Going Out to Eat in DENMARK vs AMERICA: Who Dines Better?

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In this video we discuss all the differences between dining out in Denmark and dining out in America. Restaurant culture in America is very different than what we found after moving to Denmark. It took us a little while to get used to the restaurant service and cultural norms that exist. We even had a little bit of culture shock in Denmark around restaurants.
Now that we have adjusted, we really enjoy dining out in Denmark and find a little bit of reverse culture shock when we are dining out in the USA. We discuss all the differences from the moment you make a reservation to the minute you pay the bill.
Let us know what you think about dining culture in Denmark vs America - from tipping in America to the smaller menu and slower pace of dining in Denmark.
Thanks for watching!
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Опубликовано:

19 фев 2023

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Комментарии : 314

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Click the link bit.ly/ROBE765 or use our code ROBE765 to get 30% off your first 2 boxes and 10% on your third and fourth box for up to 765 DKK off across your first 4 boxes 🍋🍲 Valid in Denmark only. Thank you HelloFresh for supporting our channel!

@GarmrsBarking Год назад

not to be a sour note here but isn't hellofresh union busters?

@Mark-xh8md Год назад

I wanna share a story with you guys that highlights one of the differences :) I was in NYC and had lunch at a diner close to where I stayed. I had JUST finished eating, and sat back and relaxed for a bit. It didn't take one minute before the server put the bill on the table, and I saw that as extremely rude, a passive-aggressive way to say "Thanks, now get the fudge out". I paid, of course, and left, but gave no tip.....only to feel bad about it when I told one of my American friends about the experience, and she wide-eyed went "Oh no no no, let me explain". Apparently, that's completely normal 😅

@williamjones4716 Год назад

@@Mark-xh8md Americans have things to do and places to go, they don't have the luxury of an indolent Danish "ta' det roligt" job. If you have a downtown NYC job and are eating during the lunch hour waitresses are trying to be efficient so you can get back to work within your lunch break. In fact it is often customary in a diner for a waitress to put the check on your table after delivering your food so you don't have to wait around and can go directly to the cash register when finished. As for not tipping simply because that waitress was trying to be efficient to your advantage, you sound like a real dick with far more time on your hands than deserved.

@Mark-xh8md Год назад

@@williamjones4716 - Why don't you try being a dick to someone who gives a shit about your opinion ;) I shared a story about a case of cultural misunderstanding. When I (mis)read the situation as the server being extremely rude, my reaction was warranted. The reason it wasn't, was because of that misunderstanding. You can also take your arrogant, condescending attitude and shove it where the Sun doesn't shine, as if only Americans have "things to do and places to go".

@williamjones4716 Год назад

@@Mark-xh8md Next time you're looking for a leisurely "hygge" diner lunch try western Mass or Vermont, not the fast-paced hustle and bustle of NYC.

@robdawg6674 Год назад

We had our first dining experience in Denmark in a very nice restaurant and the food was amazing but we were just very shocked that the waiter didn’t come by our table more than once or twice the whole time. Only later did we come to learn he wasn’t being a bad waiter just different than what we are used to in the US. Probably 10 minutes went by after we had finished actively eating did he come by to ask if he could clear the plates and offer desert. We did order deserts and after an awkward 15-20 minutes waiting and wondering if they lost our order, we were rewarded by a masterpiece of art and perhaps best desert dish I’ve had in my life. We were so used to being rushed in the US that we didn’t know how to behave in turn, but once we did adjust we enjoyed all our dining experiences the rest of the trip.

@RobeTrotting Год назад

This is so close to our first few times dining out in Denmark. In so many ways we were afraid to bother the server and waited for them to come to us, which will take a long time if you just wait. We were agitated that we were left alone, but then realized it was so that we could focus on the food and the company - now we look at it so differently haha. Glad that it seems like you had a great experience overall! :)

@incantrix1337 Год назад

I hated that when dining in the US. There was always one or two people hovering near your table, the moment you reach for the salt someone leaps out of the shadows to get it for you. It was deeply unpleasant.

@mikkelanderson2736 Год назад

its totally normal to just wink at the waiter when they look at your table, and then they will come and serve u :D most at the time they have something to do themselves, and are just try not to be annoying :D

@kille7543 Год назад

@@mikkelanderson2736 You wink at the waiters??? 😂

@mikkelanderson2736 Год назад

@@kille7543 yes? How can they know u need to have service now if u use brain, do u try to get their attention or stare into table?

@birgerkagan6087 Год назад

On the tip thing I saw in the Claus Meyer restaurant in the Grand Central Station in NY a sign saying "Please don't tip our staff - we do pay them reasonable wages".

@SenshinDk Год назад

As a Dane living in the US for 10 years this is some of what I miss the most. I HATE going out to eat here and having a waiter come by every couple of minutes and feeling rushed. I will never get used to it.

@perjessen2748 Месяц назад

he is working for tips. Thats the diffence

@karsten69 Год назад

As you move away from the big cities in Denmark, it's less common to need reservations. Once the city becomes less than 30,000 people, it's highly likely you can just show up if it's outside rush hour. And if you're not fine dining but just regular dining, it's also more acceptable to customize your meal.

@akselbuch Год назад

Customizing your meal is generally acceptable even if fine establishments provided you have a good reason such as allergies.

@GarmrsBarking Год назад

back in 99 I was in New York at a sushi restaurant with a group of Danes... we had a good time and all that but we made a mistake... we didn't give any tips... we ended up walking down the block before our distorted waiter managed to catch up with us... he asked if there was something wrong with the food or if we didn't have a good time... and we answered that there was nothing wrong and we had a good time... only then did it dawn on us that that was how he made money... and of course we gave him a big tip after that.... it was the first time we came across that someone was dependent on tips for a living... it was before the internet so most people didn't know anything about such a thing...

