whole Italy, but you can't find almond milk in Italian bars, practically none of them has it (our bar aren't the same as the Usa, it's a place where you can go to get breakfast, they doesn't serve mainly alcohol). All the kinds of milk that aren't cow's are pretty rare in our bars
I didn't have any issues getting oatmilk, soy, etc, in Bolognia. And they have many vegan or vegetarian dishes so I didn't go hungry either. Almond milk maybe isn't as normal as oat milk though, not everyone has that.
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This is not very funny. Loads of people suffer from lactose intolerance and similar food allergies, the fact that some countries make this into a joke and they are actually proud they don't accommodate other dietary needs only tells me they don't respect others.
Actually I just make sure I'm aware of where I am. Food allergies, even dairy, run through just about everyone in our home. As a chef, Im well aware of how many countries are about their food. It is a history, and they dont take to people changing it up well in many places. Remember, whole skirmishes have been started over food and wine. Plan accordingly always.
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NOT unreasonable! Not all countries have the same unbelievably & ridiculous range of options as the US. I found ordering a cup of tea in the US to be tedious beyond belief, only to end up with a cup of tepid water and a tea bag! I get it; you (ie the USA) *love* your coffee, and in six million different ways; but a decent cup of tea is NOT a difficult concept for the rest of us! Ironically, a *decent* cup of coffee (ie NOT out of a stewed pot) is also an alien concept to you.
I'm American. Yes, I love coffee. I brew it at home. I've never been to a coffee bar, and I drink mine black. I also enjoy tea. In America, tea is usually served cold. There aren't a lot of Americans (in general) that order hot tea in restaurants to make it worth the restaurant's worthwhile to supply more than the bare minimum. In fact, a restaurant isn't going to have a lot of options for hot coffee, either. Cream and/or sugar is pretty much it. Now, if I were in your country, complaining about the lack of coffees, you would say to embrace the local culture, and to eat/drink the local selections. Why does that not go the other way? Why shouldn't a visitor to the US not try the local selections?
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I live in Venice and more and more bars are offering soy milk for lactose-intolerant customers. It's not a big deal here. Don't know about the other types.
A barista running a cafe here. I know there are ppl with lactose intolerant since my brother is one. Thankfully I have no allergies, but I still provide lactose-free options. My brother said he would always check the restaurant options, but mostly he'd avoid any milk at all. Maybe the customer should try to look for their options first before condemning the providers.
The fact they were thrown out for asking that, I am sure you can agree, is the problem.
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Seriously what is wrong with almond milk why ask the person to leave
Pay attention to a menu next time you are out. Most places say to ask about dietary requirements right at the bottom of their menu. They don't list in the menu all the substitutes, cause it could be everywhere and clouding up the menu with stuff most people are not concerned with. If there is not a detailed outline of GF, Gluten free, dairy free, or what not, then most places leave it up to the customer to ask if they have gluten free bread for celiac disease or milk alternatives for lactose intolerant.
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If milk alternatives aren't listed on the menu, then milk alternatives aren't offered.
I tried to foam soy milk a while ago. It didn't work so my guess is that almond milk wouldn't work either. I'm definitely not an expert though so there is always a chance I f*d it up in some other way lol.
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No problem, you can get a decaf anywhere in Europe (but service is dependent on being friendly and respectful instead of demanding, and I know for a fact that many people are not, when abroad)
Load More Replies... Freggin stunads. For those not familiar with NJ speak that means freggin idiots. I would have thrown a lawsuit at these boneheads for discrimination based on very real dietary intolerances. So again people have minimized the real burden of what would this time be lactose intolerance. When I took a flight out once, forget which airline, and came to realize everything on the menu was about vegans or vegetarians, or pork free. I had no choice but to choose Vegan. On the plane they were befuddled when I said I very much wanted meat but no dairy. They were like Vegan? I said no, I very much want the meat, but I cannot have the dairy. Well this they could not do, so I had to have an unsatisfying vegan meal, which could have made a problem as well, because my body isn't a fan of too much roughage like veggies and beans. It beyond irking that people who have a preference based on morals, or religion, get catered to, but the real issues like Gluten or Lactose are often ignored.
Maybe your friend should go to Venice, California. Or the Venetian at Las Vegas and leave Italian Venice in peace.
When I was in Canada, I couldn't get lactose free milk anywhere, or even other alternatives. No one even knew what I was talking about and asked if I meant 2% milk. So different to Melbourne, where they always have lactose free, almond, soy, and oat milk! I ended up having many sad cups of black tea :(
We the people think that what we got at home is nothing but the best, but if you go to other countries with an open mind you may find that what they serve is much better, and better for you. As far as your plant base culinary products are a sham....it is a lot of BS propaganda....
