Fitzrovia News Menu ‘Spy Waiters’ in 21st Century US and 20th Century Britain: Nightmares of Nationalism 1:17 pm, Sunday, 3 January 2021 Share this: Fitzrovia has always been known for its busy eating places owned and staffed by immigrant waiters and chefs from all over Western Europe. At some points in history, waiters like these have been given an unwanted spotlight, wrongly suspected of being spies. In the 1900s British nationalism and paranoia meant German waiters in Charlotte Street received harsh treatment. As recently as February 2017, #SpyWaiter became a Twitter meme after President Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, were observed by diners and staff at Trump’s Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, discussing North Korea’s provocative test firing of a missile into the Sea of Japan, immediately after the firing. Comments were made on the startling lack of security surrounding this urgent discussion and the consequent scope for eavesdropping on it. Although there is no proof that any waiters were spying at the resort, speculation flourished.