October 06, 2009

How to order a tea or a coffee in a coffee shop

First you stand in line where applicable following the sign "enter here". Then when you hear "next on line" jump to the next waiter/tress available. In franchised shops they usually say "how are you today ? What can I do for you ?" In corner delis they just expect you to get on with it. So the dialogue goes more ore less like that :
- "how are you today ? What can I do for you ?"
- "I'm good and you ?"
- "...." No you don't expect an answer, this is NOT Buckingham Palace !
- "Hot tea, No milk, No sugar" Don't use the word "without", it's like speaking Chinese ! "Please" is not necessary, they do serve with you but they do expect a tip as well.
- "Which size ?" Ah ! Sizes ! Small = average cup under French / European standard ; Regular = already quite big ; Large = only looking at the empty cup you know you'll have to go to the restroom at least twice in the next hour i.e. going back to an other coffee shop to drink an other cup of whatever...
- "Small one"
He/ she hands you whatever you ordered and eventually you pay as quickly as you can and jump out of the line for the :
- "Next !"

1 comment:

Wendy Johnson said...

and your point is??

You went into a coffee shop, you got a coffee quickly ... it's the whole point.
... at least you are not ignored while she / he chats to his neighbour for 5 mins...