Originally Posted by
lhrsfo
It's not an observation I've had, but then I haven't been looking out for it either. If it is the case, I'm sure it's to do with the different employment practices between the USA and most European countries - minimum wage, security of employment, different tipping environment etc. Also, if you are talking about high end places, where waiting on table is more a career than a casual job, it could also be to do with preparedness to work late into the evening and get home after midnight on public transport.
You know, you've just raised a question I've often thought of, particularly with respect to London - how do all those hordes of restaurant workers get home late at night after the tube has stopped? Night busses? I know they're not all living in the West End.