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Oh wow, yeah it's funny to think of that time when it was less known

@GarmrsBarking Год назад

@@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188 first of all the legal minimum wage is very low in the US... it's around 7-15 dollars an hour depending on where you live... most people need at least 20-25 dollars an hour to get by ... so most have 2-3 jobs... secondly, the service industry has something called the gig economy which means that they can be paid less per hour and the employee is dependent on tips to achieve the difference... and the third part... unions have a bad reputation... partly because they are considered socialist/communist, have been controlled by the mafia and lobbyists for larger corporations have made it very difficult for unions to function... if there is someone from the US who thinks I have misunderstood something, please correct me...

@LorteSandalerMedIs Год назад

99 wasn't before the internet though, but yeah I get it. x) I almost did same mistake when I visited US.

@GarmrsBarking Год назад

@@LorteSandalerMedIs ok as we know it today... it was expensive, not everyone had it, it was slow, the websites were rubbish and it was hard to find the information you were looking for if it was there at all.... ;P

@GreenLarsen Год назад

@@GarmrsBarking A few small corrections, gig jobs are where you are "your own boss", so jobs like Uber etc. They do however share the poor income and tipping culture with the service industry. Different states have different minimum wage, but generally it is $2.13/h or just below 15 Danish Kroner pr. hour. And you are correct that this is so low that many cant make a living from it and have to get more then 1 job. You are also correct that unions generally are not a thing by the reason is a bit different then you might think. The main reason to the low unionization in the US is due to the "War on unions" by Nixon. And yes, one of the reasons he used was them being socialist/communist. Amusingly enough the US actually used to have a huge part of its labor force in unions and it was one of the main reason for the creation on the middle class after ww2. Also "fun" fact, the 2'nd first time bombs dropped from airplanes happened on US soil was the US military bombing US citizens due to them being part on a union and demonstrating for better terms (Their main demand was to be allowed to unionize). The first bobs dropped on US soil btw, was into a black neighborhood.

@Styggejoe Год назад

the smaller the menu, the better the food

@RobeTrotting Год назад

For sure! Specialization is a real thing :)

@lohofa Год назад

@@RobeTrotting It also less wasteful. Restaurant's are not going to throw out food because nobody ordered it it for a couple of nights.

@Noblemand Год назад

Yes and no. The smaller a menu is, the cheaper it is for the restaurant to but 7(for instance) main ingredients over 25 main ingredients needed for a larger menu

@nubletten Год назад

In Denmark, giving your credit card to a stranger would make your bank recommend to replace your credit card.

@RobeTrotting Год назад

I mean, an employee of a business you’re dining at isn’t a stranger

@nubletten Год назад

@@RobeTrotting The bank teller told me if its been out of my hands and in others i should request a replacement. Their intentions could be making money on me.

@zymelin21 Год назад

@@nubletten technology has caught up with you in most cases. The waiter brings the bill to the table together with an electronic terminal. you stick the card in - he/she looks away, you punch in your 4 digits. payment follows. you get the card back. it has never been out of your sight!! bob's your uncle.

@nubletten Год назад

@@zymelin21 Not everywhere my buddy.

@DiakosDelvin Год назад

@@RobeTrotting That's a cultural thing I guess, anyone you wouldn't ask to come to your birthday is a "stranger". Heck I feel uncomfortable having my friends of 20+ years handle my card.

@Phiyedough Год назад

I've not been to Denmark or USA but the description of how things work in Denmark sounds fairly typical of Europe as a whole. I probably eat out 2 or 3 times a year unless I'm away from home for some reason. Part of that is because I live in the middle of nowhere!

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Sure, it makes sense if there are less options around - it's a hassle to go out to eat much more than that :)

@Makarov934 Год назад

Where u live dough?

@nicolaimalik Год назад

About the size of the menu card, i work at a restaurant and if you have a big card with lots of options you need everything stored up and most likely frozen. Smaller menu everything is fresh.

@FionaAstrologer Год назад

When I lived in the U.S, I used to eat out about twice a week at a restaurant. When in Denmark I've eaten out a few times, but I just love regular Danish foods that we buy at the supermarket (leverpostei!) and eat at home. The regular, grocery store food in Denmark is both less expensive and better quality than my home country of Ireland.

@RobeTrotting Год назад

We eat out less, and cook at home more but we honestly find the quality of the grocery stores to be pretty bad here, both the food and the general upkeep of the store, especially for the price.

@FionaAstrologer Год назад

@@RobeTrotting Don't move to Ireland then 😆

@bzdtemp Год назад

@@RobeTrotting Not all stores are the same, some will even have like a butcher or fish market section - I highly recommend checking those out. Or even better instead of using the "big" grocery stores try shopping at the specialty stores ie. meat at a butcher, bread from a baker and so on. Takes time, but it is also sort of fun and something worth doing if time allows.

@kille7543 Год назад

Leverpostej !❤

@dortemarquardsen481 Год назад

@@RobeTrotting In my opinion the grocery stores in Copenhagen are generally the worst in the country. Of course there are good and bad stores but I've only seen that kind of mess in our capitol...

