Restaurants are a pretty widespread phenomenon in the UK. Whichever street you go down, in whichever city, you will find many eateries strategically placed and well occupied. This is because eating out is a pretty popular habit within this country, with a variety of reasons why.
Wherever you go, you will notice that restaurants operate in an almost similar manner. They usually have a large counter running across the face of the kitchen. From here, the service leader acts as a go-between, for the waiters taking customers’ orders, and the kitchen. There may be several people at the counter depending on the size of the restaurant.
Typically, UK restaurants assign waiters to specific tables, that they should handle. One waiter will more often than not, take a customer’s or table’s orders from start to finish. The waiting staff in UK restaurants are known to be mannered to a fault. It is more of an inborn trait than a piece of work ethic. Regular customers usually take to the practice of having a chosen waiter attend to them, whenever they patronise a restaurant.
Most restaurants have seating arrangements set to accommodate different numbers of diners. There are tables for two, three, four, and so on. The seating plan is usually an open layout, but the practice of setting out private booths appears to be gaining some popularity in recent years. Outside seating is not very popular in t
he UK. Seating spaces are usually located inside the eateries’ premises. Huge, transparent windows are a standard feature on the front part of the restaurant though.
The UK has one of the world’s most diverse populations, and the same is reflected in the country’s restaurants. Here, you will find arguably the most extensive collection of diners from foreign countries. From Chinese restaurants, Italian eateries, American food outlets, and many more, you can never run out of choice in the UK. A running joke goes that British food is terrible, and that is why all the immigrants had to bring their kitchens with them. Well, that is what it is; a joke, so do not let it get to you, or shape your opinion.
Another widespread practice in UK restaurants is the sale and delivery of takeaway food. When it first came to being, not many restaurants seemed to warm up to the idea. Diners picked most of the takeaways themselves. Today, however, most restaurants have what would be called a takeaway department, concerned solely with taking orders over the phone and making deliveries.
You will notice that most restaurants in the UK open at dawn, and remain open until late. They serve all meals, starting with breakfast and ending with late dinners. The practice of including vegan dishes is also gaining popularity quite fast.