The Brexit spirit
Hi,
We are in an English seaside town. We go into a posh hotel and ask for Martinis in the bar. The Brit barman says “What’s a Martini?” before going off to find out what we are talking about and how to make them. We leave.
Later we go into a seafront cafe and I ask for a black Americano with milk on the side. The Brit waitress gives me a white Americano with extra milk on the side. This drink contains precious little coffee but much milk.
In desperation, we go to a coffee chain, Costa. I ask for the same and the Brit ‘Barrister’ shouts ‘White Americano’ to his colleague. It tastes like sludge.
I have been abroad in Europe. I know that this would not happen in any other EU country, or even here if the employee was an immigrant from anywhere. But in Brexit Britain it is a short step back to the 1950s, a time of poor food, worldly ignorance and terminally bad service. What’s not to like? 
D.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Just a thought. 
This more recent reply implies that you have not (or at least not extensively)... for there is nothing unusual in your story.
Except, perhaps, for the irony of an American traveling to someone else's country, expecting them to cater to what he expects beverages to be (with anything less being poor service)... and then calling them "provincial" - all while coming from a country that thinks that there is such a thing as a 20 oz cappuccino (served all day long).
I recommend more travel... and ordering whatever the local closest to you has ordered.
but your own silly stereotyping shows in your attempt to characterize a country of 320 million via a glib, but brainless characterization of coffee orders, lol.
First of all, " implications" are quite.subjective, as is one's definition of "extensive", but even before that, considering your presumptuous "suggestion" about my need for "more.travel", I'd have to ask how extensive your travels might be, and if any have taken in any of our fifty states...European stereotypes of "insular" Americans always amuse me since in fact, more Americans have visited Europe than the other way around.
All this is pertinent, baggis, because you see, I''ve not only traveled in Europe, I've lived in one European country and " visited", some frequently,
seven others.
Somehow I'm betting that not only stacks up nicely against your travels, but surpasses what your view of Americans would have allowed. Cheers.
Get ahold of yourself, dear, I never DESCRIBED my behavior --
- The drink ordering poster was someone else! 
That's Croatian for 'no worries'.
In answer to your question, I got into the discussion for two reasons:. 1. I thought the poster had a point, tenuous though it
was. 2. I. get tired of the knee jerk "silly Americans" meme..
Do you imagine Europeans in America don't make similar requests?.....I've served Brits as a waitress in bars and restaurants -- Don't get me started. 
and I'm like "why would a restaurant carry stripper-wear"?
Hi,
No, I'm a Brit.
My wife is Welsh, which still counts as a Brit, at least for now.
D.