@comanderfriis1 Год назад

as a chef and an avid watcher of your channel this video was so much fun to watch! i am happy that you guys have not been discouraged by the huge culture difference, and that you can appreciate the food scene we have in Copenhagen. alot of us in the industry really are passionate about our craft and its awesome to see that you are enjoying dining in copenhagen. btw congrats on the sponser! you guys deserve it

@LorteSandalerMedIs Год назад

My father taught me, that if you enjoyed the service and the food, leave a 10% tip.

@hammermorify Год назад

Same here - AND/OR add up (e.g. the bill says 178 kr.; pay 200 kr. - say: "keep the change")

@cakemanjefferson9893 Год назад

I'm a dane. Never heard of not customising. But I guess the customisation is often very simple

@RobeTrotting Год назад

That’s more what I meant - some Americans specialize their order so much it’s like they rewrite the recipe for the chef and tell them how to prepare it haha

@ThomasAabyBerdal Год назад

I knew a guy, working a restaurant with a lot of American tourists. He almost never touched his actual pay because of the insane tips Americans left. He was very happy about the lost in translation scenario 😅

@JRBendixen 11 месяцев назад

The typical tipping in the US is now 16% 20% and 24%

@JRBendixen 11 месяцев назад

10% tip in Denmark is about as high as it goes. It would show you are very very satisfied. And by satisfied I mean you had an excellant experience.

@saftevand Год назад

I really recognise the customisation bit - used to work as a waiter in a restaurant that was frequented by a lot of America tourists, which all wanted to swap the sauce for the fish with the one for the meat etc. The chef would be out of his mind and it often took a lot of persuasion for me to get him to comply. It would also be quite normal for them to drink coffee with their fish, which also raised a few eyebrows, They were all super-friendly though 🙂

@williamjones4716 Год назад

That sounds more like Canadians, who put brown sauce on everything, not least on Poutine (French fries with cheese curds). I once ordered a club sandwich in Canada and it came with a little cup of gravy to dip the sandwich in, yet somehow Canadians are slimmer than Americans.

@denmark23 Год назад

@@williamjones4716 technically canadians are Americans as well

@williamjones4716 Год назад

@@denmark23 Explain that to Canadian Border Services Agency officers who take delight in harassing visiting American drivers.

@denysenielsen8115 Год назад

@@denmark23 Do not say that to a Canadian. "Them's fightin' words" 🤣

@tlangdon12 5 месяцев назад

@@williamjones4716 Smaller portions.

@bentebunting9568 Год назад

My brother-in-law was disgusted regarding the doggybag, but after seeing the oversize of the meals he understood. After that his disgust turned to the size of the meals and the enormous waste plus the rush. Another thing to mention is the removal of the dishes aren't done until all have finished and the utensils are moved to the right side of the plate.

@traver1965 Год назад

I think most Danes would like to have adjustments to their meals. Like gorgonzola instead of danish blue cheese. But if you ask for that at a "better" restaurant, the chef will hunt you down with his chef knife. Even adding salt on a dish can make a chef furious. Btw I asked chatGPT about the Doggybag. It answered: "The exact origin of the term "doggy bag" is not entirely clear, and there is no definitive answer to which theory is the most accepted. However, the theory that the term originated in the 1940s or 1950s when people would take home scraps from their meals at restaurants to feed to their dogs seems to be the most commonly cited explanation. This theory is supported by a 1949 article in The New York Times that uses the term "doggy bag" in the context of taking home leftovers for a pet. Additionally, the first recorded use of the term in the Oxford English Dictionary dates back to a 1964 article in the New York Herald Tribune that mentions the practice of taking home leftovers for a pet."

@michaelgask Год назад

Great video... always interesting... and I love your fridge 😍

@alleveddet118 Год назад

Thank for sharring experiencec..from your view .it's usefull knowledge

@knudsandbknielsen1612 Год назад

In 2021, I took a walk with an old school mate (from back in 1973). We got hungry and went to a semi-basement restaurant. We both had a "stjerneskud" which is breaded plaice on white bread with mayo and skrimps and caviar, not russian, but stone chunk roe, all garnished with lemon slices et cetera. It was just delivious. Enough said. I have never had to reserve a table. But then, this was my first visit to a restaurant in 18 years. A grill bar is my choice, I'm single... BTW, The next year we took another walk, and went to another restaurant, also not reserved. But perhaps in some talked about places there's lot's of people wanting to see what it's all about... Hype is unripe. Just so you know. Love you guys! Chill!

@rollespil1000 Год назад

Gentlemen, you have excellent powers of observation! ❤ I always learn new stuff when I watch one of your videos

@Bexar2204 Год назад

Being from Denmark myself, I really found this video interesting. Many of the points you mentioned about resturants, had to do about you living in our capital.

@AxelQC Год назад

We had some really good meals during our week in Copenhagen last summer.

@unkn0wnpers0n Год назад

I remember ordering ribs in Odense. I totally forgot about the “mandatory” knives and fork custom. I knew all eyes where on me being the only savage devouring delicious ribs with my hands lol Cole

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Haha, so true - we still have no problem eating many thing with our hands LOL

@Duspende Год назад

Nah. Ribs are definitely meant to be eaten with hands. If you use a knife and fork for ribs, people will probably look at you weird.

@charisma-hornum-fries Год назад

I always eat ribs as you do. I think it tastes better like that and easier to eat. I can't stop giggling when other Danes fight for their bites. II've seen some attempt to eat small shrimps with knives and forks. It's entertaining 🤣

@WolfieSilveira Год назад

as a dane, no one cares if you eat with your fingers or if you use your knife and fork, especially in odense, most places often gives you a wet towel to clean up after, depending on the place ofc.

