Restaurant Language and Culture

Unit 4

Restaurants

Restaurants have long surpassed Restaurants have long surpassed a place where people gather just a place where people gather just to eatto eat

Restaurants now stretch from a Restaurants now stretch from a place to watch a sporting event, to place to watch a sporting event, to a place to go for a celebration of a place to go for a celebration of something specialsomething special

Different types of restaurants that Different types of restaurants that serve different purposesserve different purposes

This Lecture….

We will talk about:We will talk about: Different types of restaurantsDifferent types of restaurants Language used at different types Language used at different types

of restaurantsof restaurants Fundamental Culture differences Fundamental Culture differences

between restaurants in China and between restaurants in China and the Westthe West

Formal vs. Informal language in Formal vs. Informal language in restaurants restaurants

Pubs

Pubs

Pubs are fundamental to the Pubs are fundamental to the culture of culture of BritainBritain,,[1][1][2][2] IrelandIreland,,[3][3] AustraliaAustralia[4][4] and and New ZealandNew Zealand. .

approximately 53,500 public approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom houses in the United Kingdom

Most public houses offer a range Most public houses offer a range of of beersbeers, , wineswines, , spiritsspirits, and soft , and soft drinks drinks

What is a Pub?

A tavern, saloon, or barA tavern, saloon, or bar A place of business where alcoholic A place of business where alcoholic

beverages are sold and consumed beverages are sold and consumed Formal name: Formal name: public house public house  a  a

building with a bar and one or more building with a bar and one or more public rooms licensed for the sale public rooms licensed for the sale and consumption of alcoholic drink, and consumption of alcoholic drink, often also providing light mealsoften also providing light meals

Pubs

The food that is served at pubs The food that is served at pubs tends to be very basic and is tends to be very basic and is commonly referred to as ‘pub-grub’commonly referred to as ‘pub-grub’

Pub-grub includes foods such as Pub-grub includes foods such as chicken fingers and fries, onion chicken fingers and fries, onion rings, chicken wings etc.rings, chicken wings etc.

The food at pubs are usually The food at pubs are usually greasy and fatty in nature which is greasy and fatty in nature which is said to help in the prevention of said to help in the prevention of sickness due to drinkingsickness due to drinking

Pubs

Pubs are usually filled with Pubs are usually filled with televisions and are especially televisions and are especially popular during televised sporting popular during televised sporting games such as basketball, football, games such as basketball, football, American football, rugby, etc.American football, rugby, etc.

Pubs gain popularity even more Pubs gain popularity even more during events such as the World during events such as the World Cup, Olympics, Superbowl, March Cup, Olympics, Superbowl, March Madness, Rugby World Cup, World Madness, Rugby World Cup, World Series, etc.Series, etc.

Relatively inexpensiveRelatively inexpensive

Pubs

Pubs are also very popular in the WestPubs are also very popular in the West Pubs are often located near many Pubs are often located near many

workplaces so that people can unwind workplaces so that people can unwind and have a beer and talk to co-and have a beer and talk to co-workers and friends outside of workworkers and friends outside of work

Pubs are very fun to go to if you just Pubs are very fun to go to if you just want to have a relaxed night of want to have a relaxed night of talking and laughs with some of your talking and laughs with some of your friends friends

What you can find in a Pub…

Several different types of beer on Several different types of beer on draftdraft

Pool TablePool Table DartsDarts Patio (very popular when the Patio (very popular when the

summer comes)summer comes) Juke boxJuke box Live bands (live band nights), Live bands (live band nights),

Karaoke, Sometimes a DJ Karaoke, Sometimes a DJ

Pub Language and Dress

Pub language is very informal and Pub language is very informal and you can often hear a lot of slang you can often hear a lot of slang being usedbeing used

The servers (waiter/waitresses) are The servers (waiter/waitresses) are very casual and informal with their very casual and informal with their guests (almost like they are your guests (almost like they are your friends)friends)

Oftentimes, if a sports game is on Oftentimes, if a sports game is on you can hear a lot of yelling and you can hear a lot of yelling and sports jargonsports jargon

Pub Language and Dress

The pub dress is very casual The pub dress is very casual although there is no real dress although there is no real dress codecode

The idea of a pub is to feel The idea of a pub is to feel comfortable and relaxed which comfortable and relaxed which includes your clothingincludes your clothing

Pub Specials and Loyalty

Happy Hour (cheap drinks for an Happy Hour (cheap drinks for an hour during the middle of the day) hour during the middle of the day)

Ladies NightLadies Night Daily DealsDaily Deals Pub Competitions (March Madness Pub Competitions (March Madness

brackets, Superbowl contests brackets, Superbowl contests where you could win a trip to the where you could win a trip to the events or other smaller rewards) events or other smaller rewards)

Pub Loyalty

Some pubs have special walls of Some pubs have special walls of recognition where you can have recognition where you can have your picture placed on a wall for your picture placed on a wall for being a long time customer being a long time customer

E.g. drink ten pints of different E.g. drink ten pints of different types of beer, get your picture on types of beer, get your picture on the wall as the ‘best customer the wall as the ‘best customer ever’ever’

Pub Grub

Pub Grub

Pub Grub

The Fox and the Fiddle

The Fox Mansion

Fox and the Fiddle Menu

http://http://www.foxandfiddle.com/menu.htmlwww.foxandfiddle.com/menu.html

Discussion (10 minutes)

Are pubs popular at all in China?Are pubs popular at all in China? Do you know of any pubs that Do you know of any pubs that

people go to either in Beijing or in people go to either in Beijing or in your hometown?your hometown?