They also don't use hormones on their cows to make them produce more milk! France. Italy...neither!
You really left that wide open for a "ur mom" joke, you know...
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Italians ...we are too entitled because we believe our food culture is perfect and we don't let anything new get into our habits. Really disappointing. I'm glad I travel a lot and I opened up my mind to the idea that we aren't the best at all!!
As it should be. American asininity hopefully won't carry to other countries
Reminds me of a joke I love: every time I go to a coffee shop I think about the time last summer when I asked for a latte with oat milk and the poor lad behind the counter somehow managed to say with a straight face "sir am sorry a cannae make a latte withoot milk"
"I mainly perform around the cities I'm in, and then make my money doing consulting work or the random gig that comes up. Ideally, I'd like to be successful enough to keep on jumping between continents and selling tickets to shows," he said.
As for his passion for comedy, Andy noted that it "ebbs and flows."
"It's like a marriage, you've got to be kind and patient, and sometimes you have to remind yourself why you married it in the first place. Don't show this to my wife," he joked.
well, yes. That makes finding a dessert very difficult and I still don't understand how ppl expect every restaurant to have options ready.. my lactose intolerant kid knows he has to take his pills with him or chances will be high he's not getting dessert
I'm confused. There is no chicken in a Caesar Salad. It's romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
I like when people drink coffee with skimmed milk. Like how much of it is there? 0.5 ml?
Travel expert, investor, and best-selling author Rick shared his insights about coffee culture and the best dishes he'd recommend while you're visiting Italy.
"Italy is very different from the US when it comes to food and drinks. And coffee is no different. For example, coffee in Italy is usually served in a small cup—similar to what you'd expect an 'espresso' to be in the States. But in Italy, it's known as a 'Caffè.' Now, if you ask for a latte, you'll probably get a glass of milk because 'Latte" means milk in Italian. You'd be better off asking for a 'Caffè Latte' instead," he said.
"And last, never order a cappuccino after lunch. Many Italian restaurants will frown or downright deny the request."
When it comes to travel, Rick suggests that anyone who's scared of taking the first step ought to see themselves as an explorer, who is ready to learn about other cultures.
"Sit back, relax, enjoy the scenery and the food, and try not to do too much... after all, you're on holiday!" he said.
Authentic food in Italy is regional, Rick told Bored Panda. "This means each region has a food or dish that they are specialized in. Here are a few of my favorite things to eat in the most famous cities:
- Rome: Pasta Carbonara (Nothing beats authentic carbonara!)
- Naples: Pizza (Pizza in Naples is something else. It's out of this world!)
- Florence: Fiorentina (The most delicious T-Bone steak you've ever had.)
- Venice: Cicchetti (The Italian version of tapas.)
- Sicily: Cannoli (Probably one of the best deserts around.)"
Then for dessert (and for those lovers of all things sweet like yours truly) is gelato. Rick said that you can find it "no matter where you are in Italy."
"People eat gelato in Italy year-round, and for a good reason—it's the best!"
In her head: "can I have a vegetarian menu:. In actual French "my grandmother eats monkeys"
Try ordering a steak "well done" in Tuscany (where "bistecca alla Fiorentina" is basically a religion)! I used to work in a restaurant and this one time a pregnant lady ordered it well done and the cook was so furious! She sent it back three times because she found it too rear, in the end it was basically a shoe sole!
Stand-up comedian Andy’s thread got a jaw-dropping amount of attention online. He got over 203k likes. But the true beauty of his tweet about asking for an oat milk coffee in Paris was how much he inspired other travelers to open up about their own gastronomic and other experiences while abroad.
Andy focuses on doing stand-up professionally. He also has a podcast with his wife, called Find Your Beach.
Us, personally? We live for travel. There is nothing like the thought of having a trip waiting for you in the near future to energize and motivate you. It doesn’t necessarily even have to be a flight to Paris, New York, or Tokyo, either. Sometimes even hopping on a train or driving for a couple of hours is enough to give you a completely different perspective on life.
Life’s an adventure. Or, well, it’s supposed to be. But how many of us live it to the fullest? Or anything even close to resembling that? It takes quite a bit of energy and courage to step out of your comfort zone. Leaving your 9-5 and pile of unwashed dishes for a few days or weeks can be daunting. However, the result is very much worth it, we feel. Travel is good for the soul.
