Service is a disaster at Karen's Diner in Sydney.
Rude waiters shout and throw menus at customers. But having a terrible experience is the whole idea of the restaurant.
"It's one of those ideas where you just think 'this could work' and it kind of surprised us because people want to be treated like that apparently," says Mitch Ransley, general manager of Karen's Diner Sydney.
"They like to yell at the waiters while the waiters yell at them."
Why do people love Karen's Diner?
The lack of formality is also something interesting for customers.
“A lot of Sydney restaurants are very formal. You have to dress according to a code, you are forced to use words like "please and thank you". Whereas at Karen's Diner, everyone can be themselves or the worst version of themselves," adds Ransley.
But there are ground rules: staff cannot make fun of disabled people, make racist or sexist comments.
"As long as you don't do anything malicious, go ahead and have fun," said Elizabeth McDonald, one of the restaurant's customers.
Waiters say that for them, this is the best job in the world.
"I can call a client whatever I want and I won't be in trouble for it."
What are customers' reactions to this "rough" dining experience?
Customers go there for abuse.
"They have made me regret being a vegan," says one of the customers.
The restaurant originally opened as a small space in October 2021, but the Karen's Diner craze is spreading fast.
Branches have opened in Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia and in Sheffield in the United Kingdom. There are plans for two more venues in Perth and the Gold Coast, with bookings already full.