Eating out in Europe you get pampered with what we call here in the Netherlands, ‘gezelligheid’. In Germany they call this phenomenon ‘gemütlichkeit’. Other European countries I am sure have their own terms. I however find this missing in Ottawa though. This was also the observation of my niece and her parents (my sister-in-law and brother-in-law) who were in Canada as well a few weeks earlier.
For starters, ‘gezelligheid’ means warm, cosy, basically the atmosphere is charming yet relaxing and engaging. It means that when you are going out to eat, you are not only enjoying your meal but you are enjoying the ambiance of the restaurant and each other’s company as well. It’s the whole eating out experience.
Now it is my first time in Canada in the English part but it is not my first time in North America. I have been to the USA several times in the past and I can see similar practices although you can clearly see that the Canadians are different than the Americans.
On my first night in Ottawa, my niece and I had dinner at this restaurant in Byward Market, which by the way is where the evening action is in terms of eating out and nightlife in the city.
I was tired from the transcontinental travel. I haven’t had the chance to sleep in the plane, and on top of that I have to drive from Montreal to Ottawa. I have been awake for 24 hours. I am so jetlagged! So after walking around a few blocks looking for a fitting restaurant, we just grabbed the one that looks fine: The Grand Pizzeria & Bar
This restaurant is an example of your typical North American jaunt. Here are a few things that could have made this restaurant’s ambiance really cosy and less casual:
- Make the tables lower. I do not understand why it is even high in the first place? It is so uneasy to eat with a high table. It makes you feel like a child trying to eat at the dinner table with the adults.
- That loud music. Argh, please turn the volume down. Or choose a softer, more background music. Wait, just turn it off. You can’t have a normal discussion during dinner with the music blasting. The idea of eating out it not just to eat you know, but to talk to each other as well.
- Please take down those TV’s please. They are irritating. They do not belong to a restaurant.
- Where are the place mats? I do not mind if its paper.
- Place some flowers, plant or candles on the table to make it more inviting. If there is a candle, please do light it.
Of course, there are cosy restaurants with lovely ambiance in Ottawa but they are not your usual run-of-the-mill type of restaurant. They are a bit high-end and exclusive which means you have to pay more, and you really have to know where they are. This is not the case in Europe though (or rather in Quebec), no need to go to an expensive place to get your cosy ambiance fix, they are just around the corner.
I guess it boils down to culture, taste and expectations. The easy-going Europeans (and Quebecois perhaps) place a lot of importance in the cosiness and ambiance of a restaurant. They tend to find enjoyment in the little things in life and see the whole thing as a social and personal experience. North Americans (with the exception of Quebecois) I noticed take things more on a premeditated manner, they place more importance on customer service, they demand they be served and literally pampered for their money’s worth. They also see eating as an activity to fill in their schedule, meaning they go to a restaurant to eat and then get it done with.
In addition, the whole tipping thing makes me always uncomfortable.
And oh, I haven’t even included the Asians in this comparison matrix yet! Asian people have a different expectation altogether. The focus is mostly on the food itself, and lots of it.
Well, these are just my thoughts and observations really =)
So for many Europeans, or rather, those that have lived in Europe for a time, dining out in North America is a totally different experience. We all have to make some compromises and adjust our expectations.
Travel Period: September 2015
Destination: Ottawa (Ontario), Canada
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)