Taking the first step can be incredibly frightening. You don’t know what’s waiting for you on the other side! So it’s no surprise that some people cling to everything and anything that’s familiar: the language, behavior, food, and drinks that they’re used to. However, if you open yourself up to new experiences and go with the local flow, you’ll end up enriching yourself beyond taking a few selfies at popular tourist spots.
By being open to exploring the unfamiliar and unexpected, at the end of your trip you might find that you’ve made a ton of new friends with people whom you would otherwise never would have considered talking to. You’ll have visited places that might not even be in the tourist guides. And you’ll have tasted things that help you develop your palate. It’s fine to set aside your love of latte for a week and live like a local.
The mindset with which you head out on your journey matters a lot. Taking the time to learn a bit of the local language and customs can help improve your entire trip. Besides, the locals will probably be far friendlier when they realize that you’re not just any other tourist.
Uh, no. I got upgraded to business on Air France and I got the vegetarian meal I've ordered when I booked economy, plus the most delicious bread rolls I even eaten, extra dessert, a cocktail and a small bottle of champagne to make up for the economy meal!
Previously, Professor Christine Vogt, the Director of the Center for Sustainable Tourism at Arizona State University, told Bored Panda that the more we prepare for the journey in terms of knowledge, the more of a positive impression we’ll leave with the locals.
“More than likely that [the local language and customs] is what draws a person to visit a certain place. The more local knowledge a traveler has, the more a traveler can feel like a local and fit in," she told us some time ago.
"Local customs can include how a traveler dresses, eats, uses a cell phone, etc. When a traveler is out in a community such as walking in a downtown area or eating in a restaurant, these local customs can come into play,” she explained.
Do you mean Mrs.Bucket? Hyacinth "It's pronounced BU-KAY!" wife of poor, sweet Richard Bucket?
“For example, in Buddhist countries, a woman who has not covered her shoulders or legs may not be allowed into temples or even a restaurant. Learn as many local customs as you can and a few keywords to enhance your experience.”
It is one thing to suggest "no, I believe you will find this wine will complement the meal best" but another thing to be entitled enough to force your choice of alcohol on another. Of course, it could be they had a stock issue, were out white (unlikely I know) and didn't explain. Or he was just rude.
Tell us your funniest food ordering stories while you were traveling abroad, Pandas! Have you ever been in a situation like the people in this thread? Do you enjoy lattes and oat milk in your coffee? What city or country do you hope to visit soon? Share your thoughts, experiences, and future plans in the comments.
Nope, bread is always served for free in French restaurant. Same for water (not the bottled water).
Do these places not have menus or are these people just picking a food they want and expecting the restaurant to accommodate any request? Are these type of stories why people hate American tourists? If so I can see why.
So, people ordered something that was not on the menu, got offended when they didn't get it.
I used to like BP for the art and animal related content but now it's a lot of "More Reasons Why Americans Are Idiots" and "OMG, this Karen!!".
It was interesting to learn that we seem to be the only ones who drink oats and don't eat meat. Reminds me of people I was up north with asking for grits and sweet tea.
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So what I've learned here is that France is full of rude people. Asking for a dairy substitute is not being difficult. I can't handle dairy and was devastated to miss out on a lot of coffee choices until oat milk and almond milk became more common. I've never heard a single person here in the US act as elitist and rude as some of the people in these stories were.
that's just France for you, not all of France of course, but some of them are extremely uppity about their cuisine, in that it's the most perfect cuisine and doesn't need/should not/CANNOT possibly be altered in any way, including to cater for those with intolerances. It's honestly quite pathetic.
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To be honest, some of these experiences imply that the waiter/waitress was just plain rude or mocking the customer. There is nothing wrong with asking for changes or plant based milk. It‘s also ok, if the Restaurant/Cafe says no, but there is nothing funny about ridiculing the customer. Most of these stories are just servers being playful though and that of course is prefectly fine :).
It's perfectly fine to be rude to Americans. They deserve every bit of it.
Load More Replies... People who have intolerances to various foods should not be shamed and shunned. It isn't funny. Yea some (and probably a good amount of people in this list) people just jump on the GF or dairy free etc bandwagon for "health benefits" but otherwise, for those that are genuinely intolerant, it's not nice and they shouldn't face s**t like that :/
The people in this comment section are acting like the Americans are weird for wanting vegetarian/dairy-free options, meanwhile it's completely normal to have that in countries like Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. It's honestly not just about culture with the French. Because if you'd ask them to remove the tomato from your meat sandwich then they'll easily do it. You can't see from someone's appearance if they don't want something because of an allergy or simply because it's their preference to not have it. We as workers in the service industry don't have any right to shame someone about it if they ask it in a normal way
It's only ever happened to me once. I was returning from a work trip to Italy (Bergamo I think) and I'd had a long and tedious trip in which I'd not not any downtime in a part of Italy I really like. I thought what the hell I'll indulge myself in a cappucino assuming the faux pas would be tolerated. Instead I got a polite, but firm. "Sorry that is not served this afternoon". Respect, I suppose!
