New pop-up “Karen” restaurant delivers rude service on purpose
A unique pop-up dining experience is set to open in October, with a very different and potentially divise gimmick.
Karen’s Diner will serve up American comfort dishes alongside terrible service and ‘Karen’ stereotypes.
The diner’s catchphrase, "Great Burgers & Rude Service", has already started to create a buzz, as people anticipate their grand opening in Sydney this October.
The restaurant is the latest project from the Sydney-based experiential hospitality company, who have previously been behind Wonderland Bar — a Mad Hatter-themed pop-up.
The 1950s-style diner pokes fun at ‘cancel culture’ by flipping the golden rules of hospitality on its head.
Image credit: bemorekaren.com
The tongue-in-cheek concept was inspired by the rise in complaining ‘Karens’ in popular culture, a pejorative trope referring to an entitled and privileged white woman, often seen demanding to "speak to the manager".
As part of the unique dining experience, staff are encouraged to be rude to patrons, while customers can have fun and go along for the ride.
Despite the controversial service, the creators of the venue have assured customers that the food will be of an extremely high quality, with a menu of comfort classics including burgers, wings, shakes and cocktails on offer.
Their menu items even feature Karen-themed names, with drink titles including 'The Music Is Too Loud’, ‘I’ve Been Waiting 10 Minutes for Some Service’, and ‘You’ve Just Lost My Business’.
There will also be a number of vegan and vegetarian options available for those with dietary requirements.
The hospitality group regularly works with actors, so their staff will definitely be brutal in their off-beat offences.
Viral Ventures co-founder Aden Levin says the concepts are all designed to be fun and offer customers "something they have never experienced before".
"Particularly after the last few months, we just want people to have fun and this is our approach to all our venues and pop-ups around Australia," he says.
For more information or to book a table, visit bemorekaren.com
Image credits: Shutterstock / bemorekaren.com