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Harry -- I'd say that the rudeness is situational. My observation from numerous visits to the UK is that the majority of meals are eaten in the home and eating in a restaurant is rather infrequent. Whereas in the US, there are many people who "eat out" much more frequently. So, in the US, it would be extremely rude -- and just not done -- to chat up someone in a high-end restaurant. But in the middle-of-the road or fast-food places, it can be quite acceptable to *ask* someone if you can talk with them just a moment. To some extent, a middle-of-the-road restaurant lends itself to a much more casual behavior, maybe like-unto that you see in a pub in England. People don't seem to be reluctant to start a conversation with someone in a pub, even if they're eating a meal there.
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