Good way to handle it! But its also a bit different than having food allergies or intolerances like many people who are GF or DF.
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This TERRIFIES me about traveling. I have so many dietary restrictions, that I would end up starving to death.
I think you would be fine in most of Europe if a) you are friendly and able to communicate (English would most probably be sufficient) and b) if you are free to eat where ever you like. A restaurant might not be able to provide something special for you but maybe the next grocery store? Unfortunately, this is often not helpful if you are travelling with a group, have limited time and transportation or no possibility to prepare something for yourself. I usually carry something dry and packed (like a cereal bar or some cookies) with me, in case I really get absolutely nothing somewhere...
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As someone with a gluten allergy that makes it nigh impossible to continue eating once "glutened" I guess French cuisine will be permanently off limits to me. I'm sorry, but I refuse to suffer 3 hours of pain as my body tries (and time and again FAILS) to break gluten down.
In Rome, having a lovely dinner. I really wanted a cappuccino instead of dessert (something really common where I’m from, also Europe). Didn’t get it. Cappuccino is a breakfast drink in Italy. ETA: I think he was right but he could’ve been a bit more accommodating. It’s also the ‘authentic’ spiel, probably. Plus I only drink espresso’s these days
Yeah, I have a different take than most of the people here, I think. There are a lot of ways tourists, even specifically American tourists, are obnoxious and entitled, but politely asking about options is not one of them. Most of these don't have anyone "flipping out" when they're told no, in a rude-a*s way mind you, they're just ASKING. And to show my whole a*s, there's nothing wrong with wanting to use less or no animal products in your life, no matter how some french waiter snoots at you.
Some more "culinary" restaurants especially in France have a habit of offering the dish or menu of the day, so there's a rather limited list of dishes to choose from. And usually you do not see them in advance from the restaurant website. Which is a bit difficult for me because I'm a vegetarian and also allergic to red wine... but I'll ask politely about the available options and go somewhere else if there's nothing I can eat there.
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Too bad so much of the world is addicted to consuming animal corpses + live animal bodily fluids.
Well, a lot of French waiters here. Personally, l've never had any problem in France. But: a) l avoid Paris b) l'm an omnivore
I didn't avoid Paris and I'm a vegetarian and didn't have any problems!
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“ Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. ” – Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad
Many years ago my husband and I were in Europe. Switzerland and Germany. We went to eat breakfast and my eggs weren't cooked enough. We tried telling the waitress hard, not hard enough. My husband wound up going into the kitchen to show what I wanted and dropped the eggs all over the stove by accident. All I heard was yelling and thought we were going to have to . We stayed and got our meals all cooked to perfection. Everyone was great to us and we told the story many times over the years. I loved our time on Europe.
We Germans sound a little bit more rude than we really are in our heart of hearts... Glad you enjoyed your stay!
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While I sympathize with those who have eating conditions and have to adhere to a certain diet strictly, when in Rome...
It's not funny when these local people are assholes when someone asks for non animal products. People have allergies or other dietary restrictions, there's no need to act like some of these servers did. Shame on them.
funny how its mostly "Americans" who have "allergies"
Load More Replies... I went to Paris and had a lot of rude experiences. One of them was going into a café and just asking for a table to sit down, there were three of us. It was not busy, loads of empty tables. They said the McDonald’s was down the street and then refused to talk to us after that.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Napoli. Loved it there, but first night all 4 of us ordered an entree with our pizzas/pasta. When the waiter brought our main course, he pointed out at some rocket leaves from our entrees which we did not eat and shook his head like we wasted so much food. We ate those leaves feeling ashamed. Last night in Napoli we had not eaten all day since we ran around to visit as much as we could so we sat down 8-9 pm-ish and ordered a platter as an entree. The waiter bluntly told us that's for stupid tourists (indeed it was a mix of prosciutto and cheese that we could get anywhere) and he suggests other entrees that are more restaurant appropriate. When we were done he came to give us the check and we were like no, we would like some pizza too (and some to go for one of the friends who stayed home) and he LITERALLY FACEPALMED.
a southern Belle in a restaurant in France asking loud, I mean LOUD : " WHERE IS MY ICED TEA ? "
Ah yes, all the eurocentrism. Especially with how being vegetarian is treated (it's not just an American thing, at all, and the cultures that also have higher rates of vegetarianism are treated terribly by European countries soooo maybe think a little bit about what's going on underneath the "culture")
We were in Prague and had a lovely bottle of Czech wine with our meal. After we finished we decided to have a second bottle of wine. On ordering, the waiter seemed astonished that we were ordering wine without food. It took a bit of discussion before he served us it.
