Party of Two Sitting at a Table for Six

[Chattyaholic]

I had a quick lunch at a fast food restaurant today which had recently been remodeled and they now have a couple tables with six chairs (not attached) in front by the windows. I sat at a small booth-for-two, and noticed a family of 5 sitting at one of the two tables for six. A few minutes later a couple sat down at the other table for six, but it was just the two of them.

I don't think they should have sat there, as there were plenty of booths for two - four, but that was the only other table for 5-6, and if a family with that many came in they would have nowhere to sit together. Do you think the couple should have sat there anyway, or should they have chosen a smaller table?

I am a waitress and we have four tables that seat up to 8-9 people. Quite often we will have 2-4 people who want to sit at one, and I always ask them to move to a smaller table. I can't understand why smaller parties choose a large table, when they don't need that many seats.

 

[buzzlady]

Maybe they are uncomfortable in booths(pooh sized?) and needed to sit at a table with chairs that aren't attached. If there were smaller tables with chairs that were NOT attached, then they should have sat at one of those.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Nope, the couple was not "Pooh sized", so they would have comfortably fit into a booth. Plus there were other smaller tables with bar-stool type chairs.

 

[CEDmom]

They probably just went to the first table they saw. I honestly can say I don't give a lot of thought to where I sit in a self serve restaurant. I usually just go to the first clean table I see.

 

[katerkat]

Possibly, could they have been meeting with people? Either people who came after you left, or people who had eaten and left before you got there. If you saw them sit down and leave, though, I agree. I think it's silly to take up space you don't need.

 

[mom2boys]

Maybe they wanted to sit by the window or were expecting more people to join them.

 

[Winka]

I'm guessing it wasn't very busy? And if the chairs are moveable, a larger group could reaarrange and accommodate themselves.

Originally posted by CEDmom
They probably just went to the first table they saw. I honestly can say I don't give a lot of thought to where I sit in a self serve restaurant. I usually just go to the first clean table I see.

I'm with CEDmom. And anyway, at self-serves you're not ususally hanging around for the ambiance; that couple probably would've been finished and gone by the time that table was needed.

Or the other table might've been vacated.

Or the couple would have willingly given up their table if they saw a family or group struggling to accommodate themselves.

Who knows.

 

[Chattyaholic]

They had to walk by several other tables to get to the one they chose, and if they were meeting other people it seems like they would have waited for them to arrive before they ate. I guess a larger group could have asked them for one or two of the chairs so they could put them on the end of a booth, but it still just seems like they should have chosen a smaller table to begin with. If the restaurant had been busy I probably wouldn't even have noticed, but since it was practically empty I did notice they chose a larger table when they really didn't need it.

 

[CEDmom]

Oh well, like I said I guess they just weren't thinking. I'm guilty of this from time to time. I guess all of us do things occasionally that make others.

 

[WishingStar]

IMHO< I think some people just do whatever is convenient for them, and who cares how it will affect others.

 

[dumboiu]

Why is this bothering you so much????

 

[skiwee1]

I prefer to sit by a window so we would have done the same thing if that was the only seat. If there isn't a waitress to seat you then it is your choice where to sit. If a family of 6 came in after us then they would just have to split up.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by WishingStar
IMHO< I think some people just do whatever is convenient for them, and who cares how it will affect others.

And I think some people just really expect people to do everything out of consideration for others (strangers) way too much. I mean come on- the table is not ONLY for 6... it seats UP TO 6. If there's a RULE about not sitting at a table except one made for how many people in your party- there should be signs up so they can decide whether to frequent that restaurant with the strict rules of seating- or not.

Quite often we will have 2-4 people who want to sit at one, and I always ask them to move to a smaller table.

If you asked me to do that- I'd ask to speak to a mgr to let him know I wouldn't be eating there that day- or ever again. If you are really busy -you're seating your guests- RIGHT? and if you are seating them- you'd seat them where they'd best fit so you can put the next bigger party (ie: 4-6 people) in the bigger seating areas. If you aren't seating them- then you have no right to tell them where to sit. That's rude as all get out- IMO. Unless you have a sign saying you reserve the right to make your guests move to the table YOU prefer them to sit at- it's rude.

