I have traveled to Madrid twice as well as in Andalucia and have been to many restaurants. I noticed that the Spanish waitstaff is not that friendly and cordial compared to other countries like here in the US and Latin America. We did have some excellent waiters and waitresses that gave us professional service, but in many ocasions the waitstaff was not very friendly and did not check back to our table to see if we needed anything.
Maybe this is due to the gratuity (tip) being included in the restaurant bill. Or maybe this is just the custom in many restaurants throughout Spain. I worked in the restaurant business for six years here in the Houston, Texas and I know when service is poor and I also know when it is good. So I'm curious to here any comments on this topic or maybe it's just me.

"Spain Is Different"

Tex-
It depends on what kind of restaurant... but for the most part waitstaff leaves you alone to enjoy your meal, and won't pester you ever 1min 30sec to make sure everything is ok. Its different, yes.. as far as gratuity included in the bill, not the norm. again depends on the rest. in Spain waiters get a regular pay, not pennies and then the rest to be made up in tips like in the US. If your looking for hand and foot service, try one of the am. chain restaurants, they're trained on the am. customs in that sense. Is it good or bad, well that's a matter of cultural differences and opinion.

What, MadridMan...Spain is DIFFERENT? Oh, no, I couldn't go there, then!!! I fear change!

I think "Spain is Different" and "No, We Don't Eat Burritos" (sung to the tune of "Yes, We Have No Bananas") should be the new tourism slogans for Spain.



As for restaurants, I have also worked as a waitress, and I noticed the difference right away. It's the polar opposite of the trend here in America toward overly familiar waitstaff--you know, the ones who slide into your booth with you to take your order, or come by every 15 seconds to see if there might be anything else on the planet that you need (while you have your mouth full).

I didn't mind it as long as the staff seemed to be working--it was a little irksome when they were watching soccer at the bar and I would have to get up to order an extra drink.

I am always as polite as I can be (given the limitations of my Spanish) and usually have decent service. You have to be willing to wave or use body language to catch the server's eye much of the time. I like not feeling rushed...though it's odd for an American diner to feel "forgotten," as I sometimes have in Spain!

In Spain, it's not uncommon nor "poorly looked upon" to shout across a room at a waiter to get his/her attention.

I think we're terribly spoiled/pampered by wait staff here in the USA. Wow. They (in the USA) are practically willing to wash your feet for more of a tip whereas in Spain they don't rely so heavily on tips to survive so they don't paint on the smiles or hold your hand so much during "the process". I kind of prefer it the Spanish way.

There's nothing more annoying than to see a waiter/waitress being so totally INauthentic in their joy to serve you, your majesty. hehehe..

Let's be real, people. Let's be human. Let's not make the attitude of our server decide the success or failure of the evening with our special someone across the table.

Saludos, MadridMan

Remember as well that in Spain, very much unlike the US, they are not trying to shoo you out of the restaurant so that more paying public can come in and pay tips. In Spain, eating is an event, not an inconvenience. The staff want you to enjoy it, not hurry through it.

One other thing: As I've learned by waiting for drinks at the bar of the Chino Basque Club, if you want something, ask for it! If you don't ask, you probably won't get it...but if you don't ask and don't get, don't gripe.

That custome of asking "Is everything ok?, Can I help you with anything?" every five or ten minutes while at a restaurant is purely an American (from the States anyway ), thing. At least I've ever experienced it anywhere in Europe, it's just not done....

....if you miss it though, you can always go to certain American-based chains such as T.G.I.'s Friday in Madrid.

I only experienced bad service once in Spain and it was at a restaurant I'd actually eaten at before and had good service at. Once my friend and I were at a restaurant on Betis in Sevilla... took about an hour or so to eat our dinner, have our desert... And about an hour and 10 minutes to get our check... after we'd requested it three times. I'm telling you we had asked politely, rudely and every ohter way to know how much we owed - and we both speak Spanish - and they just didn't want to give it to us. Then when they finally did, they wouldn't come take the money! ARGH! We should have just walked out - the whole paying process took about as long as the meal.