What I learned after reading this is that in France you don't get to decide what you'll eat or drink; others do. And that makes me sad.
It's difficult to believe that countries with more cultural diversity and more progressive than my eastern european shithole wouldn't be accommodating for dietary restrictions or allergies/intolerance. Like come on, we're 30 years behind western Europe and you want to tell me they don't have the accommodations we've had for years? Smells like BS
Isn't the point of traveling abroad to experience the culture of a new place. The saying is "when in Rome, do as the roman's do." I bet for some of these if they had asked for the waiter's recommendation and gave it a shot, they would have enjoyed a fantastic meal. I made authentic beef burgundy the other day, followed every step to the letter, the recommended wine was one I'd never touch, the meat tasted like pennies and nyquil after it marinated in that wine for 24 hour. The dish still had another 8 hours of cooking to go. In the end, it was delicious, the best beef stew you've ever had is terrible peasant food in comparison. Trust the process. I often think with food, it's not a matter of not liking something, but not having it made correctly. I hate mushrooms, the smell, the taste, the texture, they even look gross, and even the tiniest sliver is too much but I always try them again if it's part of the meal, one-day someone is going to make them in the exact right way I'll love
I don't even have to go abroad for my story, which is at a cafe 5 minutes from my house. I ordered a latte and my pet barista looked at me for a long time and said "No, you're being boring. you'll have a cap". Mind you, the fact Aussies drink cappuccinos all day is not acceptable to Italians (it's a breakfast coffee).
I was in a very rural part of China, everything was too spicy for me. One time the chef gave me what he prepared for his toddler becuase it was the only non-spicy food he had on hand. The other time I went inside the kitchen and literally talked the chef through the cooking process. The chef was not mad at all, but he kept asking me "are you sure? It will be tasteless".
Most of these are probably fake, embellishments, or entitled customers. However, the "well done steaks" ones don't surprise me. I've had it happen a couple of times to me in US too. I can't understand why anyone thinks they can tell me how I should want my food prepared. I can't stand the taste and texture of undercooked steak. It tastes bad and is sort of like eating a slimey wet sponge. I can usually get past a hint of pink, but I'd rather it be fully cooked. It's funny how they always say something about it possibly being burned or whatever. Well the college kids at Texas Roadhouse seem to be able to do it just fine, so maybe you need to get rid of your "chef" and hire one of them. Provided there are no actual safety issues involved, order your food the way you want it, allow me to do the same, and shove your meaningless opinions.
Same here. Just a hint of pink is okay, anything more makes me gag. This is why I usually always order fish or chicken.
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If I was ever able to go to Europe; I would ask the waiter his recommendation.
Nooo, don't do it! Italy is an amazingly beautiful country and all the people I met there were wonderful. Of course, you might meet some arrogant waiters in the most inner circle of touristic hell, but that shouldn't discourage you!
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In the last 20 years I've been twice to London, twice to Venice and once to Milan, once to Paris and Vienna, three times to Barcelona. I speak French reasonably well, make a great effort in Italian and I'm fluent in Spanish. I found Barcelona the least acomodating, by far. I feel sometimes you have to do a bit of homework and know how to "read" your surroundings. Is it rush hour at lunch time in a city restaurant? Is it a family owned business that caters homemade no fuss meals? The only place where I make "special" requests it's in Portugal where I live and work, because they usually accomodate and I rather have less food than waste it (without rice, no sauce or on the side, no onions). If they cannot accomodate I'll order something else.
Also, most tourist guides/books will tell you where the gluten-free, vegetarian options are!
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This should be called "people getting called out in France". Vive la revolution!
This should be called "French waiters being assholes for no reason"
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The first time I went to France I was surprised to see fast food places such as McDonalds and asked who the heck would eat there when they could get great food at any little neighbourhood bistro or even the cafeteria at Carrefour. Now I know, I guess. These are just upscale examples of the sort of person who would eat at a franchise burger place instead of hitting the marvelous cafeteria in the nearest Carrefours.
You seriously think there would be no McDonalds in France???
Load More Replies... It sounds like most of these people are entitled and either didn't read the menu or didn't care and just expected these restaurants to accommodate them. It's like asking for tacos at a pizza joint.
