restaurant responses

[edkwan88]

What would be the most natural response to say thank you in a restaurant, when the waiter brings you the food you ordered?

I always thought it would simply be :

どうも or どうもありがとう
but i sense that it seems :
すみません is more appropriate?

im confused.

[jkid]

I would go with どうもありがとう. I don't think you would use すみません in this case.

[andamanislander]

From what I've seen, the level of politeness expected in a restaurant situation is insanely asymmetrical: if you're serving, you have to grovel, if you're being served, you can get away with almost anything, or nothing at all.

Saying nothing at all in response is not - I have a sense - actually impolite in a situation like this.

[jkid]

andamanislander-san,
I have not heard people saying thanks to resturant staff here yet so I am sure it is OK to say nothing at all but for me personally I can't help but at least say thanks.