* cababarant *

Tuesday, April 06, 2004

Okay, I finally need to talk about the big drawbacks of going out to eat in Holland. First, it's such a cliche for Americans to say this, but the smoke! It's really getting to me this time, more so than the last time I spent time in Europe. I think, having developed seasonal allergies since being in Seattle, that I'm just way more sensitive to it. Whenever we eat at a restaurant, I spend the whole next day coughing and congested. Ugh! Don't they see the signs everywhere that "Roken is dodelijk"?? Anyway, I guess I either need to get used to it, or just not go to restaurants a lot. (Which we don't anyway, because the exchange rate is eating us alive! More on that later.)

The other thing is the service. Dutch service is terrible. Basically, most places are understaffed, there's not much of a tipping system so there's not a real incentive for friendly service, but I don't know if these are the reasons. It doesn't make that much sense because my experience with the Dutch, outside of a service aspect, is as a super helpful and friendly culture. For example, every time I'm on the tram, people offer to carry the stroller up the stairs, give up their seats, etc. Maybe they get behind a counter or in a server's uniform and put that attitude on hold. Anyway, I have yet to experience good service, especially at restaurants. We went to an Indonesian place (that had great food, by the way) where the server was waiting on like 9 or 10 tables, one of which was an 8-top! Now I've worked at restaurants and 10 tables with a huge party at one of them is: Totally. INSANE! What is really funny is that the Dutch people around us managed to force service quicker. You have to be aggressive, i.e. wiping down the table, getting your own menus and maybe even your own utensils. The lady at the next table actually got the sprayer and sprayed down her own table and wiped it dry! I gotta just start getting familiar with the service stations when I walk in a place. I'll just start making my own coffee. It'll be just like being at home!

posted by sheryl | 11:04 PM |

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