@Vradica Год назад

Dane here, I don't think i've ever seen anyone eat ribs with knife and fork :P anywhere

@fenrisulv66 Год назад

You have to remember that what you see as midrange in the US, is mostly lowrange in DK. There is a lot of midrange restaurants relative to Danish standarts :)

@RobeTrotting Год назад

I disagree, there’s not between low end and high end dining in Denmark and I don’t think Danish standards are any better.

@martinskovpoulsen2736 11 месяцев назад

@@RobeTrotting In Denmark the midrange restaurants are mostly take-away. American midrange is lowrange or below in Denmark. I've been to lowrange American restaurants where the food was so horrible I couldn't eat it

@Zandain Год назад

In the US, on my last visit I had had it with the 'pushy' waiter syndrome! 😡 I told the waiters at the last restaurants, I ate at, that if they wanted a tip, stop hassling, rushing, pushing, asking me the 20 questions!! I'll leave a good tip, just leave me in peace!! (fx: $20 meal = $20 tip) hello from Hundested 🌸

@tlangdon12 5 месяцев назад

The tipping culture in the USA promotes extra attentiveness from servers.

@janhjorth965 Год назад

I am Old enough (Born 1955) that I can remember when tipping became COMPULSORY for restaurants to add 15% tips and include same in prices…..it had two purposes….1) give servers a decent living wage. 2) make it TAXABLE…….nowadays the taxable part is less important, but I’d did become compulsory for restaurant bills to show that 15% tips were included in the bill.

@Google_Censored_Commenter Год назад

Like others have mentioned, you can change the menu when you dine out. But generally the rule is that you can only subtract, you can't add. Unless it's something like "extra cheese" on something that already has cheese on it.

@shadowmaster335 Год назад

on the topic of customizing your meals, yeah, it's not a thing here in denmark EXCEPT, if you have allergies, then it isn't frowned upon, considering we're talking about health risks here, on a side note, outside of a few times, i havn't had to reserve a table whenever i went dining, the exceptions where when it was bday related, or we where a group of ppl, and that was in places like horsens (over 65k citizens, last i checked), and viborg (no clue the amount but probs slightly bigger count than horsens), so i expect you only REALLY need to reserve tables if you 1. go to a big and "famous" restaurant, or 2. if it's in one of the bigger cities, like copenhagen, aarhus and odense

@lrander Год назад

My theory for the term "doggybag" is that people are (or were) a bit embarrassed to admit that they took it home for themselves, so they claimed it was for the dog, so it could also have some good food... 🙂

@treefrog1018 Год назад

In the PNW, we just call it "to-go bag" or "take this to-go". Super rare to hear someone call it a doggie bag here.

@roguebanshee Год назад

The few times my family was out eating in the 80s when we had a dog, one of my parents would sometimes ask for a small bag for the leftovers for the dog. And the dog would get those. This was in Denmark with Danish portion sizes, and not the US "meal for a week" portion sizes.

@YOUTUBEACEHBERDIKARI Год назад

Nice and inspiring story about Denmark

@johnnimalm6844 Год назад

I was in Luisiana for 3 weeks to celebrate Christmas and new year with my wife’s family (I’m danish) and we was out eating half the time …. Almost. I was a bit chocked over how much food you get, I took half my food with me home every time 😅 and yes I had a good laugh over how weird it is to pay😂 back and forward, back and forward

@RobeTrotting Год назад

The paying back and forth is SO strange now - or opening a tab at a bar and sometimes just giving them your card to hold. It's a weird process LOL

@martinomburajr.5905 Год назад

Currently living in Cape Town, South Africa and I feel we get a bit of the best of both US and Danish options: 1. Reservations are not a hard requirement, and you can find great walk-in restaurants most times (reservations are recommended especially on busier days) 2. Food Portions are sizeable but depends on the type of restaurant and cuisine 3. Tips here are very common usually 10% but the food prices are relatively cheap compared to Europe/US 4. Most restaurants won't rush you so long as you've gotten something to eat/drink ... unless there's a reservation on your table for later. Waiters/Waitresses wont come and check on you every few minutes to find out if you're ok. I experienced this in the US and kinda felt I was being rushed 5. Refills aren't common here 6. The price on the bill is what you pay + 10+% for the waiter. For large tables the tip will already be included in the meal

@rikkejohansen7298 Год назад

Your love for Danmark is shining through every word coming out of your mouths :)

@mcmariager Год назад

The same laid back, happy to throw 1000.- after a nice meal, danes, will go absolutely batpoo insane over a 100.- buffet. Im talking piling food up and eat like its the only meal we’ll have in a fortnight, because we HAVE to get our money’s worth!!

@RobeTrotting Год назад

That's true, I have witnessed this a few times haha

@ConfusioNIntrusioN Год назад

hi love your vidoes, have watched many of them. just wanted to suggest something for a better experience (i make music on my pc myself and deal with audio). do you master your audio when making your videos in a software that can handle vst's? if so you should consider getting a plugin called Acon Digital DeVerberate 3 or a similar plugin that can tone down the reverb of the room in the recording, so your speech will get much clearer. 😊👍

@janandersson9411 Год назад

Tipping… I live in Sweden and I guess it`s pretty much the same here as in Denmark. When I feel that the restaurant (or cab if that’s the case) has provided me with a service/experience that is above going through the motions I always tip. Not by percentage, usually rounding off the amount. In Sweden the norm in restaurants is that all the people working a shift (waitresses, chefs and what have you) share the tips equally. They are all paid regular (albeit quite low) wages, but the tip is welcome. And they share it. Why should the waiters/waitresses reap all the benefits if the chefs have an especially inspired day?