Fast food restaurants are not with strict rules on where to sit. People do not have to sit where others want them to- to make more room for others/etc. Maybe they just prefer to have plenty of room for their butts (even if they are little butts) rather than feeling less room on smaller booths. If you frequent a fast food establishment you get to pick where you sit- and you should not have to always be thinking about others to decide where to sit. If it's not busy- then it doesn't matter anyway. If it is busy, then maybe that's the first table that became available for them. Are they supposed to stand around waiting for a smaller table? LOL

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by Chattyaholic
If the restaurant had been busy I probably wouldn't even have noticed, but since it was practically empty I did notice they chose a larger table when they really didn't need it.

Unless you have 6 people in your party and can't find a table, why do you care? Maybe they like to spread out. Maybe they have a phobia about small tables. Who knows.

If you asked me to do that- I'd ask to speak to a mgr to let him know I wouldn't be eating there that day- or ever again.

I agree with BBB. That is extremely rude. Unless there are other people waiting, the customer should get his choice of seating.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Quite often we will have 2-4 people who want to sit at one, and I always ask them to move to a smaller table.

Then your tip would be a nice, shiny quarter at the bottom of the water glass...

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
Then your tip would be a nice, shiny quarter at the bottom of the water glass...

My son and I often sit at large tables so that we'll have room to spread out. It never occured to me that I should leave those tables open for large families.

Why did it matter to you?

 

[WishingStar]

Originally posted by BibbidyBobbidyBoo
And I think some people just really expect people to do everything out of consideration for others (strangers) way too much. I mean come on- the table is not ONLY for 6... it seats UP TO 6. If there's a RULE about not sitting at a table except one made for how many people in your party- there should be signs up so they can decide whether to frequent that restaurant with the strict rules of seating- or not.



If you asked me to do that- I'd ask to speak to a mgr to let him know I wouldn't be eating there that day- or ever again. If you are really busy -you're seating your guests- RIGHT? and if you are seating them- you'd seat them where they'd best fit so you can put the next bigger party (ie: 4-6 people) in the bigger seating areas. If you aren't seating them- then you have no right to tell them where to sit. That's rude as all get out- IMO. Unless you have a sign saying you reserve the right to make your guests move to the table YOU prefer them to sit at- it's rude.

Fast food restaurants are not with strict rules on where to sit. People do not have to sit where others want them to- to make more room for others/etc. Maybe they just prefer to have plenty of room for their butts (even if they are little butts) rather than feeling less room on smaller booths. If you frequent a fast food establishment you get to pick where you sit- and you should not have to always be thinking about others to decide where to sit. If it's not busy- then it doesn't matter anyway. If it is busy, then maybe that's the first table that became available for them. Are they supposed to stand around waiting for a smaller table? LOL

I was raised to be considerate of others, and that is not a quality I'll apologize for. I believe the exact opposite. If more people did think about how there actions affected others we would live in a much better world.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by WishingStar
If more people did think about how there actions affected others we would live in a much better world.

Just how is 2 people sitting at a large table (at an empty fast food place) affecting ANYONE?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by WishingStar
I was raised to be considerate of others, and that is not a quality I'll apologize for. I believe the exact opposite. If more people did think about how there actions affected others we would live in a much better world.

I beg your pardon- I consider that an insult since you said it after quoting me!
I do think about others and how I affect them- but that doesn't mean that I should do so CONSTANTLY and to the detriment of my own enjoyment! I'm paying for the meal- and I should be able to sit where I'm comfortable or go somewhere where they will allow me to do so! That is my choice. My whole life should not be only thinking about others- if I do that... go ahead and call me Saint Shelley now! NOT!
You can think the opposite if you want- but me sitting where I want to sit (which btw is with a family of 5 anyway- so that point is moot- but I still feel it's rude of a waittress to ask a party of two to move unless they are busy in which case they should have been seating their guests anyway!!!!!) is not causing us to have a "bad world". I think about others and how I affect them but NOT to the detriment of myself! Which I feel it would be doing- let's say if I was at a fast food restaurant, not busy (as the OP said), yet sat at a table I was not comfortable at JUST IN CASE a larger family came in after me.
That's ridiculous.

 

[doxdogy]

I for one hate to sit in booths or tables with high barstool type chairs. So, I always request a table at any restaurant I go too. The reason being I am 5' 2" tall and with a booth I can't sit comfortably close to the table. I either sit far back from the table or I have to put my purse behind my back to sit close to the table. The high barstool type chairs are tricky for a short person to climb up on and have a seat.