Melinda

The phrase "Bad Service" is a subjective one. I'm sure we can all agree on that. What we "Americans" consider to be "Bad Service" in Spain might very well be considered "Average/Typical Service" (neither good nor bad) to a Spaniard.

Melinda328, waiting an 1+ hours for your bill after asking for it IS DEFINITELY excessive no matter WHERE in the world you are. Sheesh! After about 30 minutes I'd like to think it within myself to stand up, walk over to the waiter, and say in perfect Spanish (??), "I'll take my check now or we're leaving. Thank you very little."

This thread reminds me of a recent conversation.

There is a tapas restaurant here in San Francisco that a couple of friends & I went to recently and we got very poor service from the Spanish waitress. Not just ignored, but when given a jug of water, it took another 20 minutes for us to get her attention to ask for the glasses. Anyway, it won't make me stop eating there because the food is good, etc. Well, anyway, when I told my madrileño boyfriend about the experience his answer was "typical Spanish".

But on the other hand, I have had only lovely service in Spain from all types of waitstaff, especially in Gijón.

MM, if I have to wait 15 minutes for the bill I would stand up and go to the registering machine and ask for it, first politely, then rudely

Always keep in mind that in Spain you leave tip according on how satisfied you are with the service. I have sometimes left nothing, and other times left 10% or more (keep in mind that usually 10% is excessive in Spain).

Waiters usually have quite a good wages, the tip is something directly related to the clients satisfaction. An average tip (it means you are satisfied with the service) would be 5%.

Fernando

Well, after listening to all these comments and experiences while dining in Spain, I guess my conclusion is that Spain is a bit diferent from restaurant service here in the US. I personally do enjoy to be left alone, but I expect the waiter to check every now and then back to the table. He does not even have to say a word, just take a glance at my table and see if I need anything by looking at my facial expression.
This of course does not change my perception of Spain as a whole in any way, shape or form. Spain is and will continue to be one of my favorite destinations.

As a Canadian innkeeper and restauranteur, I definitely noticed a difference in the service in Spain (and also in other European countries). The overly familiar and annoyingly frequent interactions with North American waitstaff is not part of a meal in a Spanish restaurant and personally I love it. When I have dinner in a restaurant (or serve dinner in our own inn) I want unobtrusive interaction and I do not mind if someone has to ask for something...rather than being pestered every two seconds.....actually if you want to see waiters with panache, visit France where some of them have a most delightfully theatrical way of serving tables and are also most efficient.....eating out in Spain was a highlight of our trip...(we now serve tapas in our own bar)

Hi all,
I want to clarify to everyone that bad service is bad service in Spain, the US and the rest of the world. (I wrote a similar post on rudeness in another thread.)
Generally, restaurant service in Spain is professional, courteous, unobtrusive and definitely less effusive than in the USA. However, under NO circumstances should they ever be rude or ignore a customer. A native Spaniard would NOT put up with that sort of treatment, I can assure you of that!! So please, don't think that bad service is typical service to a Spaniard because it just is not true!!
Also, please NEVER scream across a restaurant to get the waiter's attention, you will definitely be looked at with disdain and stick out like a sore thumb. Save the shouting for bars, mesones, etc.
so tex-mex, if you felt that your service wasn't up to par, than you were probably right. No excuses needed for poor service.

I think part of the problem is that we Americans have forgotten (or never learned) the subtle body language that used to be commonplace in restaurants even here in the US. When you wanted your check, you caught the waitperson's eye, perhaps waved a finger unobtrusively...and the check appeared without delay. If you needed a drink refill, you again caught the server's eye, gestured to your glass, and a drink was delivered!