@ChristianW1975 Год назад

Thank you, for not having a 20-30 second long intro 🙂

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Sometimes they're fun if we do a skit or something , but we like to cut to the point and save that kind of thing for Shorts

@ChristianW1975 Год назад

@@RobeTrotting those skits are fun, but i dislike the standard YT intros 🙂

@dengamleidiot Год назад

Love the font animaton !

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Thank you :)

@teotik8071 Год назад

It is your leisure time, you are the boss. So why not calling (decent) for the waiter if you need him ? That is service in my eyes.

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Yeah, we don't much in the US because the idea is that they're popping in more often and very busy - I guess that's the idea.

@persephone213 Год назад

Yeah, I hate whenever I feel rushed during meals in the US. As someone who really values slow living and eating mindfully, I refuse to rush through my meals. Often times, I’m the last one eating because I really try to take my time and savor each bite along with the surrounding atmosphere. I think this is a healthy habit and will not apologize for it. Americans, in general, just need to slow their role a bit.

@trefod Год назад

I'd recommend always going with a tasting menu. It's the chef's chance to show off a balanced and delicious meal. It also makes the service streamlined for all the people at the table.

@IngeliseEaston Год назад

Your candle stick behind you is very cool. You are getting so Danish 🇩🇰

@lishpn2vu Год назад

Great video! I think my American dining out etiquette took the longest for me let go of 😆 thankfully, after 7 years in Europe, I've acclimated.

@luffegasen7711 20 дней назад

In the steak house chain, Bones, they have doggy bags hanging around their restaurants! The only place I've noticed it in Denmark! ^^

@christianbechhenriksen898 Год назад

At least in Copenhagen there are a lot of "Middle range" restaurants, and they do have open until midnight. Those are also places, where you don't typecally need a reservation. It sounds in the video, that you have only tried the 'top range' or atleast up there. Asian restaurants are a good bet - and typically reastaurants in shopping malls or busy shopping streets also. For 1 person food and drink for about 150-220 kr. :)

@kille7543 Год назад

You should try the “Mange tout” (“eat it all”) / “Sugar snaps” , they are so fresh and delicious, even when blanched and turned in a bit of butter. ❤

@RobeTrotting Год назад

I don't like them either HAHA - I know it's bizarre, but my dad would only eat peas as his ONE single vegetable so I had them at almost every meal growing up and I had to eat one pea for every year old I was - it was hell haha

@kille7543 Год назад

@@RobeTrotting Now that you are free 🧚‍♂️ Try again 😘

@Joliie Год назад

The 2-3 hours is mainly a Copenhagen thing, on a busy Friday night you may get told outside Copenhagen that you can have the table for this amount of time, but on most week days you are not, but always good to reserve a table, so you know you got one. The small menu, in the Gorden Ramsey kitchen nightmares, they talk about that simplify your menu, so you don't need a million things in your inventory and be good at those 5-8 main courses, it is also a common thing to see the days special or week, typically something in season. Danes are not good a getting a doggybag, or maybe its just me and friends, but typically you are not going home afterwards, so leave it in the car or carry it around with you is not a good option :)

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Yeah, I think a lot has to do with tourists and business dinners and the fluctuating seasonal flow of both - that's my guess at least :)

@johndododoe1411 Год назад

@@RobeTrottingAnother thing with doggybags is that Danish Health inspectors can get very strict with food being a few hours too old. So restaurants may be scared away from providing doggy bags for food that cannot legally be served later.

@sifrasmussen2315 Год назад

@@johndododoe1411 I think you have a good point there.

@Joliie Год назад

@@johndododoe1411 never had any trouble getting a doggybag when requested, it just not something we are not custom to.

@larsrasmussen2796 Год назад

Im actualy danish and I like your videos i think a meal you show try if u have not yet is millionbøf

@Hitokiri2000 Год назад

What you failed to mention about the billing in Denmark is that the "tip" is already included in the listed price for the meal. Tipping was phased out in 1969. If you look it up, this is what you will find. I Danmark har det siden 1969 været bestemt ved lov, at den pris, der oplyses til forbrugeren, skal være inklusiv service og at arbejdsgiveren skal betale de ansatte fast løn. Derfor er det ikke længere udbredt at give ekstra drikkepenge i Danmark. Translation: In Denmark it has since 1969 been declared by law, that the price listed for the consumer must include all services and the employer must pay the employees a fixed salary/wage. There for it's no longer widely used to give out tips in Denmark.

@jakeforrest 22 дня назад

You are absolutely right ! That is also the reason that I hate it, when waiters try to get a tip in Denmark by handing you a terminal, that suggests that. The reason for abolish tipping was that the Danish tax authorities were afraid the waiters would not pay tax of the tips.

@mjoelnir1899 Год назад

I am quite often in Denmark, I have never had a problem finding a table walking down the road where several restaurants are in a row. I do of course not talk about selecting one special restaurant beforehand. I also do not feel as hurried eating out in Europe as at an restaurant in the USA.

@JRBendixen 11 месяцев назад

Yep. But its way harder if you are 5+ people. I still think its good advice to people, just in case.

@Wotun Год назад

I want to add that when we (Danes) want to eat out on a whim, the expectation is street food, which tends to be queite good

@julieandersen5014 Год назад

some places you CAN ask to avoid things you dont like (for example when i order nachos i ask them to avoid jalapenos, the green and the red dips and they comply) 🙂

@zoolook666 Год назад

The "doggy bag" was literally bringing home excess food to your dog.

