Philadelphia's Geno's Steaks Adopts English-Only Ordering Policy

[Artegal 1]

You know we can take a clue or two from the multiplicity of Asian (Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarian) and Spanish (Mexican, Central/South American) restaurants. The owners of these type of restuarants don't expect the US public to speak all the dialects of Asian languages and Spanish. They conveniently put food items in to Combos. And put explanations or photos of the food ingredients.

Of course fast food restuarants (Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy's Chic-Fil-a, etc) have Combos also--but for a different reason: the US citizen employees in those establishments are usually illiterate of the English language.

[I'm Gone 60]

PHILADELPHIA — Bistec con queso? Not at Geno's Steaks.

An English-only ordering policy has thrust one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints into the national immigration debate.

I went to their Website when this was reported last week and told them way to go and keep it up.

[*Robert* 2]

PHILADELPHIA — Bistec con queso? Not at Geno's Steaks.

An English-only ordering policy has thrust one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints into the national immigration debate.

I went to their Website when this was reported last week and told them way to go and keep it up.

hahahaha You rebel you!

[ChristinaM 0]

It's very cold-hearted person who will not cut a tourist some slack. Remember that we are not talking about tourists here, but immigrants - people who choose to conduct their lives in this country.

Reba, I think Canada has the right idea with that one.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I wonder if the next time someone posts "having trouble adjsuting, my english is not so good" if everyone we'll respond telling them to put up or shut up -- after all, they chose to live here!

somehow putting up such a sign doesn't suggest the server will carefully guide such a person through the menu with their pidgin English

and how does anyone know tourists will never go to this joint?

[irishgirl73 0]

I wonder if the next time someone posts "having trouble adjsuting, my english is not so good" if everyone we'll respond telling them to put up or shut up -- after all, they chose to live here!

somehow putting up such a sign doesn't suggest the server will carefully guide such a person through the menu with their pidgin English

and how does anyone know tourists will never go to this joint?

That is completely different-the owner is talking about people who flat out REFUSE to learn English-I live here I know exactly what he is talking about. He is talking about the people who live in that neighborhood-apparently he has just had enough so he put up the sign.

If they can read it & decide they are offended-fine don't eat there!

It's very cold-hearted person who will not cut a tourist some slack. Remember that we are not talking about tourists here, but immigrants - people who choose to conduct their lives in this country.

Reba, I think Canada has the right idea with that one.

he isn't referring to tourists-he is referring to people that live here-in that neighborhood, some have lived here for years & still don't know how to speak English. It is a fact-some people may find that hard to believe but it is true. There are A LOT of people that simply refuse to learn(speak/write/read) English.

Edited June 13, 2006 by irishgirl73

[AlmostMex 0]

This is just silly.

What about situations where people are legally tourists in the US from a Spanish-speaking country (or another country where the language, and they don't speak English? Should they also be required to order in English?

Silly, silly, silly. How many Americans can go to another country and actually order in that country's native language?

I've seen firsthand, just this week in fact, all the dirty looks a lot of LEGAL Mexicans get if speaking Spanish in a public place, and I think it's flat-out STUPID. My husband's family (who all have valid tourist visas and obviously are Mexican) came to visit us for a few weeks. They do not speak English beyond the cursory Hello, Thank you, Nice to meet you phrases, and we have gone shopping (investing recently converted dollars into the US economy thank you!) and I couldn't believe the kind of dirty looks and stares we got from the general public and the clerks in the stores, even though I helped them pay in English. I wanted to say they're LEGAL tourists for God's sakes and ask those people if they have ever gone to Mexico and if so, are they fluent in Spanish.

Silly, silly, silly.

[irishgirl73 0]

You know we can take a clue or two from the multiplicity of Asian (Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarian) and Spanish (Mexican, Central/South American) restaurants. The owners of these type of restuarants don't expect the US public to speak all the dialects of Asian languages and Spanish. They conveniently put food items in to Combos. And put explanations or photos of the food ingredients.

Of course fast food restuarants (Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy's Chic-Fil-a, etc) have Combos also--but for a different reason: the US citizen employees in those establishments are usually illiterate of the English language.

"steak with cheese" isn't really that compliacted is it?

[AlmostMex 0]

I went to their Website when this was reported last week and told them way to go and keep it up

Somehow mdyoung's comment doesn't surprise me.

Edited June 13, 2006 by InLoveInMexico

[irishgirl73 0]

This is just silly.

What about situations where people are legally tourists in the US from a Spanish-speaking country (or another country where the language, and they don't speak English? Should they also be required to order in English?