Many waitstaff here in the US have also forgotten (or never learned) how to check in with the people at their tables WITHOUT speaking ("how's everything? "need anything else?" "everything okay here?"). When I learned to wait tables (over 15 years ago), we were taught to observe...not to ask. If the glass was getting empty, we filled it...without saying anything. If a plate needed clearing, we managed to do it without interrupting conversations.

Regardless, as has been pointed out above, poor service is poor service in any language/place. Good service in Spain may simply be less obvious to Americans who have become accustomed to chatty waitstaff. Many American servers seem to have the attitude that they will get better tips if they stick to the Bart Simpson plan..."HEY!!! Look at me!!! I'm DOING STUFF!!!" Invisible service, while it's lovely for people who want to have a nice conversation over dinner, may not get noticed and tipped!

Lamar is right on target.

Unless you are brain-dead, you know when the wait-person, no matter where you are in the world, is providing service to you.....or not.

Let's face it, some people are better at their job than others. I have had good restaurant service and bad in Spain. Just like in the U.S., and France, and Italy. Probably the best I have ever experienced...a generaliztion, of course, was in Rio de Janeiro. And if you want the wait-persons attention there, you just go..."pssst psst". A great system!

Happy tapas!

Lee

And to get "la cuenta," my husband just makes a little scribbling motion on his hand while it's raised high enough for the waiter to see. We'll have none of that shouting for the waiter!!

It seems to be true, however, that at a bar where tapas are being served, it is often necessary to be obtrusive, aggressive, whatever it takes to be acknowledged. Then, over the din, you must make yourself heard or attempt to point at what you want!!--CC

Carole, you are right about the ambiance being the key to how to contact the wait staff. At a Bar or Taverna being informal is the norm, it is part of the fun. It is almost a ritual and expected, particularly after midnight, when every table is filled and the noise level is high. You have little choice but to raise your voice and ask for a cañita y bocadillo! :p

In regards to restaurants, I must have been super lucky because I encountered just the opposite of what Tex-Mex and others encountered. Maybe it was the restaurants I went, or, the time of year I visited, in December.

In one restaurant in Madrid called, Tres Encinas, near the Puerta del Sol, my son and I each had a person waiting on us, in addition to the persons that were actually bringing us our food, a total of four persons for just two people! My goodness! The dinner was the best I have yet to have. All delicious seafood and expensive. But they all made our visit so enjoyable. I gave them a generous tip, even though one of the waiters said that it was included! I explained that this was a special dinner with my son, and it meant a great deal to us to be treated to nicely and generously, while we were dressed so informally for a night in Madrid. everyone around us were dressed in furs, tuxedos, etc. Yes, that kind of place!

The same treatment was repeated in Segovia, we had a similar encounter at Candidos. A very nice gentleman served us and was very attentive throughout, without being obsequious.

All in all a wonderful restaurant experience for me!

This thread has been fascinating to read. I lived in Montréal for over 20 years before leaving Québec, and was used to being left alone in a restaurant to enjoy my meal with friends and family. After I moved, I found it very hard to get used to restaurants where staff came to interrupt to inquire on the quality of the meal. I also found it very irritating to have staff remove my plate seconds after I had finished a course. I felt it meant I was being asked to 'move on'. So, as you can see, one person's idea of 'politeness' can be quite different to someone else. But hey, vive la différence! Plume

Waitstaff? Wait-person? Server? Whatever happened to plain old Waiter or Waitress?! Im a metro bus driver, and I don't mind being called a bus driver, Im not a vehicle engineer!!! Political correctness has struck again! AAAGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read in an article on superior restaurant service that at a good, professionally-run establishment, one should NEVER be asked if "everything is okay." When the service is good, the professionals KNOW that everything is exactly the way it should be. For ME, that is the standard by which to judge restaurant service.

Why should a waiter ask me if I need anything? Don't they know if I should have a steak knife? Or ketchup for my burger? Or if my snails are the right temperature? Or if I got a lobster pick or not?

