I have a feeling it runs culturally deeper than that. Look how paranoid OP is during this entire meal that he's being scammed, and would rather be bored for hours and hours than pay £9 to go online, while still obviously having enough money to fly internationally. If that's the way he acts on a vacation, imagine how it must be day-to-day.

Yeah I was going to say what lounges just let you in for $30? I know United and Delta don't.

Actual airline specific lounges don't, but ones like The More do.

even when that was true, restaurants (and pretty much everything else) were still way cheaper in the US. so no, that wouldn't have anything to do with it. it has more to do with the fact that tip expectations are lower in canada, so the cheap canadians seem even cheaper in the US.

elaborate please. This could be life changing.

you are probably correct, 15% is the standard and 20% for really good service.

was a waiter for 4 years while in school here in Canadia.

and black people are stereotyped (rightly so I would have to say) as really bad tippers here.

Pete's been on the forum a long time man. He's not a nit, or an idiot. (he is like half Canadian/Half Fin or something).

I don't think what he's describing is paranoia, it'a amusement at the frequent attempts to gouge him over the course of one meal.

i was just informed that gordon ramsay's show's premise involves taking failing restaurants and attempting to revive them via improved customer service and food quality. i find this very amusing.

Dids it's a little out of character for you to white-night a dude.

Mostly I was just venting my frustrations about waiting on Canadians in an over-the-top way, and OP is being a really good sport about it. I do think the part about nothing but eggs before 11am is pretty hilarious and spot on.

I just think it's folly to ever expect a remotely good experience with anything in an airport. If you get one consider it your lucky day.

My work sent me to London once and I stayed at the Radisson (or maybe Mariott, one of those supposedly good chains) out by Heathrow. £250/night or something, horrible service, horrible over-priced old decaying hotel, no wifi, horrible £18 English breakfast buffet. Nothing good happens in or around airports.

That show isn't actually half bad. Only one where he is somewhat bearable..

The Canadians as bad tippers and hard to serve is surprising to me. Everyone I know tips well and is quite nice to staff. With the exception of people in the public service who seem to take pride in mistreating staff i don't really see much ****ty behaviour. My experience when travelling always led me to suspect Americans were much worse to serve. The few times I've gone to restaurants where they sit you are big tables with strangers I was shocked at how people treated the waitstaff and with what they considered acceptable requests.

Henry I'm not talking about playboy urban Canadians who tip 50% like you and your friends obv. I probably wouldn't even know you and your friends were Canadian if you came into one of the restaurants I worked at. It's the "eh" and "hooose salad" hayseed Canadians that you notice. So there's an obvious selection bias at work.

on average, canadians are way more polite to service staff than americans (at least the sort of people who frequent casinos). that's not really close or debatable. but canadians definitely don't tip as well either.

someone who qualifies as a "good" tipper in canada would only be average or slightly below if tipping the same % in the US. there's a different standard. 20% in the US gets a standard "thank you". in canada it makes them so happy you start to wonder if you're tipping too much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_lounge

https://www.executivelounges.com/en/

In many airports there are lounges that you can chill and wait for your next plane. The intent is for you to be there anywhere from 1-3 hours. Some are only for international flights, some are not. Their primary function is to reward users of programs like Aeroplan, however individuals can often pay a fee (normally around $30) to utilize the facilities.

Amenities can include free booze, mixed drinks, normal drinks, sandwiches, snacks, flat screen TVs, internet usage, newspapers - it's essentially a business-type lounge.

As for maximum drinks allowed - if you're not getting totally ruined or being a total douchenozzle they don't really care. I've had 6 or 7 beer with no issue.

I don't know much about airport lounges but certain credit cards will get you access. AMAX Platinum and Diner's Club will get you into to a decent number of lounges.

You can also buy this thing call Priority Pass that will get you in but I have heard it only gets access to ****ty lounges.

