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Original poster

Am I alone in thinking this cafe’s policy is daft.

62 replies

PriamFarrl · 29/05/2023 10:32

I’ve just been into a local cafe. Nice place part of a small chain of four places in local towns.
The policy is that you have to have a table number to order. But how can I do that on my own? I didn’t have anything to leave on a table, like a scarf or coat, and the tables are out of the view of the till so I’m not willing to leave my bag. I’m most places, including the other branches of this cafe, they give you a table number as you order.

Am I being silly or are they?

OP posts:
Cherryblossoms85 · 29/05/2023 11:47

@off yeah I do often see tourists looking bemused and thinking everybody else knows something they don't. Nope, we all just wait to be told we've done something wrong!

Nanny0gg · 29/05/2023 11:50

PriamFarrl · 29/05/2023 10:32

I’ve just been into a local cafe. Nice place part of a small chain of four places in local towns.
The policy is that you have to have a table number to order. But how can I do that on my own? I didn’t have anything to leave on a table, like a scarf or coat, and the tables are out of the view of the till so I’m not willing to leave my bag. I’m most places, including the other branches of this cafe, they give you a table number as you order.

Am I being silly or are they?

The Garden Centre near me that does that has Reserved plaques that you can leave on the table.

Suggest they do that in future

fyn · 29/05/2023 12:03

On the till system we used to use you had to assign an order to a table so the runner knew where to take it. You couldn’t put an order through without a table number!

FangsForTheMemory · 29/05/2023 12:03

BordoisAgain · 29/05/2023 10:40

Plenty of places have that system, you go up to the counter to order and tell them your table number so they know where to bring the food / drinks.

I suppose you are expected to ask someone who's sat at your table in the meantime to move?

I did this a couple of months ago and on her way out, the woman I asked to move shoved her face RIGHT in mine (this is still the age of COVID!) and told me to leave a coat on the table in future to reserve it. I’d clearly ruined her morning and I was very glad.

BarbaraofSeville · 29/05/2023 12:09

Why do you have to leave anything on the table? It's only ever an issue if someone else also on their own bags the table immediately before you so gets to the till to order ahead of you.

People in groups will probably divide and conquer between the till and the table.

So if you see a free table, chances are it's yours so note the number and immediately queue up and order and the table is yours.

If someone else arrives at the table after you, but before you sit down, you just tell them it's your table and you have food on its way so they need to sit somewhere else (or if its abig table and you're alone, you can share).

ThreeRingCircus · 29/05/2023 12:14

Our local café has a stash of signs by the door that say something like "this table is reserved, I'm just placing my order at the counter" that you can put on the table before going up to order. I think that's a sensible system.

SamW98 · 29/05/2023 12:14

JediIsMyMaster · 29/05/2023 11:40

I wish more places would have ordering apps - makes everything so much easier!

I agree. I know some don’t like apps because they’re so impersonal but for me it’s a much better and easier system.

Find table, order and pay from phone while seated. Someone brings food to you without you having to move - perfect

YukoandHiro · 29/05/2023 12:15

This is really normal, i just put my wallet keys and phone in my hand and leave my bag

SheilaFentiman · 29/05/2023 12:16

ThreeRingCircus · 29/05/2023 12:14

Our local café has a stash of signs by the door that say something like "this table is reserved, I'm just placing my order at the counter" that you can put on the table before going up to order. I think that's a sensible system.

That is a sensible system!

and also avoids taking turns to go up if there are two of you and the menu isn’t visible from the table

Fandabedodgy · 29/05/2023 12:19

I agree and I avoid these places because of it.

Oftenaddled · 29/05/2023 12:22

NewPinkJacket · 29/05/2023 11:12

I'd just ask the person sitting nearest to save the table for me.

Yes I do this all the time. Never fails.

Never heard of getting table number at till.

But if it's not too busy I'll often order, point to a free table then, and they'll know the number.