@BetaTestingUrGf Год назад

There are definitely places where you can sit at a white tablecloth at night. Mostly in Copenhagen centrum. But it's not usual and definitely not in every corner.

@ullapetersen8340 Год назад

That depends on where you're going. There are a lot of mid-range eating places, if you stay away from the touristy areas, and most of them serve decent food at reasonable prices. 🙂

@RobeTrotting Год назад

@Ernoskij Год назад

It's called a doggy bag because originally it was just a small bag for you to get the scraps for your dog.

@sixxdog Год назад

Yeah I've been cooking 350 days/year for the last 25 years. My parents did too and generations before them. It's just the danish way I guess. I'd like to eat out more, but I just get cheap, when I know I can do it better myself. So when I do eat out, it's always food/cuisine that I don't master myself, and maybe stuff I haven't tasted before. It'll be thai, chinese, middle-eastern.

@SuiGenerisAbbie Год назад

Question, what is that white-and-gold thingy in between you two? Is it a mic? Looks like one, all dolled up.

@christiankaiser3885 11 месяцев назад

The pace and attention the waiters have here in Denmark is different for sure. As a Dane myself, I have often been shocked traveling abroad, with how much the serving staff will interupt conversations, hower around the table seming kind of impatient or taking away your plate the moment you finish a dish. I prefer the slower tempo here. A good meal should never be rushed.

@helganielsen296 Год назад

I am from Denmark and when i listen to you i just think it is fun to see how you think of Denmark 😂😊

@RobeTrotting Год назад

So glad you enjoy it. Thanks for watching 😃🇩🇰

@freyjasvansdottir9904 Год назад

The first time I went out to eat at a restaurant in the US I hated how the waiter introduced himself and stood around chatting instead of just bringing us our food. You aren’t our friend, we aren’t interested in hearing about your day. Here in Europe we like the waiter to be anonymous. Also the waiter kept asking if we were done eating.

@Dovndyr13 Год назад

Yup the bill/tipping etiquette are quite different. Once for a meal the bill was like 50$ I gave the waiter 100$ and asked to get 40$ back. The waiter gave me some cash back and I wanted to leave. Then the waiter asked me if I dont wanna pay the bill first. The waiter just had changed the 100$ note in to smaller notes I know "doggy bags" are popular in the US, I know elderly people ask for a "Hundetüte" in Germany. But eating out/working as a waiter i never met costumers asking for a "hundepose". So not sure if its a thing here in DK

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Yeah, I feel like you CAN get something wrapped maybe, especially if they have to-go service anyway, but it's a rarity compared to the expectation in the US. OHHH and it sounds like the old waiter trick, they just gave you small bills hoping you would leave more of a tip if given the option.

@charisma-hornum-fries Год назад

@Robe Trotting or have the To Good To Go sticker in the entrance. I usually get a doggy bag. When u do they look genuinely happy that I like the so much that I want the food with me back home. 🙂

@LorteSandalerMedIs Год назад

It's becoming a thing in Denmark, you see/hear it more and more... But you don't need to go more than 10 years back, and it would definitely not be a thing.

@Dovndyr13 Год назад

@@LorteSandalerMedIs i know that buffet restaurants offers boxes of the rest of the buffet for a cheap price before they close But interesting. Most times I go out most people can finish their steak/duck breast/burger. As portions are not as big as in the US or in Germany Bavarian restaurants. But i think it's great that, if people can't finish their meal, they can take it with them

@yacoobrian Год назад

Hey Guys! I have been watching your videos for years and I have always wanted to move to Denmark. I am actually in Denmark and would love to go out with you guys sometime if you are open to it.

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Hey Brian, that’s so cool. Shoot us a message!

@yacoobrian Год назад

@Robe Trotting do you prefer whatsapp, insta, Facebook, or?

@jimmywayne983 Год назад

I see many people mention that the waiter in USA comes by every few minutes, contra in Denmark where the waiter dosnt come around that often to interrupt the meal. Its not just because Danes value eating without interferens, i think part of it is that American waiters rely on tips as part of their income and try hard to be noticed and give the impression that they are there for you.. to make sure you remember to tip.. thinking less about just letting people eat in peace.. In Denmark the waiter dosnt have to rely on those tips, tips are extremely rare here and that add the bonus that the waiter wont come disturb you every few minutes.. Danes just call the waiter over when needed.

@JCook-li9vi Год назад

As a German I'm having a culture shock of America rather than Denmark!

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Well yeah, it’s a more similar culture

@metteksnebjerg5062 Год назад

Sometimes some believe, that leaving a little bit of food, you show that the portion was fine, and I am full. A tribute to the restaurant and the chef. Sometimes you say give the chef my respect.

@denmark23 Год назад

Don't waste food on purpose

@alleveddet118 Год назад

Thank for telling how it is from outside opinion

@Keloggs86 Год назад

Just a tip - since changing to credit card instead of cash, I've always looked at the bill first, if I want to tip, and then ask them if they can put in the total amount I want to pay. They'll usually do that and thank you for tipping. The ball is now in your court, and this is where you can go: "Oh, the food was excellant", or: "I really enjoyed the service". It's an opportunity to show gratitude and as a dane I love those terms. Also, I always round up the amount when using cabs because it does help them with their salary, and because they deserve it for bringing drunk danes back and forth from these special occasions while having to answer a gazilion stupid questions. I don't know how much you guys use cabs in CPH though 😊

@kille7543 Год назад

Their union fix their salery, we are not the US here !

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Tipping exists in a lot of countries

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Oh yeah, we try to avoid cabs but when we do I agree, it's always very intoxicated evenings haha.

