Restaurants normally pride themselves on offering the best service they can and showing impeccable politeness to diners. But a chain of eateries has now arrived in the UK that aims to provide entirely the opposite - where vegan customers can expect to be booed and patrons wearing glasses should be prepared for insults.
Karen's Diner is named after the slang term referring to a particular type of woman perceived as being excessively demanding with an inflated sense of entitlement. It is an Australian phenomenon comprising novelty restaurants where the waiters and waitresses, effectively actors, try to be as rude and obnoxious as possible to guests.
Alongside this conceit, real food is served - and the first UK Karen's has opened in Sheffield, with another quickly following near Manchester. Alex Grove, content editor with Yorkshire Live, went to see what Britain can expect - and it seems the place is just as abrasive as advertised.
"When I heard a restaurant with rude staff and terrible service was coming to Sheffield, I knew I wanted to try it out," said Alex. "It’s already hugely popular in Australia - but us Brits are a funny bunch and I was really intrigued to see how it would work here.
"Upon walking in it was immediately obvious that we were in for a wild and offensive ride. We really were at the mercy of the waiters and waitresses who held nothing back and really went for it - in the best way possible."
Alex continued: "As soon as we walked in another diner was getting booed for being vegan and it wasn’t long before the moody and miserable front of house pointed us to our table. From then on, it was insult after insult, with savage jibes that made my toes curl.
"I honestly couldn’t praise the staff enough for how uncomfortable they made me feel. There is a reason this restaurant is only suitable for people who are over 16 - and it is definitely not the place for people who are easily offended."
Alex went on to describe what happened and listed some of the things the staff said. "One person with glasses was called a “ginger four eyes”, my friend got called “f****** embarrassing” when she ordered the vegan option and the waiters ripped up a drawing I spent a good 10 minutes on.
"With these things, you have to get into the spirit of it and I took it upon myself to release some inner rage and be narky towards the staff. It was actually quite cathartic to do that in a restaurant and while it’s not for everyone - some people will absolutely love it."
Alex said the food - burger and chips - was "chucked" on the table. Meanwhile the staff "really weren't happy" about requests for knives, forks and condiments.
"To round off the evening, the staff made a hat for me, which seemed like a nice gesture. That was until I looked at what was written on it (‘I have a small penis’)," said Alex.
"I have to admit, I was dubious about how far Karen’s would go and just how insulting, rude and terrible the whole experience would be. But I can honestly say they didn’t disappoint and I found myself in utter shock at some of the things they said and did."
To sum up, he said: "If you’re easily offended, avoid this place like the plague. If you want to experience this obscene novelty then get yourself booked in."