It's not about being crazy or not... it is a simple cultural difference. In many European countries it is not done to ask a dish to be modified to your liking. If there is some allergy or some medical reason and you explain this to the waiter, i'm sure most of the time you will be met with a positive vibe. Otherwise it is up to you to find the restaurant or dish that works for you. It's just the way it works. There is often a lot of pride involved in dish creation in many European countries. having said that; a*****e-waiters do also exist in Europe... and once in a while one comes across one..... plus ... all waiters have ALL been traumatised by Americans asking for the whole dish to be "on the side" and Ranch-sauce.... That does not help. :-)
Majority of us know how to travel and be respect of other cultures. If you're that hard up with your diet, then stay home or buy your own food from the market.
Takeaways: Europeans are f*****g assholes! Don't you dare visit Europe if you have allergies. Don't you dare visit Europe if you have ethics.
Anyone can be a b******e, server or waiter or customer or not. Its not limited to nationality as a lot (but not all) on both sides like to think.
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Not all of us are gonna ask for outrageous orders, but the ones who do are the ones that get you all like this and we pay for it (for example: gluten free. I have celiacs disease, so gluten free is the only way I can eat and not suffer chronic pain)
Load More Replies... So, people ordered something that was not on the menu, got offended when they didn't get it.
I used to like BP for the art and animal related content but now it's a lot of "More Reasons Why Americans Are Idiots" and "OMG, this Karen!!".
It was interesting to learn that we seem to be the only ones who drink oats and don't eat meat. Reminds me of people I was up north with asking for grits and sweet tea.
Load More Replies... So what I've learned here is that France is full of rude people. Asking for a dairy substitute is not being difficult. I can't handle dairy and was devastated to miss out on a lot of coffee choices until oat milk and almond milk became more common. I've never heard a single person here in the US act as elitist and rude as some of the people in these stories were.
that's just France for you, not all of France of course, but some of them are extremely uppity about their cuisine, in that it's the most perfect cuisine and doesn't need/should not/CANNOT possibly be altered in any way, including to cater for those with intolerances. It's honestly quite pathetic.
Load More Replies... To be honest, some of these experiences imply that the waiter/waitress was just plain rude or mocking the customer. There is nothing wrong with asking for changes or plant based milk. It‘s also ok, if the Restaurant/Cafe says no, but there is nothing funny about ridiculing the customer. Most of these stories are just servers being playful though and that of course is prefectly fine :).
It's perfectly fine to be rude to Americans. They deserve every bit of it.
Load More Replies... People who have intolerances to various foods should not be shamed and shunned. It isn't funny. Yea some (and probably a good amount of people in this list) people just jump on the GF or dairy free etc bandwagon for "health benefits" but otherwise, for those that are genuinely intolerant, it's not nice and they shouldn't face s**t like that :/
The people in this comment section are acting like the Americans are weird for wanting vegetarian/dairy-free options, meanwhile it's completely normal to have that in countries like Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. It's honestly not just about culture with the French. Because if you'd ask them to remove the tomato from your meat sandwich then they'll easily do it. You can't see from someone's appearance if they don't want something because of an allergy or simply because it's their preference to not have it. We as workers in the service industry don't have any right to shame someone about it if they ask it in a normal way
It's only ever happened to me once. I was returning from a work trip to Italy (Bergamo I think) and I'd had a long and tedious trip in which I'd not not any downtime in a part of Italy I really like. I thought what the hell I'll indulge myself in a cappucino assuming the faux pas would be tolerated. Instead I got a polite, but firm. "Sorry that is not served this afternoon". Respect, I suppose!
Good way to handle it! But its also a bit different than having food allergies or intolerances like many people who are GF or DF.
Load More Replies... This TERRIFIES me about traveling. I have so many dietary restrictions, that I would end up starving to death.
I think you would be fine in most of Europe if a) you are friendly and able to communicate (English would most probably be sufficient) and b) if you are free to eat where ever you like. A restaurant might not be able to provide something special for you but maybe the next grocery store? Unfortunately, this is often not helpful if you are travelling with a group, have limited time and transportation or no possibility to prepare something for yourself. I usually carry something dry and packed (like a cereal bar or some cookies) with me, in case I really get absolutely nothing somewhere...
Load More Replies... As someone with a gluten allergy that makes it nigh impossible to continue eating once "glutened" I guess French cuisine will be permanently off limits to me. I'm sorry, but I refuse to suffer 3 hours of pain as my body tries (and time and again FAILS) to break gluten down.