Also, I find it infuriating, not merely annoying, to have a waiter intrude into a personal conversation at just the wrong moment to ask, "How is everything?" Especially when often the food or the service are mediocre. I don't consider it my job to conduct seminars on the restaurant trade. If the food or the service are not satisfactory, I just won't go back, but I'm not going to spend my time giving lessons to a bad waiter.

More than that, picture that you've taken your beloved to the finest restaurant you could afford, after saving for three months. You have set the mood, ordered the wine, complimented her on her outfit and her hair. Now you are gazing moon-eyed into her lovely face, explaining how you've searched the five continents and the seven seas to find your soul-mate, and now that you've found her you won't let her get away. You say to her, "Persephone, will you make me the happiest man on earth and do me the honor of...."

Then a loutish service person comes barging in and says, "Feel free to get seconds from the salad bar if you'd like. Would you like me to bring your appetizers out first?"

Of course, one of the sure signs of the decay of Western civilization is the advent of familiar waiters and waitresses. Frankly, call me egalitarian, but I couldn't care less what my waitresses name is. Waiters should remain anonymous service-people.

Okay, I've vented, Now, I feel better. -OhMike

Oh Mike, you struck a nerve! I also get annoyed with the constant hovering. I proposed to my wife at a restaurant. Everything was perfect...a dark and romantic restaurant at Dana Point Harbor overlooking the Pacific Ocean, beautiful sunset, perfect music. I am grateful that a waiter didn't ruin the moment with "can I get you an appetizer?" I've never been to Spain (yet), but I know that in Europe a meal is to be savored and not rushed. It's a time to enjoy the food and company. This is something that we still do at home for dinner, albeit it's getting more difficult to do because of my family's conflicting schedules.

Oso, you must have gotten engaged at the CharterHouse Restaurant? Nice choice.oh, and uhh, this relates to the thread because uhh..the charter house has good service, and i've been there with my wife, and...she's spanish?

Oso. right you are! One of the things I've found hardest to do when traveling in Europe is to shed my American habit of rushing through meals. When I first arrive in any European destination, I find myself subconsciously hurrying to finish eating and get out. After a while I realize, with relief, that the waiter isn't trying to turn the table over for the next party, that it's understood that people like to linger awhile and enjoy the company of their dinner companions. What a luxury! -OhMike

Knowing that the staff is not interested in rushing you out the door to turn the tables is the key. I find it amusing that we get fairly attentive service until we request the check. It seems like you can never get out of a restaurant. But rather than irritate me, my husband and I just smile at each other and shake our heads. You see, after feasting on pescaito frito washed down with icy cold Cruz Campo (sorry Mahou fans!), I am just so damned happy that I don't mind waiting for the bill!!

This all depends on your definition of an "ideal waiter/waitress". To me, the ideal wait person is one who is totally INVISIBLE. You don't even notice them when they move around the table because they move with such stealth that it almost seems like they're walking on air. On the other hand, they always seem to be there when you need something. All you need to do is glance up and they are there almost instantaneously to help you. What irritates me the most are wait persons who constanstly interrupt you every 5 minutes with the perfunctory "Is everything OK?" even while you're in the middle of a conversation. Believe you me, I will tell you when something is NOT OK! My second pet peeve with wait staff are those that you can't locate when you need something even when you're waiving vigorously to catch their attention.

So for me the mantra for an ideal wait person is "Leave me alone to enjoy my meal but be there when I need you". Unfortunately, this is usually a tall order for most wait personnel not only in Spain but all over the world. But when you encounter such an ideal wait person, it is just a wonderful experience that really enhances the meal.

Just my 2 cents worth. Every person probably has his/her own definition of what is ideal.

Mency, we got engaged at the Quiet Cannon restaurant which was located on Green Lantern Street. It's no longer there, it was over 20 years ago. Im not sure if the ChartHouse took it over. But it was on top of one of the bluffs in Dana Point.