The Perth restaurant where you PAY for shocking service

A world-famous diner that turns hospitality etiquette on its head will soon offer its alternative dining experience – complete with insults and rude waitstaff – in Subiaco.

Inspired by the ‘Karen’ stereotype — a typically entitled woman donning an inverted bob hairstyle while demanding if she can speak to the manager — the first Karen’s Diner opened less than one year ago in Sydney and is still booking out months in advance.

The unique experience of Karen’s Diner has caused its popularity to skyrocket via TikTok and Instagram. Customers are greeted and waited upon by overly rude waitstaff, most of whom have acting backgrounds.

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Karen’s Diner co-founder Aden Levin, who owns a string of hospitality venues throughout Australia, told PerthNow the idea was born out of the end of Sydney’s COVID-19 related lockdowns last year.

“The infamous Karen meme was going viral at the same time as our staff were having to enforce vaccine passports and other restrictions, which meant they were on the receiving end of a lot of unnecessary ‘Karen’ behaviour from customers,” Mr Levin said.

“We understood that people were just frustrated with lockdowns, but it did make us think about a concept where we could flip the hospitality mantra and create a diner where staff could be rude to the customers and get paid for it.

“Karen’s Diner is a fully immersive dining experience which is more than just walking in and getting sassed by your waiter — it’s a fun experience where customers take part in games, challenges and lots of different things while dining.”

Co-founded with James Farrell, Karen’s Diner is now in six locations across Australia, plus two in the United Kingdom.

Upon arrival customers can expect to be ‘ungreeted’, have their menu thrown at them and undergo challenges that may result in them having to clean their own table or even be kicked out of the diner.

With its rising popularity, Mr Levin hoped the alternative dining experience would “hammer home” the need “we all have to be a bit nicer”.

“People leave Karen’s Diner feeling not like they’ve just been through nine rounds with Mike Tyson, but with ‘wow, that was really fun and different, and I’ve gotten rid of all my pent up energy by giving banter back to the waitstaff’,” Mr Levin said.

“It’s an inverted hospitality experience where you’re put back in your place, which you remember for when you are on the other side at a ‘normal’ establishment.

“It’s a completely different experience, so it’s going to be awesome to see the great people of WA ready to unleash some Karens.

“And while the Subiaco store will be another replica of what we’ve done over east, there might be a few additional local pieces, including a sneaky reference to Mark McGowan.”

Mr Levin said people who were actually named Karen could visit for a fair-enough free drink.

Karen’s Diner will open in Subiaco Mews on Hay Street in August.

Interested in becoming a Karen? Send your resume to [email protected].