Coralsunset · 29/05/2023 12:24

Dear Lord, not this again!

Its a perfectly normal system and avoids a situation where someone has bought food and has nowhere to sit.

Littlethingsmeanalot · 29/05/2023 12:27

Just take something with you to sit on the table, Confused

sweetdreamstenasee · 29/05/2023 12:29

annoying definitely but next time, go into cafe first, say you are alone and ask for something to leave on table, they should have reserved signs or something to make it apparent the table is occupied

ShivRoysBlender · 29/05/2023 12:41

People are quite cheeky though. I eat in cafes a lot by myself and often I'll leave the table for a minute to go to the loo or get more water, leaving a half-eaten plate of food, bags, notebooks and novels and pens all over the table, coat and scarf on the back of the chair, and come back to find other people sitting at the table. It's quite weird but people get sharkish when tables are scarce.

maryberryslayers · 29/05/2023 12:48

Keep a bit of paper in your bag saying 'table reserved, gone up to order'.

HollaHolla · 29/05/2023 12:53

ThreeRingCircus · 29/05/2023 12:14

Our local café has a stash of signs by the door that say something like "this table is reserved, I'm just placing my order at the counter" that you can put on the table before going up to order. I think that's a sensible system.

I like this system. My favourite local cafe has a 'find a table, and quote the number at the desk' system. Which does mean running the gauntlet of someone else picking it whilst you're ordering. But, I usually leave my coat/jumper/something at the table. I can't get exercised by this.

WeAreTheHeroes · 29/05/2023 12:53

Eating alone can be a minefield. You can't even book for one online in a lot of places. I agree apps work well, as does someone seating people. But if you've ordered food and someone who arrived after you had sat down at the table you'd earmarked I'd tell them that it's your table and could they please move. The wooden spoons, etc aren't table numbers, they're order numbers so serving staff know where to take food once it's ready.

Rightnowstraightaway · 29/05/2023 12:54

I went to a cafe like this a few weeks ago. It was incredibly busy and difficult to find a table and I only had my 2 year old with me. Tbh it's really put me off going back.

Original poster
PriamFarrl · 29/05/2023 12:55

The problem with leaving something on the table was that I didn’t have anything to leave, and not knowing this was the system I didn’t think to bring anything with me.

Also there are a number of entrances, most of which you can’t see from the till, so had I left a bag then someone could have come in and taken it without being seen.

I don’t have an issue with the ‘find a table first’ system, it makes sense, but is unworkable on your own.

OP posts:
Rinkydinkydoodle · 29/05/2023 13:27

I’d just leave my bag. My house keys and phone would go with me, but then again I don’t own a bag worth nicking😬

Wineismybestfriend · 29/05/2023 13:33

There’s a local place like that to us.

I take my keys, purse and phone and leave the bag on the chair.

x

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 29/05/2023 13:35

One local cafe to us has solved the issue. They have some table reserved signs you can pop on the table if you are solo.

EversoDisorganised · 29/05/2023 13:40

I agree that it would be nice if there was one system that just worked everywhere, I hate that whole "do we order at the counter or table, do we need to get our own cutlery etc confusion". To me the best system seems to be wait at the door to be given a table and then orders taken at the table, but sometimes the menu is on a board behind the counter so you can't see it from the table anyway. I guess it increases staff costs too. Failing that clear signs at the entrance
"please find a table first then order at the counter" or "find a table, we will come and take your order".

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 29/05/2023 13:44

I eat out alone a lot or with just a small dc and have never had a problem with any system. This level of angst about it is all new to me. I dislike ordering on apps as I like to talk to real people and hate spending the first few minutes of sitting somewhere downloading, scanning, adding all my details and payment methods etc. such a faff.

surely if you are ordering to a specific table and someone else sits there whilst you are ordering you just say - I’ve just ordered food to this table number, can we swap. Or, sit near it and be alert to them coming over with your food and flag them down.

it’s just never, ever been a problem