Camping out in a crowded restaurant with people waiting for the table

[kingsrings]

Last night a large group (30 people) from a social organization I belong to had a gathering at a restaurant. The restaurant is very popular, and therefore it was packed to the gills, with a lot more people waiting for a table to open up. We had reservations and were led to our back room, only to find that the party at one of our tables that we were to have was still there. Apparently they had already eaten, their plates cleared away, and the bill paid, and so the restaurant staff thought that they would be on their way. Nope, they hung out there for quite a while and talked with one another. There is no way that they couldn't of known that some of our party were waiting for the table to open, because we were standing right there by them, waiting for it to open up. There was no place else for us to stand being that the place was so packed. Am I wrong to think that they were very rude for not getting up and leaving, being that their meals were over, everything was taken care of, and they quite obviously knew that people were waiting for that table to open up?

[DottyG]

Be aware that this subject has been discussed in length at the old EHell site.  And, it can generate strong feelings on both sides.  Be careful if you're going to post this question yet again.

[guihong]

I would have gone to the manager and politely explained the situation.

gui

[Rose2Bear]

If its a back party room, as this post seems to suggest, and the next party is practically standing on top of them waiting for the table to be cleared, then I would think in this scenario the linger-on-ers should get the hint and leave.

I do think, however, that if it is just a table of two or four or whatever having dinner out, if they choose to linger for awhile after they eat, despite a line at the door, then this is their perogative is is perfectly acceptable. There is no rule that they HAVE to leave, so I don't really see why its an issue if they choose to linger. The people waiting should have either made reservations or gone elsewhere if the line is out the door.

[kingsrings]

Be aware that this subject has been discussed in length at the old EHell site.  And, it can generate strong feelings on both sides.  Be careful if you're going to post this question yet again.

Oh, I didn't realize that, thanks for the heads up. I guess I forgot that it had been discussed there previously, so I don't remember what was said. So, it's unofficially on the list as one of the 'hot topics', heh? But I still would like for it to be open for discussion here again as I want to know for myself what the concensus is on this topic.

[kingsrings]

If its a back party room, as this post seems to suggest, and the next party is practically standing on top of them waiting for the table to be cleared, then I would think in this scenario the linger-on-ers should get the hint and leave.

It was the 'back party room' so to speak, since we did have reservations and would be taking up the whole room with our large group. The party that we were waiting on to leave was about ten people in size. They didn't have reservations but we did because of the large size of our group.

[freakyfemme]

If its a back party room, as this post seems to suggest, and the next party is practically standing on top of them waiting for the table to be cleared, then I would think in this scenario the linger-on-ers should get the hint and leave.

I do think, however, that if it is just a table of two or four or whatever having dinner out, if they choose to linger for awhile after they eat, despite a line at the door, then this is their perogative is is perfectly acceptable. There is no rule that they HAVE to leave, so I don't really see why its an issue if they choose to linger. The people waiting should have either made reservations or gone elsewhere if the line is out the door.

That's true, but in this case, the OP and her friends *had* had reservations....so, what do you do then?

[Rose2Bear]

If its a back party room, as this post seems to suggest, and the next party is practically standing on top of them waiting for the table to be cleared, then I would think in this scenario the linger-on-ers should get the hint and leave.

I do think, however, that if it is just a table of two or four or whatever having dinner out, if they choose to linger for awhile after they eat, despite a line at the door, then this is their perogative is is perfectly acceptable. There is no rule that they HAVE to leave, so I don't really see why its an issue if they choose to linger. The people waiting should have either made reservations or gone elsewhere if the line is out the door.

That's true, but in this case, the OP and her friends *had* had reservations....so, what do you do then?

I'd say if there are reservations, then the resteraunt has to be more careful with its timing so as to avoid this.  My uncle works at a very fancy, popular resteraunt in New York city. He says people come in at 4:30 and the resteraunt is empy but people get furious that they can't get a table becasue there are reservations for 5 or 5:30. But they [the resteraunt] understand that they can't risk snubbing the people who took the time to make reservations by trying to squeeze in some people who just wandered off the street.

This is a very high-end resteraunt though where the waiters make well into six digits a year. SO I suppose the can afford to do that but I guess at an Applebees or something they may feel the pressure to squeeze in as many people as possible, despite reservations.

[freakyfemme]

If its a back party room, as this post seems to suggest, and the next party is practically standing on top of them waiting for the table to be cleared, then I would think in this scenario the linger-on-ers should get the hint and leave.

