Have you ever been asked to leave a restaurant?

[Lilacs4Me]

My FIL and his wife were in town over the weekend. We went to church on Sunday and then out for breakfast. We chose the venue based on DS18's request because he was leaving for college later that day- it's a very cute local place with good food.

We arrived at 10:45am and asked for a table for 6. The owner, who has a son DD14's age (she is friends with him, but the mom doesn't know me by sight, I don't think...I JUST found out the connection myself after 8 years of them being in school together!) asked if we were all here, and I said everyone but one person.

She paused, looked slightly annoyed, then said "OK, it will be about 15 min". At that point I figured I wouldn't introduce myself lol

At about 11:05, we were seated. DS18 texted and said he was on his way, and go ahead and order.

The server came through with coffee and was nice enough. She came back a little while later and took our order.

We ordered, and the food came. I'd say it was about 11:30 by then. DS got there probably at about 11:40. He ordered a cinnamon roll (they are known for their homebaked goods), and finished DH's steak and eggs. He was done eating around the same time as FIL.

We visited for a while with the Inlaws as we finished up. Step-MIL asked for more coffee as DS and FIL were still eating. FIL takes a little longer to eat because he has to keep getting up to walk for health reasons (diabetic nerve pain, etc)

At about 12:10 the server asked if we needed anything else. We said no and she brought the check.

At 12:20, step-MIL finished up her coffee, the server asked if she wanted more, and MIL said no thank you.

At that point, the server said "I dont want to be rude, but we are really busy...if you are done, we would like to get the people who are waiting seated now"

We were startled, but apologetic, and very quickly left.

Now I'm kind of feeling like I don't want to go back there. I get being busy, and quicker turnover means more tips, revenue, etc, and although I try to be courteous and polite, I didn't think one hour and 15 minutes for a 6-top table, including two elderly people, is over-the-top ridiculous?

Maybe I'm wrong....is it now the responsibility of the patrons to monitor the wait-times of the venue and what...eat faster? Not talk to the people at your table so they can get you in and out quicker?

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

I would have probably said something to management, but I would not go back.

 

[bcla]

Not where I was being shooed away for other customers. It was hinted that we might get tossed because our kid was having a fit, but other than that I've never experienced being asked to vacate because the place was busy.

 

[LYSE]

So you changed the tip to $0.01 right?

 

[Marchand63]

No not a restaraunt but a couple bars in college. Party on Wayne, party on Garth

 

[mjkacmom]

Around here, although we have tons of restaurants, that is prime brunch time. Most people know to eat and go, especially if there is a crowd waiting. We were a party of 6 last Sunday at 10:15 at a very popular spot, got seated outside even with a threat of rain in 15 minutes. Once we were done, my girlfriend visiting from the Midwest was just chatting away, even though there were obviously a lot waiting for tables, so I suggested we leave and continue our conversation on the way to the parking garage. I don’t think it’s about money, it’s about wanting customers coming back. We are an immediate family of 7, I am always aware if a larger party is waiting for a table.

 

[cabanafrau]

Only in the sense of -- "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here" at closing time.

 

[lovin'fl]

We don't like to linger at meals and are more fond of quicker service...so an hour is enough for us. BUT...that is a little ridiculous to push you out like that. No matter how long you're there they shouldn't push you out. Yes, if someone sits for an hour past meal being done, that might be stressful for a busy hostess with patrons waiting...but, still they should not push you out. Nope, nope, nope. I wouldn't go back either.

We had opposite on Friday. There is a small local pub that just moved to a new location. It's still small but can seat a few more tables than prior location. We went to check it out at it's new location and, because they are always packed at prime times, we went around 4:45 Friday. It was already busy but we got a table as folks were just leaving. We were there about 90 minutes and they never asked if we wanted a 2nd drink (bar drinks)...we did. We also wanted to order a dessert to take home to DDs, but they didn't ask. We had to hunt someone down for our check and then had to hunt again to pay the check. I had wings and DH had a burger...each had 1 bar drink and we were there 90 minutes. Meanwhile there were folks waiting and waiting to grab seats (it's a self serve seating). They are primarily a bar and didn't sell us drinks. In 90 minutes we could have downed 6 drinks total. I figure they lost $35 in sales plus tips on that. I am not in a hurry to go back.

Oh, and guess what they had on the menu...'buy a round for the kitchen staff'.