In Rome, having a lovely dinner. I really wanted a cappuccino instead of dessert (something really common where I’m from, also Europe). Didn’t get it. Cappuccino is a breakfast drink in Italy. ETA: I think he was right but he could’ve been a bit more accommodating. It’s also the ‘authentic’ spiel, probably. Plus I only drink espresso’s these days
Yeah, I have a different take than most of the people here, I think. There are a lot of ways tourists, even specifically American tourists, are obnoxious and entitled, but politely asking about options is not one of them. Most of these don't have anyone "flipping out" when they're told no, in a rude-a*s way mind you, they're just ASKING. And to show my whole a*s, there's nothing wrong with wanting to use less or no animal products in your life, no matter how some french waiter snoots at you.
Some more "culinary" restaurants especially in France have a habit of offering the dish or menu of the day, so there's a rather limited list of dishes to choose from. And usually you do not see them in advance from the restaurant website. Which is a bit difficult for me because I'm a vegetarian and also allergic to red wine... but I'll ask politely about the available options and go somewhere else if there's nothing I can eat there.
Load More Replies... Too bad so much of the world is addicted to consuming animal corpses + live animal bodily fluids.
Well, a lot of French waiters here. Personally, l've never had any problem in France. But: a) l avoid Paris b) l'm an omnivore
I didn't avoid Paris and I'm a vegetarian and didn't have any problems!
Load More Replies... “ Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. ” – Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad
Many years ago my husband and I were in Europe. Switzerland and Germany. We went to eat breakfast and my eggs weren't cooked enough. We tried telling the waitress hard, not hard enough. My husband wound up going into the kitchen to show what I wanted and dropped the eggs all over the stove by accident. All I heard was yelling and thought we were going to have to . We stayed and got our meals all cooked to perfection. Everyone was great to us and we told the story many times over the years. I loved our time on Europe.
We Germans sound a little bit more rude than we really are in our heart of hearts... Glad you enjoyed your stay!
Load More Replies... While I sympathize with those who have eating conditions and have to adhere to a certain diet strictly, when in Rome...
It's not funny when these local people are assholes when someone asks for non animal products. People have allergies or other dietary restrictions, there's no need to act like some of these servers did. Shame on them.
funny how its mostly "Americans" who have "allergies"
Load More Replies... I went to Paris and had a lot of rude experiences. One of them was going into a café and just asking for a table to sit down, there were three of us. It was not busy, loads of empty tables. They said the McDonald’s was down the street and then refused to talk to us after that.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Napoli. Loved it there, but first night all 4 of us ordered an entree with our pizzas/pasta. When the waiter brought our main course, he pointed out at some rocket leaves from our entrees which we did not eat and shook his head like we wasted so much food. We ate those leaves feeling ashamed. Last night in Napoli we had not eaten all day since we ran around to visit as much as we could so we sat down 8-9 pm-ish and ordered a platter as an entree. The waiter bluntly told us that's for stupid tourists (indeed it was a mix of prosciutto and cheese that we could get anywhere) and he suggests other entrees that are more restaurant appropriate. When we were done he came to give us the check and we were like no, we would like some pizza too (and some to go for one of the friends who stayed home) and he LITERALLY FACEPALMED.
a southern Belle in a restaurant in France asking loud, I mean LOUD : " WHERE IS MY ICED TEA ? "
Ah yes, all the eurocentrism. Especially with how being vegetarian is treated (it's not just an American thing, at all, and the cultures that also have higher rates of vegetarianism are treated terribly by European countries soooo maybe think a little bit about what's going on underneath the "culture")
We were in Prague and had a lovely bottle of Czech wine with our meal. After we finished we decided to have a second bottle of wine. On ordering, the waiter seemed astonished that we were ordering wine without food. It took a bit of discussion before he served us it.
What I learned after reading this is that in France you don't get to decide what you'll eat or drink; others do. And that makes me sad.
It's difficult to believe that countries with more cultural diversity and more progressive than my eastern european shithole wouldn't be accommodating for dietary restrictions or allergies/intolerance. Like come on, we're 30 years behind western Europe and you want to tell me they don't have the accommodations we've had for years? Smells like BS
Isn't the point of traveling abroad to experience the culture of a new place. The saying is "when in Rome, do as the roman's do." I bet for some of these if they had asked for the waiter's recommendation and gave it a shot, they would have enjoyed a fantastic meal. I made authentic beef burgundy the other day, followed every step to the letter, the recommended wine was one I'd never touch, the meat tasted like pennies and nyquil after it marinated in that wine for 24 hour. The dish still had another 8 hours of cooking to go. In the end, it was delicious, the best beef stew you've ever had is terrible peasant food in comparison. Trust the process. I often think with food, it's not a matter of not liking something, but not having it made correctly. I hate mushrooms, the smell, the taste, the texture, they even look gross, and even the tiniest sliver is too much but I always try them again if it's part of the meal, one-day someone is going to make them in the exact right way I'll love
I don't even have to go abroad for my story, which is at a cafe 5 minutes from my house. I ordered a latte and my pet barista looked at me for a long time and said "No, you're being boring. you'll have a cap". Mind you, the fact Aussies drink cappuccinos all day is not acceptable to Italians (it's a breakfast coffee).