The ones in Europe are bigger and a much higher percentage of passengers are classified as "business travelers" regardless of whether or not they have lots of air miles. I know that when I travel inside Europe I always qualify for the business class lounge even when I'm not actually sitting in business class on the plane. Probably due to some corporate incentive as my company is a pretty large EU-headquarter pharma company.

They also allow people who qualify to bring in guests, so you could try being friendly to someone on your flight in and ask him if he'll get you into the lounge.

Last thing you could try is to sneak in. Just blow right through like you belong. Most of the people working the desk will just assume that you already checked in with them and were just out to take a piss or shop or something and they probably don't really give a crap anyway. Once you are in you can partake of everything and noone will hassle you at all.

As to the OP - I agree you got scammed by GR on everything except the water thing. Asking "still or sparkling" and getting a bottle delivered is standard. I think it's cause a ton of Euros drink the sparkling. You have to specifically say "tap water" if that's what you want, and you should not feel bad asking for it. I do it at very high end places and never get even a funny look.

Could be a regional thing. I've never waited but my little brother did and he told me it was standard among one waiter to complain to another: "Man, boss won't let me leave early... I got a flat on the way here.. and the hostess just sat a table of 12 Canadians in my section." Where "Canadians" = "black people". The main complaint being "I will work probably harder than typical and yet earn much less in tips".

Yes, given that saying the hostess just sat 12 ******s in your section might be deemed offensive by some, it's not surprising that a regional analogy such as calling them canadians (wink, wink) was adopted by jimbo and his cousin.

ITT, jaydub realizes even in 2012, races have derogatory terms for people of other races...

Was just chiming in so suzzer didn't think Boston (or whatever region daryn equates the term to) wasn't the only region where this is used. I doubt suzzer has waited tables in every corner of the US.

No, I'm actually familiar with the calling them canadians bit. It's pretty widespread and pretty terrible.

Happy to see you cleared that up with suzzer.

I love Gordon Ramsay.

His youtube videos on cooking techniques are fantastic. Search for the one on how to make scrambled eggs. Your mind will be blown. I thought I knew what scrambled eggs were. I was wrong. It's the little things - creme fraiche and some thick toasted sourdough bread. I've also learned how to properly sharpen knives and use them. The difference pre Gordon Ramsay knife technique and post is staggering.

He also has some sweet shows. Hell's kitchen sucks. It's just reality TV. However, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares is extremely informative and entertaining. Gordon's Great Escape - AMAZING. I saw the season about India. He travels all around, showcasing their culture and cuisine from an important wedding to the only village where a specific spice made from ground bugs is produced. Ramsay's Best Restaurant is good too, but not on the same level.

I really respect the guy. I don't see how you can't. He is a genius on so many levels - marketing, business, food and education. My girlfriend thinks he is attractive. I think he looks like he dipped his forehead into a pot of hot oil. I think this only proves how alpha he is as only girls are fooled into thinking men look more physically attractive based off their personality. I can say a girl is more attractive based off her personality but I'm not going to say she is better LOOKING because of her personality. There's a big difference.

Anyway, I think if you wrote him a nice letter he would be appalled at what is happening at his restaurant. If you watch any of his shows, his #1 priority is making the customer happy no matter what. Even when the customer is clearly wrong, he bends over backwards to make them happy.

Ramsay is a great chef but he has sold out and has been away from the kitchen too long and over expanded his empire.

Aside from his restaurant at Royal Hospital road, most of his newer restaurants have all been garnering negative reviews.

His #1 priority is making money hence his devotion to television instead of actually being in the kitchen.

Hope you have seen the uk kitchen nightmares krusher! The USA one is lol awful in comparison.

You sure about that?

Hell, I'll watch them (American and British versions), but I wouldn't call them informative after the first couple. Entertaining, yes.

But the (long-term) solutions always seem to be summed up as

1. Simplify the menu.
2. Get and keep good standards (freshness and preparation).
3. Get your decor out of the '70's.
4. Maintain good communication.
5. (very occasionally) If you have deadweight, get rid of it.