 

[ronandannette]

Yes, I have once. I met a friend I hadn't seen for a very long time at a super-popular sushi place. We arrived early and were able to get a prime table before the dinner rush started in earnest. Once it did, diners lined up into the parking lot, which was typical (this place doesn't take reservations). Friend and I got totally caught up in our visit and time flew by. 2'ish hours later we were very, very politely asked if we would settle our bill and let them re-seat the table. We weren't offended at all; actually a little sheepish we'd so lost track of time. We finished our evening over a nightcap elsewhere and I've been back to that sushi place tons of times since

There have also been many, many occasions where we've walked into a restaurant without a reservation and been offered a table with the provision that we be done by a specific time for them to accommodate a reservation. That's not offensive to us either.

 

[low-key]

In my younger days I been asked to leave many bars and even a couple of Cleveland Browns games but never a restaurant

 

[tvguy]

Our group was asked to leave the bar at the Disneyland Hotel. Nothing we did, but this was back before they built California Adventure and Downtown Disney and they were VERY VERY careful about not having any violations at the bar. Other than Club 33, I think this was the only place on the property that served alcohol at the time
The bar policy was to ask guests to finish their drinks by 1:30 am, not 2 am as allowed by California law. They did give us plastic cups to transfer our drinks to, so we could take them to our room This is also back in the days when Disneyland was open until 1 am, so we had only gotten our drinks about 1:15 am. The bartender was nice enough, and explained that Disney policy was to have all drinks consumed or removed by 130 am, the bar and dishes cleaned, the bar locked up for the night at 2 am. They didn't want to chance a violation by someone still having a drink at 2:01 am

 

[Pamlur]

I have been (very politely) required to wait until every member of my party was present, before being seated; I happily went back to that place. I'm getting the feeling that if your step MIL had asked for more coffee, she would have pleasantly been served, but since you were finished and had the bill, I don't see that the server was being rude. Sorry if that offends you, but it sounds like you are getting ready to abandon a really good place to eat over a polite request.

 

[NYCgrrl]

A bar/restaurant/disco and I swear it wasn't my fault.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to politely be asked to move on when you’re all done eating and drinking, especially during a busy restaurant time.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I don't think and hour and 15 minutes for six people to occupy a table for brunch is unreasonable. The fact that you ordered before your DS arrived showed that you were mindful about having the table for too long. After MIL declined another refill on her coffee, the server should have waited a few minutes to see if everyone started getting up to leave. You waited for a table just like everyone else. You paid for your food. There was no reason that you should have been made to feel uncomfortable because you didn't jump up the second everyone took their last bites. Now, if you whipped out a Monopoly game and started setting up for an epic real estate battle, I could see the waitress asking if you would please vacate the table.

 

[Jennasis]

No, but we are pretty conscious of things like what you describe. We eat and go. Especially at busy places where there are others waiting.

 

[BrianL]

I think the restaurant was out of line and I wouldn't have good feelings toward them.

For my own incidents, when I was in Japan with my sister, and trying to find somewhere she would eat was so difficult. We found one palce that looked good, walked in, and there was nobody there. A guy then comes out of the back, kind waving his hands and basically pointing us to the door. I don't know what he said. I think they may have been closed for a private party, but I really have no clue. We went down the street to another place that turned out pretty good.

 

[gotomu212]

Around here a lot of the restaurants have signs posted that during weekend brunch they ask that after eating you settle up and release the table. I personally don’t mind and like that they remind people as soon as they finish since it keeps the line moving for everyone. It would be annoying if it happened when there were plenty of tables and we were being rushed.

Most places around here also refuse to seat you until the whole table is present if it’s a busy night/brunch.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Nope, never been asked.
From their perspective.. you arrived without your full party, sat ordered and then all ate ( as did ur son.. when he arrived)
1.5 hours for breakfast.. seems more than adequate to me.
Your choice Not to return and give them ur money if it upset you.
I don’t think they were out of line though.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

I have been (very politely) required to wait until every member of my party was present, before being seated; I happily went back to that place. I'm getting the feeling that if your step MIL had asked for more coffee, she would have pleasantly been served, but since you were finished and had the bill, I don't see that the server was being rude. Sorry if that offends you, but it sounds like you are getting ready to abandon a really good place to eat over a polite request.

Why would your answer offend me? I asked for opinions.