I was in a very rural part of China, everything was too spicy for me. One time the chef gave me what he prepared for his toddler becuase it was the only non-spicy food he had on hand. The other time I went inside the kitchen and literally talked the chef through the cooking process. The chef was not mad at all, but he kept asking me "are you sure? It will be tasteless".
Most of these are probably fake, embellishments, or entitled customers. However, the "well done steaks" ones don't surprise me. I've had it happen a couple of times to me in US too. I can't understand why anyone thinks they can tell me how I should want my food prepared. I can't stand the taste and texture of undercooked steak. It tastes bad and is sort of like eating a slimey wet sponge. I can usually get past a hint of pink, but I'd rather it be fully cooked. It's funny how they always say something about it possibly being burned or whatever. Well the college kids at Texas Roadhouse seem to be able to do it just fine, so maybe you need to get rid of your "chef" and hire one of them. Provided there are no actual safety issues involved, order your food the way you want it, allow me to do the same, and shove your meaningless opinions.
Same here. Just a hint of pink is okay, anything more makes me gag. This is why I usually always order fish or chicken.
Load More Replies... If I was ever able to go to Europe; I would ask the waiter his recommendation.
Nooo, don't do it! Italy is an amazingly beautiful country and all the people I met there were wonderful. Of course, you might meet some arrogant waiters in the most inner circle of touristic hell, but that shouldn't discourage you!
Load More Replies... In the last 20 years I've been twice to London, twice to Venice and once to Milan, once to Paris and Vienna, three times to Barcelona. I speak French reasonably well, make a great effort in Italian and I'm fluent in Spanish. I found Barcelona the least acomodating, by far. I feel sometimes you have to do a bit of homework and know how to "read" your surroundings. Is it rush hour at lunch time in a city restaurant? Is it a family owned business that caters homemade no fuss meals? The only place where I make "special" requests it's in Portugal where I live and work, because they usually accomodate and I rather have less food than waste it (without rice, no sauce or on the side, no onions). If they cannot accomodate I'll order something else.
Also, most tourist guides/books will tell you where the gluten-free, vegetarian options are!
Load More Replies... This should be called "people getting called out in France". Vive la revolution!
This should be called "French waiters being assholes for no reason"
Load More Replies... The first time I went to France I was surprised to see fast food places such as McDonalds and asked who the heck would eat there when they could get great food at any little neighbourhood bistro or even the cafeteria at Carrefour. Now I know, I guess. These are just upscale examples of the sort of person who would eat at a franchise burger place instead of hitting the marvelous cafeteria in the nearest Carrefours.
You seriously think there would be no McDonalds in France???
Load More Replies... It sounds like most of these people are entitled and either didn't read the menu or didn't care and just expected these restaurants to accommodate them. It's like asking for tacos at a pizza joint.
It's not about being crazy or not... it is a simple cultural difference. In many European countries it is not done to ask a dish to be modified to your liking. If there is some allergy or some medical reason and you explain this to the waiter, i'm sure most of the time you will be met with a positive vibe. Otherwise it is up to you to find the restaurant or dish that works for you. It's just the way it works. There is often a lot of pride involved in dish creation in many European countries. having said that; a*****e-waiters do also exist in Europe... and once in a while one comes across one..... plus ... all waiters have ALL been traumatised by Americans asking for the whole dish to be "on the side" and Ranch-sauce.... That does not help. :-)
Majority of us know how to travel and be respect of other cultures. If you're that hard up with your diet, then stay home or buy your own food from the market.
Takeaways: Europeans are f*****g assholes! Don't you dare visit Europe if you have allergies. Don't you dare visit Europe if you have ethics.
Anyone can be a b******e, server or waiter or customer or not. Its not limited to nationality as a lot (but not all) on both sides like to think.
Load More Replies... Not all of us are gonna ask for outrageous orders, but the ones who do are the ones that get you all like this and we pay for it (for example: gluten free. I have celiacs disease, so gluten free is the only way I can eat and not suffer chronic pain)
Load More Replies... 