Silly, silly, silly. How many Americans can go to another country and actually order in that country's native language?

I've seen firsthand, just this week in fact, all the dirty looks a lot of LEGAL Mexicans get if speaking Spanish in a public place, and I think it's flat-out STUPID. My husband's family (who all have valid tourist visas and obviously are Mexican) came to visit us for a few weeks. They do not speak English beyond the cursory Hello, Thank you, Nice to meet you phrases, and we have gone shopping (investing recently converted dollars into the US economy thank you!) and I couldn't believe the kind of dirty looks and stares we got from the general public and the clerks in the stores, even though I helped them pay in English. I wanted to say they're LEGAL tourists for God's sakes and ask those people if they have ever gone to Mexico and if so, are they fluent in Spanish.

Silly, silly, silly.

Speak whatever language you want-just make sure that you can speak a little English-if you live in the United States(I am not referring to you personally but to anyone who LIVES here). I don't think anyone expects a visitor or tourist to be able to speak English-but if you have lived here for a long time then learn the language. I have known many people who had family members that refused to speak English-well good for them but then why live here? It just doesn't make sense. My friend was in a car accident not too long ago-the guy who hit him could not speak a lick of English-that is just wrong IMHO:blink:

[AlmostMex 0]

So from what most people are saying is this: If they're a tourist, people are going to be nice to you if you can't speak English, and if you've lived here a long time, they're not going to. Ok, well then, the question is this: How is anyone going to know where the person is a tourist or someone who has lived here for a long time?

[hockeygal 0]

Speak whatever language you want-just make sure that you can speak a little English-if you live in the United States(I am not referring to you personally but to anyone who LIVES here). I don't think anyone expects a visitor or tourist to be able to speak English-but if you have lived here for a long time then learn the language.

How can you tell the difference between a tourist and an immigrant? How do you know who deserves courtesy, and who deserves a dirty look?

[Wrenly 0]

I'm from outside of Philadelphia. What you might not know about Geno's is that they are pretty famous for being like this. Meaning, they have a certain way they want you to order a cheese steak and there's a sign giving directions. It's all like in code: Wit for "with onions" Whiz for "cheese whiz" instead of real cheese. It's their "thing." If you are a native speaker of English and not from South Philly you'll have problems. If you screw up and take to long they tell you to get in the back of the line and they'll serve the next person--not kidding, I've seen it happen. It's part of their South Philly image.

If he wants to put up the sign on his private business, the only thing you can do is not go there if you don't agree. If he chooses to alienate (pardon the pun) certain would-be customers, then that's his money lost. If he starts to lose money you can bet he'll take the sign down, if he doesn't then he won't.

[irishgirl73 0]

I'm from outside of Philadelphia. What you might not know about Geno's is that they are pretty famous for being like this. Meaning, they have a certain way they want you to order a cheese steak and there's a sign giving directions. It's all like in code: Wit for "with onions" Whiz for "cheese whiz" instead of real cheese. It's their "thing." If you are a native speaker of English and not from South Philly you'll have problems. If you screw up and take to long they tell you to get in the back of the line and they'll serve the next person--not kidding, I've seen it happen. It's part of their South Philly image.

If he wants to put up the sign on his private business, the only thing you can do is not go there if you don't agree. If he chooses to alienate (pardon the pun) certain would-be customers, then that's his money lost. If he starts to lose money you can bet he'll take the sign down, if he doesn't then he won't.

you are totally right

I don't even go there(well I think I was there twice) but there is a certain way of ordering things-if you don't like it-go to Pat's across the street. I am sure that is what people will do now

he won't lose money-at least I don't think he will

[babybunny 2]

I'm from outside of Philadelphia. What you might not know about Geno's is that they are pretty famous for being like this. Meaning, they have a certain way they want you to order a cheese steak and there's a sign giving directions. It's all like in code: Wit for "with onions" Whiz for "cheese whiz" instead of real cheese. It's their "thing." If you are a native speaker of English and not from South Philly you'll have problems. If you screw up and take to long they tell you to get in the back of the line and they'll serve the next person--not kidding, I've seen it happen. It's part of their South Philly image.

If he wants to put up the sign on his private business, the only thing you can do is not go there if you don't agree. If he chooses to alienate (pardon the pun) certain would-be customers, then that's his money lost. If he starts to lose money you can bet he'll take the sign down, if he doesn't then he won't.

I see.. maybe when he starts to lose money he will change his policy.