to have not waited and walked out instead?

[charlmarascoxo]

Rang up to book a table for lunch for me and OH.

The table was booked for 1:00. When we arrive a couple of minutes early, give our name, the front of house scowls at us and say "well you'll have to wait 20 minutes for a table"

Completely fine if we had just walked in. But I booked a table to avoid having to wait around.

Went back to the woman and said as politely as I could that I think we'll leave it then. We get a short and sharp "fine" and she walks off. Not even an apology.

I understand it was busy but I'm not about to stick there for 20 minutes waiting for a table when we had booked ahead. Aibu to have just walked out?

[EduCated]

YANBU, might have been different fishes said 'Im ever so sorry, there's been a mix up and your table won't be ready for 20 minutes, would you like to wait?'

But she didn't, so I probably wouldn't have stayed either.

[theoriginalandbestrookie]

Depends how hungry you were !
YANBU but email them and let them know what happened

[AnyFucker]

yanbu

[TheNebulousBoojum]

What do restaurants do if the customers linger over eating and take longer than they ought to? Do they have a person who comes over and clears their throat and tells them they have 5 minutes left?
How do you get rid of table-hoggers?

[WorraLiberty]

YABU

Do you think they can time these things to the absolute minute?

She they ask people how fast/slow they eat and whether they're going to have/skip dessert when they take the booking?

And she 'scowled' at you for no reason....really?

[Wishfulmakeupping]

I'd complain about that they should have apologised on arrival and when you said you were leaving

[DecAndAnt]

yanbu but definitely complain. Where was it?

[InNeedOfBrandy]

YANBU because how rude they were, if they had said so sorry but your table will be 20minutes do you mind waiting I'm assuming you would not be annoyed?

[bradywasmyfavouriteking]

I would have waited.

I own a restaurant and its very difficult to time these things exactly. sometimes the previous customers just won't leave, or there could have been an issue in the kitchen. All sorts.

In our restaurant your would have got an apology and shown to the bar for a complimentary drink if you were willing to wait.

I would imagine it took longer than 20 minutes to find somewhere else to eat.

[complexnumber]

I doubt if she was too worried about missing a customer if they were busy. Probably quite grateful if she was getting stressed because a few tables were taking longer to move than expected.

You were hungry and took the decision to go somewhere you would get to eat more quickly.

So I wouldn't worry about being unreasonable, you probably did her a favour.

[bradywasmyfavouriteking]

TheNebulousBoojum we ask if they want anything else, then give them the bill. If they still stay, we offer to book a taxi. If they still stay they get told nicely.

However we do tell people when they book that they will have the table for 2 hours and then it is booked again. So telling them we need them to leave is rarely a problem as they expect it.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

That makes sense to me brandy. I think sometimes people forget that they are in a system, on a conveyor belt.

[TheMonster]

Yabu. 20 mins is hardly a long time.

[MsHighwater]

I think the lack of politeness, more than the lack of table was enough to warrant walking out. I have gone to a restaurant and been told that they needed the table back for such and such a time because of a booking. Of course it's going to happen sometimes that customers take longer than expected, which is why restaurants have to have strategies to deal with it when it does.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

YANBU.

I have done similar in the past. You don't have to put up with poor service. I don't see why you're asking if you're being unreasonable,it's a judgement call based on ones own expectations.

[marquesas]

On balance I don't think ywbu, yes, it must be difficult to know how long other diners will take but presumably if you book at table for 1pm on a Sunday it won't be the second time that table's been used as no one could be finished in such a short time.

9pm is maybe more unpredictable but there's no excuse here for not offering an apology and explanation as the first thing they say.

[bradywasmyfavouriteking]

marquesas not always.

The OP may have booked for 1pm. Then another customer calls but there are no tables left. He customer really wants a table so its agrees they can come at 11.30 but the table is needed again at 12.50pm (to allow time to reset).

We do it all the time. Slot customers around those booked.

[bradywasmyfavouriteking]

Also the op hasn't said what restaurant. It could have a Toby carvery I which case an hour is more than enough for a one course carvery.

[AnyFucker]

the thing is, at lunchtime it is more likely you are going to have limited time to spare

a working lunch, for example may only have a one hour slot including travel time to and fro...a 20 min delay will really bugger things up in that case

[charlmarascoxo]

The restaurant was F&B.

We took a 2 minute walk to Pizza Express and were seated straight away, with quite a good table too.

If there had been an apology I definitely wouldn't have been annoyed, and probably would have stayed. I do think a 20 minute wait is quite long when you have booked a table in advance.

ArtexMonkey didn't realise there was a limit to what you could post. Perhaps I log off to make the forum police happy?

[HoneyDragon]

Did you take dp? Which pants was he wearing?

[AnyFucker]

what is F and B ?

[InNeedOfBrandy]

F&B annoy me I don't go anymore, apart from there shite food I hated that your table was never ever on time and they would fob you off with those devices that go red when it's time to go back. (blue cheese sauce almost made it worth it)

[InNeedOfBrandy]

Frankie and Bennys AF