To think this was bad service?

[LittleMissGerardBOOOOOtler]

I don't know if its just me, and I know you will tell me straight :o I won't name the place as that's not fair.

I went out for a meal last night with a friend to a local restaurant which is reasonably priced and the food is nice enough normally.

It has suffered a lot since a new development opened nearby with all the big chains on, and I like to give my support to local shops and restaurants where possible, though I do go to the other places too.

So we had our meal (which wasnt as nice as usual and my pizza was tasteless) and dessert and ordered some more wine, we were the last ones in as it hasn't been particularly busy even though it was a Friday night. It wasn't that late, just after 9pm and it does say on the door they are open until 11pm. I know they would close earlier if its quiet, fair enough.

The owner lives upstairs as the other customers left and we were drinking wine, he turned the kitchen lights off, got his dogs in from outside, put the bill on a table across the restaurant and started locking up other doors

Now if we had been sat there an hour after fair enough, but we werent, and it was obvious he wanted us to leave.

I found it very rude, and I know times aren't easy for them but surely when you are struggling for customers you are nice to the ones you have?

If we had been there ages after the others left, or it was close to closing time, or we weren't still eating and drinking fair enough, but we were made to feel very awkward.

My friend paid by card and he asked her if she was leaving a tip on the card or would we be leaving cash I can understand asking if you would like to add a tip to press x button or whatever, but it was the way he presumed he was getting one. I left a cash one only because the waitress was nice earlier.

It's put me off going back, but am I being unreasonable?

[HorryIsUpduffed]

That's a bit off, yes. What if someone had come in wanting a 9pm table? Not unreasonable for a Friday night somewhere that says it's open until 11pm.

I'd vote with my feet.

[wowfudge]

I agreed - they don't deserve your custom with that attitude. We were out last Saturday night and a number of other diners came in at 9pm and later. Had the place we were in shut up shop, they would have lost that later business.

[HollaAtMeBaby]

YANBU - I wouldn't have tipped at all! It is a sad truth that a lot of small places are small because they aren't good or popular enough to expand.

[LittleMissGerardBOOOOOtler]

I won't be going back, and good point Holla

I wouldn't be surprised if they closed at some point, it's very dated and the food hasn't been as good the last couple of times. It is a shame but when the food and the service go downhill people go elsewhere.

[NotMeNotYouNotAnyone]

Yanbu

I wouldn't have left a tip, it's not on to shoo customers away when they're still drinking or eating and your advertised closing time is 2 hours later

[RhondaJean]

The thing is, it's costing him money to keep the place open, light heat etc, any other staff if there were, and the two of you were drinking wine which you had already paid for.

So yes it's bad customer service but I can see why with only two people in he wouldn't want you to linger. He could have been much more tactful in getting you out though.

[RhondaJean]

Not paid for - bought - before the pedants arrive!

[redpipe]

I think you should call the owner and politely let him know how you felt.

[Lilacroses]

Bad service and rude. 9 is hardly late and he was clearly quite happy to take your money.

We had this once at a restaurant near us. We had a table booked for 8, they insisted we wait in the bar till the table was ready at 9. Then at 10 they started removing the condiments from the table so they could start closing up earlier ! Really rude. We never went back. Why would you when you have a choice of nice places to go?