@dortemarquardsen481 Год назад

Some restaurants just have one big jar on the counter for any amount you'd want to tip and they'll either split the money or use it for their Christmas party or whatever!

@williamjones4716 Год назад

That's more for old-fashioned lunch counter diners or truck stops, where you pay at the register. In the 1970s bars in South Boston had fishbowls at the register for "tips," though the money was actually used to help buy guns for the Irish Republican Army. 😆

@spyro257 Год назад

and here's the vid, only 3 days later... tyty :)

@RobeTrotting Год назад

You're so welcome - we have been thinking about this one for a while :)

@spyro257 Год назад

@@RobeTrotting just had an idea... if u ever have guests over, from the states, take them out eating, let them see the difference, without telling then the difference, up front, and then make a vid with them, talking about it... fun little experiment...

@BenjaminVestergaard Год назад

Those walk in bar/restaurants do exist in DK, but in inner city Copenhagen real estate is too precious, you need to book in advance unless you're one of those showing up in the afternoon. For a last minute non-fast-food your best bet would be something like Jensen's Bøfhus or Bones... But those are considered family restaurants, it's not where you'll be blown away by their own speciality or anything... Pretty much like TGI Fridays. Regarding the shorter menus. I believe that it's because many places here have listened when Gordon Ramsay has been telling failing businesses "it's better to have 5 things that you master, than 30 things that taste and look like sh!t". Edit: about tipping, yeah it's not really necessary, but as you also say in the beginning, when we go out it's about the experience. So, if it's been easy to get service when needed and peace in between, if the waiter has been good at answering questions regarding items on the menu etc. If it's been a good experience out of the ordinary, there'll be a tip... But not one I've calculated from the total price, more like "what would I like to give?".

@RobeTrotting Год назад

Agree across the board, I always forget about Jensen's Bøfhus, it's a decent option for just a quick unplanned meal out.

@Trex100 Год назад

Very true. Your "changing the menu" thing is totally true. Funny! In DK they're like, "Nah man, it comes with goat cheese." Stone cold. I have also noticed that getting a glass of water could end up costing you 6 bucks... The whole "doggy bag" thing is very interesting. One would think that in a country where they seem to value little waste, they have been slow to catch on. Also, when dining out, one has to research how to get to and from the eating establishment. "is this a bike/train combo?"

@GarmrsBarking Год назад

small portions... ; )

@Staci-lina Год назад

About the tipping. I'm fairly certain that the servant is not allowed to accept tipping at all

@KHValby Год назад

Regarding paying and tipping in DK. Your bill won't come automatically. You mostly have to flag your server down and ask for it. If I feel that the service and experience was really nice, I tend to tip 4-5% or round up to a fair amount. About tipping or not. You pay for the service - not the smile 😍 !

@svalk2009 Год назад

Most restaurants in Europe will show the diner the door rather than have the guest change ingredients on the menu.

@KHValby Год назад

In Dk you don't need to tip. But I always tend to do so anyway. I will usually round up to closest equal number or 4-5 %. Your bill includes the service.., not the smile 😍

@hantra17 Год назад

No. You may change the menu. I don't like mushrooms or peanuts so if I order a menu with one or both, I can always ask to have the dish without it.

@yunleung2631 Год назад

A video for groceries in Denmark?

@drumstick74 Год назад

I knew about the tipping in US, but a lot of the other comparisons were new. I didn't know that in the US they rush you in the restaurant, to serve a new customer. That would be difficult for me, as going to a restaurant is a rare thing for me, and I want to enjoy it, not stress out. I'm not a cook, but I think the fewer items on the menu in DK is because they want to keep fresh ingredients and try to limit food waste. If you watch Gordon Ramsay help out struggling restaurants, that's always what he does....he limits the items on the menu.

@KamillaMirabelle Год назад

In Denmark, you are not a costumer in a restaurant, your are their guest. Yes you are paying, but as in other places we don not want to be intrusive

@williamjones4716 Год назад

I heard the Germans were guests in DK for a few years back in the 1940s. 🤣

@KamillaMirabelle Год назад

@@williamjones4716 Yes, they where those guest that just out of nowhere rings on your door, do not listening when you did not needed company 🫣 you know the kind 😅

@denblakat9243 Год назад

I'd like to add that you can always ask "can I get this without x?", and, at least for something like cheese, you'll usually be able to. My mother CANNOT eat cheese (as in, last time she tried it on a lasagna, she threw up), and I think I've only once seen the waiter politely turn her down, and that was due to how the prep was done. Not sure how it'd work with pees ... n the availability thing might at least partially be a Copenhagen thing. admittedly, I don't dine out much (anxiety), n when I do it's usually lunch, but when I have had dinner out while living in Odense, I haven't struggled to find a table, even on a friday night. I could see not getting your first, or maybe second if you're going for the trendy places, but it's def not going to be a "we hath forgot to reserve a seat in the lord's hall and must now pray for the fates to look upon us with mercy and kindness, as we begin our quest to search for a table at which to enjoy fine meat with our wine"

@tabbymrp 2 месяца назад

It’s interesting despite the geographical distance, how the UK’s eating out culture is similar to the US, rather than the closer Denmark- apart from the tips/service charge thing in the US, is doing my head in.

@Denmark15 Год назад

How Long have you guys lived in denmark btw im Also from denmark

@RobeTrotting Год назад

since 2017 😃🇩🇰

@jacobriis7859 Год назад

I like to go up and pay at the cash register instead of asking for the bill at the table.

