In Defense of the Notoriously Arrogant French Waiter
Feb 26th, 2015, 10:32 PM
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In Defense of the Notoriously Arrogant French Waiter
The Wall Street Journal has a very interesting article about the culture of French waiters.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-defen...ter-1424371178
<i>I used to be intimidated by French waiters. They seemed so sleek and snappy—and, indeed, they seemed to snap at people a great deal for reasons that I, as an expat American, could not fathom. Much like having an LAPD patrol car drive up next to me on the California freeway, having a French waiter draw up to my table made me nervous. In their eyes, I felt, I was forever doing something wrong. Over time, though, I came to recognize—and to appreciate—their oddly expressed eagerness to please; their expertise; their agility, and the beauty of what they provide and the way that they provide it...</i>
http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-defen...ter-1424371178
<i>I used to be intimidated by French waiters. They seemed so sleek and snappy—and, indeed, they seemed to snap at people a great deal for reasons that I, as an expat American, could not fathom. Much like having an LAPD patrol car drive up next to me on the California freeway, having a French waiter draw up to my table made me nervous. In their eyes, I felt, I was forever doing something wrong. Over time, though, I came to recognize—and to appreciate—their oddly expressed eagerness to please; their expertise; their agility, and the beauty of what they provide and the way that they provide it...</i>
Feb 27th, 2015, 04:17 AM
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Who still uses the word garçon? The WSJ doesn't think much of its readership if it thinks this is worth publishing.
I can't remember encountering this kind of waiter, but then we don't go to Paris or visit stratospherically expensive restaurants.
In our lower-cost experience, French waiters work hard and keep moving. Watching that happen is sometimes part of our entertainment, like the small restaurant in Azay le Rideau where one man handled 15-20 tables by himself, doing everything from greeting new arrivals to taking payment at the end. The place was packed, but nobody had to wait long. The food was fairly good and it wasn't an expensive meal. We went back the next time we were in that area and it was the same guy, same fast pace.
I can't remember encountering this kind of waiter, but then we don't go to Paris or visit stratospherically expensive restaurants.
In our lower-cost experience, French waiters work hard and keep moving. Watching that happen is sometimes part of our entertainment, like the small restaurant in Azay le Rideau where one man handled 15-20 tables by himself, doing everything from greeting new arrivals to taking payment at the end. The place was packed, but nobody had to wait long. The food was fairly good and it wasn't an expensive meal. We went back the next time we were in that area and it was the same guy, same fast pace.
Feb 27th, 2015, 04:35 AM
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I can pour a couple of beers, make a mojito, take a couple of orders and flirt with several pretty girls all within the span of a couple of minutes where I bartend, always with a smile on my face too. 
Feb 27th, 2015, 05:01 AM
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Sorry - I find French waiters to be highly professional not arrogant. If I am going out for a nice dinner I want someone who knows what they are doing and has a decent restraint. I am NOT looking for a new best friend - but professional advice and attention. And to me the waiter introing themselves by their first name, knowing nothing about the food/wine, grinning idiotically throughout and singing and clapping for the birthday people belong in Applebees and other chain venues - not a real restaurant.
Feb 27th, 2015, 09:54 AM
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Your thoughts could not have been said better Thin.
Some of the comments make me believe no one actually read the entire article. Others clearly didn't read past the headline. But that is the way of the world today.
Some of the comments make me believe no one actually read the entire article. Others clearly didn't read past the headline. But that is the way of the world today.
Feb 27th, 2015, 11:31 AM
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I have seen many an arrogant French waiter - perhaps I do not patronize upper crust places many of you do where wait staff may be on warning to treat clients like pampered babies - but rather the regular cafe - so many times I have seen rude wiaters.
Once with my son we waited 20 minutes at the bar before getting served when our waiter was chatting on the phone - so many times the drinks or plates were practically thrown on the table.
My French in-laws say the same - that French waiters are rude or tend to be - that they consider themsleves to be a profession and act in a way they deem professional.
Several times with my French in-laws we received very poor service and they were disgusted with the waiter - it is very common in common French places if not in the grand dining rooms of expensive tourist places in Paris.
French waiters IME are often rude and arrogant and I think I have many more experiences over decades of living off and on in France than most.
I'd rather go to a McDonalds for a coffee any day or FLUNCH for a meal just to not have to deal with these obnoxious types (of course there are the odd nice waiters too but... oh well no one else has experience this and that tells me you have not been around too much.
Once with my son we waited 20 minutes at the bar before getting served when our waiter was chatting on the phone - so many times the drinks or plates were practically thrown on the table.
My French in-laws say the same - that French waiters are rude or tend to be - that they consider themsleves to be a profession and act in a way they deem professional.
Several times with my French in-laws we received very poor service and they were disgusted with the waiter - it is very common in common French places if not in the grand dining rooms of expensive tourist places in Paris.
French waiters IME are often rude and arrogant and I think I have many more experiences over decades of living off and on in France than most.
I'd rather go to a McDonalds for a coffee any day or FLUNCH for a meal just to not have to deal with these obnoxious types (of course there are the odd nice waiters too but... oh well no one else has experience this and that tells me you have not been around too much.
Feb 27th, 2015, 12:30 PM
#15
"I've never experienced anything that could be interpreted as arrogance from a French waiter (or waitress)."
I hadn't either until our last trip, but our waiter at Les Philosophes stopped that streak. That said, there are bad waiters everywhere, and with all the times we have dined out in Paris, I guess we were just due.
I hadn't either until our last trip, but our waiter at Les Philosophes stopped that streak. That said, there are bad waiters everywhere, and with all the times we have dined out in Paris, I guess we were just due.
Feb 27th, 2015, 12:57 PM
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That French wait staff do not have to grovel for tips is part of the reason and I like that idea - a service charge for a professional service but not like American wait staff - really every few minutes "is everything all right" because their wages depend on tips.
I much prefer to pay for service and then have it done professionally as French ones do - even though they often can be haughty - like when I rearrange my knife to one side of the plate once a waiter came and put it back where it was originally - that kind of stuff I can do without - not nearly all waiters are surly but to say this is not a valid complaint is just not being around much - there are reasons the French Chamber of Commerce periodically begs clerks and waiters etc to be polite to tourists - they perceive it as a problem and it is IME and I have a high tolerance for that kind of stuff.
But several times with my French in-laws being totally disgusted with waiters tells me the French even tend to think this - outside of the halls of expensive restaurants where such behavior would not be tolerated.
I much prefer to pay for service and then have it done professionally as French ones do - even though they often can be haughty - like when I rearrange my knife to one side of the plate once a waiter came and put it back where it was originally - that kind of stuff I can do without - not nearly all waiters are surly but to say this is not a valid complaint is just not being around much - there are reasons the French Chamber of Commerce periodically begs clerks and waiters etc to be polite to tourists - they perceive it as a problem and it is IME and I have a high tolerance for that kind of stuff.
But several times with my French in-laws being totally disgusted with waiters tells me the French even tend to think this - outside of the halls of expensive restaurants where such behavior would not be tolerated.