Is a pub somewhere you think you Is a pub somewhere you think you would enjoy spending time? Why would enjoy spending time? Why or Why not?or Why not?

Sports Bars

Sports bars have a similar culture to Sports bars have a similar culture to a pub however; it is slightly more a pub however; it is slightly more upper class and expensiveupper class and expensive

You will see a lot of business men in You will see a lot of business men in suits going there after work suits going there after work specifically just to watch games right specifically just to watch games right after workafter work

Large screen TV’s and large screens Large screen TV’s and large screens that play many different sports all that play many different sports all throughout the barthroughout the bar

Sports Bars

You can find miniature televisions You can find miniature televisions in almost every booth in the bar in almost every booth in the bar and the bar is decorated with a lot and the bar is decorated with a lot of sports memorabilia, jerseys, of sports memorabilia, jerseys, pictures of sports teams, etcpictures of sports teams, etc

These types of bars usually These types of bars usually sponsor local sports teams which sponsor local sports teams which helps the team with some of their helps the team with some of their costs for loyalty in return costs for loyalty in return

Sports Bars

Sports bars still deal with informal Sports bars still deal with informal and even slang language-- the and even slang language-- the main difference is in the main difference is in the atmosphere and the sceneryatmosphere and the scenery

More money is put into sports bars More money is put into sports bars and it showsand it shows

Sports bars have a much larger Sports bars have a much larger capacity than pubscapacity than pubs

Real Sports Bar, Toronto

Real Sports Bar

Real Sports Bar

A Look at the Menu

http://http://www.realsports.cawww.realsports.ca/bar/menu/bar/menu

Discussion (5 minutes)

Where do you usually watch Where do you usually watch sporting events if you watch sporting events if you watch sports?sports?

Would you prefer to go out to a Would you prefer to go out to a pub or a sports bar? Which of pub or a sports bar? Which of these options do you think would these options do you think would suit you better?suit you better?

Restaurant Service

In the West: one server is assigned In the West: one server is assigned to your tableto your table

You are greeted by your server You are greeted by your server and he/she first asks you what you and he/she first asks you what you would like to drinkwould like to drink

You get time to look over the You get time to look over the menu as your drinks are prepared menu as your drinks are prepared and brought to you by your serverand brought to you by your server

Restaurant Service

If you still need more time, the server If you still need more time, the server will leave and come back to youwill leave and come back to you

Your order is placed and then you are Your order is placed and then you are checked on periodically to make sure checked on periodically to make sure that you do not need anything elsethat you do not need anything else

If you do need something, the server If you do need something, the server will make sure that you get it while will make sure that you get it while you are waiting for your food to arriveyou are waiting for your food to arrive

Restaurant Service

Once your food arrives the server Once your food arrives the server will leave you to eat and exercise will leave you to eat and exercise a concept called the ‘two-bite rule’a concept called the ‘two-bite rule’

This means that after two bites, This means that after two bites, your server will come back to your your server will come back to your table to ask you how everything is table to ask you how everything is tasting in order to make sure that tasting in order to make sure that you are satisfied you are satisfied

Restaurant Service

If you are satisfied thus far with If you are satisfied thus far with your meal, your server will make your meal, your server will make sure that all of your drinks are sure that all of your drinks are more than half way full and if they more than half way full and if they are not they will refill your drink are not they will refill your drink for you (if it is free for refills, or for you (if it is free for refills, or ask you if you would like another ask you if you would like another paid beverage) paid beverage)

Restaurant Service

Once you are finished with a plate Once you are finished with a plate that you were using, the server that you were using, the server will clear the plate to create more will clear the plate to create more room on your tableroom on your table

The server will check up on you The server will check up on you periodically throughout your entire periodically throughout your entire meal until you are ready to pay for meal until you are ready to pay for your meal and leaveyour meal and leave

Discussion (10 minutes)

Tell me how the Restaurant Tell me how the Restaurant Service that was just mentioned is Service that was just mentioned is different from what you see in different from what you see in ChinaChina

Have you been to a restaurant Have you been to a restaurant where you have received this kind where you have received this kind of service? If so where?of service? If so where?

Next Class

Fine Dining Language and CultureFine Dining Language and Culture Family Restaurants Language and Family Restaurants Language and

CultureCulture Wine BarsWine Bars Winterlicious/SummerliciousWinterlicious/Summerlicious Dates, Engagements, Problem-Dates, Engagements, Problem-

Solving and RestaurantsSolving and Restaurants

Group Work

If you were going to open up a If you were going to open up a restaurant with your group, what restaurant with your group, what kind of restaurant would you kind of restaurant would you open? Would it be casual or more open? Would it be casual or more upscale? Would you want your upscale? Would you want your staff to use formal or informal staff to use formal or informal language? Why?language? Why?

Group Work

Now with your group, create a menu Now with your group, create a menu that will blend both Western and that will blend both Western and Chinese Cuisine (minimum of 15 Chinese Cuisine (minimum of 15 items)items)

Explain what the atmosphere of this Explain what the atmosphere of this restaurant would be (colours, design, restaurant would be (colours, design, Chinese influence? Western Chinese influence? Western influence? Both? How)influence? Both? How)

Talk about the uniforms that you Talk about the uniforms that you would want your servers to wearwould want your servers to wear