@SuiGenerisAbbie Год назад

1) Very informative. Cultural changes often surprise, don’t they? 2) Wow, without being able to customise my orders, I reckon I would be sunk. I am always asking for adjustments which usually are accepted without question. Thank you for sharing your lives and foibles with us. 3) Pssst, GREEN peas are my favourite vegetable. Black eyed please are my second favourite. 4) I never minded servers giving me their names, pre services. It personalises my experience and makes me feel as though I am being somewhat pampered. 5) Don’t get me started on tipping: I do not like tipping. Waitrons should not expect to be tipped. Food is expensive enough and servers should be paid more. The customer should never feel obligated to say, pay their rent, by tipping anyone. 6) I think I know why doggie bags are called what they are. It is because people once once brought scraps home for their pets.

@roguebanshee Год назад

Regarding customization, you can usually subtract something from a dish without giving any reason, but mixing and matching is heavily frowned upon. As a general rule, a specific dish is put together so that the various tastes in it complement each other, so changing things around is seen as either insulting the chef, ruining the entire dish or both. As was mentioned in the video, a visit to a restaurant in Denmark is not seen as a quick and easy alternative to cooking your own daily meal, it is instead used to mark special occasions and thus you reserve a table at a place with a menu that offers what you want.

@KHValby Год назад

Totally agree. Have traveled in the US many times. I hate it when a waiter - constantly - hovers over the table. If you try to customize the menu, you're just showing that you're American🤣. The rest of us consider it disrespectful to the chef. We eat what is served. After all, we chose the restaurant and the menu, beforehand🙄. It's just a matter of etiquette and good manners. And make no mistake. You Americans are typical - well-liked and respected, for your politeness and good manners. We Danes are (mostly) humble folks. It is neither good nor bad. We just don't like "show offs". We go to a Restaurant, well knowing what will be served. TIP though. Certain restaurants - with a fixed menu - will let you make minor changes. Meat instead of fish (for example). Just be your polite self, and ask 😊.

@JyskMaker Год назад

148 to 178 dkr is normal here. 🙂 Lot of places her into around 23:00

@sarapanzarella97 11 месяцев назад

I am wondering if all the little shrimp I see in Copenhagen videos are local? I live in a coastal town in South Carolina and many people assume that the seafood in all the restaurants is fresh and local - but that is definitely NOT the case! Would a restaurant be offended if I asked the source of their seafood in Denmark?

@larsne 2 месяца назад

No they would not be offended

@Evangeline912 Год назад

I have two really odd allergies, apples and hazelnut. Would I be better off planning on not eating out while I’m there? I’m only going to be there for two weeks

@mortenbork6249 Год назад

Depends where you eat. I would say hazelnut and apples are not common ingredients in restaurant food. However, be very careful with the deserts. There they are very common. You can ask about ingredients in restaurant's. Especially about stuff you are allergic to. Restaurants are very onboard with that.

@incantrix1337 Год назад

In my experience, if you mention allergies they will be very happy to accomodate you, either making suggestions for what you can order, or even offer to make something customized without those ingredients.

@Evangeline912 Год назад

@@mortenbork6249 in America apple is a very common sweetener. Hazelnut is far easier to avoid

@Vradica Год назад

The customize option seems abit out of touch in the video, you should have no problem telling a restaurant about you allergies here, nor would you have problems with removing anything from a plate.. I think it's more about switching stuff or putting new stuff in.. I am yet to see a restaurant that refuses to remove something you do not like or will get sick from :)

@williamjones4716 Год назад

Careful, a lot of Danish fruit jams contain apple and beef gravies sometimes contain fruit jelly.

@ErikBongers Год назад

One other thing I noticed in the US: "Please leave your fire arms at the entrance." I was shocked! In NY! And not a 100 years ago!

@williamjones4716 Год назад

Sounds like a novelty sign?

@sandreid87 3 месяца назад

I was brought up in Denmark, to tip 10% to the server - Not because they need it, but out of good will. So Ill usually do that, unless the service was horrendous.

@jonathanclarke5545 Год назад

Love the videos, very helpful. I love the space and respect for privacy in Denmark, but hugely miss spontaneity and neutral territory. Especially with work colleagues, is there a tax on the phrase "fancy a quick pint", as I get looked at as if I've said something much worse when this is suggested. Crying shame, especially as DK has great bars, Charlies in CPH for example.

@johndittmer8488 Год назад

Just be careful when you have American friends and family come over from the States. One time, I was at an Italian restaurant in Viborg with my mother-in-law. After an hour, we just had drinks, soup and rolls and she was getting impatient. I asked if we could just pay for the what we had and leave. the owner got so mad and threw us out. He didn't even take our money.

@tlangdon12 5 месяцев назад

That's a great story and a cautionary tale of what can happen when you come a cultural differences unexpectedly. One of the great things about this channel is the way that these differences are highlighted so that we can be aware of them.

@treefrog1018 Год назад

Sounds like dining in Denmark is like going to a chef's house and trying their food. In America, it is more going to the chef and eating what's hot and popular among the customers.

@HANSIMUSMAXIMUS Год назад

A fun titbit is that the danish word for tips, “drikkepenge”, directly translates to “drinking money”, subtly hinting towards what we think this little extra money is good for.

@pptrxus Год назад

I always think it would be fun to get drunk with those two. haha🤣

@johndittmer8488 Год назад

I remember a place in Viborg that served a vegetable pizza with peas and corn, yuck!'

@user-ch9ey7lg8d 11 месяцев назад

I love this video, but I think you missed something. What about there is no free water at the table. I disagree with this because the tap water is safe to drink but you can't get a free water while eating.