Something struck me today that I wanted to share with you.

First, I - being an Austrian - have an American girlfriend right now. During her time in Vienna, she told me a lot about the differences she perceived between the American and the European culture.

For instance, in the States "it's all customer service" and at restaurants you hardly wait longer than 15-20 minutes until your meal is served. However, in Austria, waiters not only are less service-oriented but it could happen that your meal isn't served before 50-60 minutes (though it's usually not THAT long).

Second, I worked at a restaurant today (4 hours of table hopping) and never was I interrupted by arriving meals. Thus, as a magician, I see the upside of our apparently inferior restaurant culture. You have all the time in the world to finish your routines. Sure, the customers have to wait but, what the heck, THEY can enjoy MY magic longer than in the States.

Have fun, Chris

Chris,
I certainly wouldn't call it "inferior restaurant culture."
Wait staff in Europe see their jobs as a career -- as it should be.
In North America, there is a tendency to look at a wait-staff job (or any other service-industry job) as a stepping stone to something else.
Thus, you get much more amateurish (although often well-meaning) service in North America.
Besides, if you get your meal in 15 minutes (as opposed to half an hour or more) it usually tastes like that!

cheers,
Peter Marucci
showtimecol@aol.com