I do think, however, that if it is just a table of two or four or whatever having dinner out, if they choose to linger for awhile after they eat, despite a line at the door, then this is their perogative is is perfectly acceptable. There is no rule that they HAVE to leave, so I don't really see why its an issue if they choose to linger. The people waiting should have either made reservations or gone elsewhere if the line is out the door.

I didn't even know that Applebee's had a reservation system, it's just a regular "chain" type family restaurant, except it's sit-down style (i.e. not fast food), and it has a bar.

That's true, but in this case, the OP and her friends *had* had reservations....so, what do you do then?

I'd say if there are reservations, then the resteraunt has to be more careful with its timing so as to avoid this.  My uncle works at a very fancy, popular resteraunt in New York city. He says people come in at 4:30 and the resteraunt is empy but people get furious that they can't get a table becasue there are reservations for 5 or 5:30. But they [the resteraunt] understand that they can't risk snubbing the people who took the time to make reservations by trying to squeeze in some people who just wandered off the street.

This is a very high-end resteraunt though where the waiters make well into six digits a year. SO I suppose the can afford to do that but I guess at an Applebees or something they may feel the pressure to squeeze in as many people as possible, despite reservations.

[MrsP81]

I would say that it was the staff's fault rather than the customers. Why would the lead you back there when there were still people there from the last party? They should have been in there before you sat down to set the tables and everything so there is no excuse for why they would have taken you to a full table. I would be complaining to the manager.

[sammycat]

I think in this particular instance the restaurant staff are at fault.  In my experience, whenever a booking is made, particularly for a large group, those tables are set aside and have a "reserved" sign placed on them.  I've often been in restaurants that have tables set up this way; this instantly lets any server know that should some diners turn up without a reservation that the reserved tables are not available.  Even when there is a line of people waiting to get into the restaurant those tables are not given away.

Hopefully this will teach the staff not to make assumptions about the timing of earlier diners leaving and management will implement new rules to ensure that this type of situation won't happen again.  Did you complain to the manager?

[Rei-chan]

Both the restaurant AND the previous table are at fault.

On one hand, your party should have never been brought back to the room unless it was clear, clean and ready for your party.  Sounds like a host/hostess screwed up.  That should be addressed with the MOD.

OTOH, I have seen scores or customers that come in, eat, pay, and then camp for hours at a time, either for showers, birthdays, business meetings, etc.  In my experience, the servers are told to come back repeatedly and ask if they need anything else, clear as much of the table as possible, and generally attempt to subtly urge the customer to vacate the table.  Sometimes this works, sometimes not. 

If the people at the table had observed the setup for your party, and then saw you brought back and waiting, then it was also very rude for them to continue to use up space after the meal and payment.  When one goes to a restaurant, it is to eat.  Once eating is done and payment is rendered, it is not a free place to hang out for long periods of time.   

The worst one I had personally was a couple who requested a big booth (we had 4 top booths and 6 top booths) as it was the end of lunch (2 pm) and we had a lull till 5 pm, they got the 6 top.  They ate, had dessert, etc. and paid by 3:30.  They were still there at 5 when I went home (I paid another server that was coming in 5 bucks to reset the table, otherwise I would have had to wait for them to go).  I heard later that they hung out till almost 7 pm, well into a Friday night dinner rush, chatting.  Not only did this prevent people waiting from eating, it cut into the incoming server's section, and cut into her pay.  In a restaurant where the average table is sat 3-4 times a night, and the average tip per table is anywhere from 7-15 dollars and up, that can be a chunk of cash.

[Chocolate Cake]

I heard later that they hung out till almost 7 pm, well into a Friday night dinner rush, chatting.

Why didn't that restaurant manager take action?  I mean, 5 hours is ridiculous!  If nothing else, he/she should have moved them to a two person table or shown them seats at the bar.

[Rei-chan]

I heard later that they hung out till almost 7 pm, well into a Friday night dinner rush, chatting.

Why didn't that restaurant manager take action?  I mean, 5 hours is ridiculous!  If nothing else, he/she should have moved them to a two person table or shown them seats at the bar.

The "policy" in this restaurant was that you didn't ask them to move, you waited them out.  The managers didn't agree with this, but it was a home office directive.

[MineralDiva]

At the restaurant in town that Mr. Diva and I frequent, the staff has no compunction about telling folks who are lingering too long, that it's time to leave, because the table has been reserved for others at the current time.  That is, if it's true.

They will also tell people who are late for their reservation, that the table is reserved for such-and-such-a-time.  If there is little time for the latecomers to eat a meal before the next party arrives, it is suggested that the latecomers reschedule their reservation for later in the evening...IF a time is available.  If not, too bad for them!