A diner popular for its terrible service and great food is set to open up in North Rocks this December.
Awful customer service is usually enough for a restaurant to be blacklisted, but at Karen’s Diner a bad attitude is what drives people through the door – and now it’s coming to western Sydney.
Opening at North Rocks Shopping Centre on Thursday, December 8, Karen’s Diner plays into the stereotype of an entitled middle-class white woman – known as a ‘Karen’ – who loves to complain.
With plenty of expletives to be sent customers’ way, those who visit the American-inspired diner are encouraged to go ‘full Karen’ and criticise the service to their hearts desire.
Viral Ventures Director Aden Levin said Karen’s Diner offers a fun dining experience that no one else is doing in Australia.
“I think with Karen’s it’s not just about the rude server, we create a whole dining experience,” he said.
“We’ve got games, it’s interactive and we try to get the whole room involved. Each table might have to come up and spin Karen’s wheel of misfortune, compete in challenges, they might have to sing some ‘Karenoake’, they might have to take part in a fashion parade to see who is worst dressed.”
Customers will also be able to order from a menu that offers a range of diner favourites, all delivered with a ‘side of sass.’ Enjoy burgers, wings, fries and cocktails with creative names like ‘You’ve just lost my business’.
“Our menu is generally American comfort food… with some Karen twists in there, we’ve got some secret special items on the menu,” Mr Levin said.
And if your name is Karen? Make sure to bring your I.D. to enjoy a free drink on the house.
Although it’s known for bad customer service it’s important to note that the staff and customers do have to follow a set of house rules to maintain a “shred of sanity.” That includes not tolerating racist, sexist, homophobic or ableist slurs and no throwing of food or drinks.
“For us it’s all about trying to make sure we have a fun experience but in a safe space for customers and staff, so we do have a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who breaches those [rules],” Mr Levin said.
And the North Rock’s diner might not be the only Karen’s to open up in western Sydney, with the franchise considering the possibility to spread out further west.
“We’re always looking for sites all over NSW… we’ve had so many people come in from the western suburbs to the CBD just to experience Karen’s,” Mr Levin said.
“So for sure it’s on the cards, once we get the right site and the right space we’ll be opening there in no time.”
To find out more go to http://www.bemorekaren.com.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.