European vs. American Restaurants, by Mikayla Pietkiewicz

As a waitress in America, I cannot help but take notice of the service that you receive in Spanish
restaurants. I get paid a low wage and the majority of my income is based on tips for good
service. However, this is not the case in Spain or even in Europe. Servers will get paid the same
wage here whether they give good or bad service. They have no motivation to accommodate their
guests above the average standard. You can see this anytime you need a waiter or waitress. They
will never approach you first unless you call them over to you. Most of the time this can be
pretty difficult because they are usually not around. In America, the server is very attentive, they
check on their tables every 10 – 15 minutes and go above and beyond to try and anticipate their
guest’s needs.
Another difference I have noticed in restaurants is that the bill is never separated, the server will
always present the entire bill to the table. Whereas in the states, it is customary to ask a group of
people if they would like to pay together or separately. Even if they do not ask beforehand, it can
always be done after the meal, no matter how much it might inconvenience the waiter. If you ask
a server in a European restaurant, more often than not, they will decline your request.