that people who grab tables at self service restaurants without getting food dirst

[Windsock]

are nobs
owners of small kids etcetc ussual conditions apply
it REALLY annoys me.
this messes up the flow of traffic and one person sits there hogging a space where 4 people could get in eat AND have left byt he time their person arrives

I am a nob, apparently. Today, in M&S cafe, I parked my double buggy, filled with twins by a table, put my 3 year old on a chair, and then nipped to get a tray with sarnies and tea. I decided this was a better option than trying to squeeze my pram down the gap past the counter, and couldn't see how I could push the buggy, steer the 3 year old AND carry a tray across a crowded room full of people with hot drinks.

Judge on.

Emmie, I agree, the restaurants have a responsibility to make the system clearer to stop all this angst!

In the meantime though I shall be reserving a table before purchasing. Because this way I will get a seat. The other way only works if everyone is doing it. And seeing as it isn't really a moral issue, I'll stick with the way that works!

Tis not a moral issue at all - did anyone say it was?!

It's just common sense really, about getting the maximum flow through and ensuring people who have paid get to eat

Btw it's worth remembering that if you ever do find yourself stranded with a tray already paid for, the staff will ask people to move off tables who aren't already eating if necessary, as they have an obligation to seat you if that's what you've paid for. So if you're the shy retiring type who doesn;t like asking people to shove off, get a member of staff to do it for you.

crashdoll I don't understand your post of 17.51. Enlighten me. Invalids?

I think I can...the op use that foul word in the op. I queried it, and crashdoll made whatbi think was a sarcastic post.

I am assuming she was backing me up. No other fucker seems to care

Oh right. The sarcasm was wasted on me MrsD. I have not heard that word for a long time.

emmieging, thats one of the most usefull things I have learned on MN. Next time I'm without a table because my good manners would not allow me to take one before I had ordered, I will ask a staff member to shoo off some table hogging types.

The people saying those who reserve tables are 'hogging, selfish and entitled' have tried to make this about more than logistics and are implying something about morals yes.

Reserving a table first is smoothest for the customer (assuming we all do it) and for the individual (if people will insist on doing it the other way round). Therefore it makes sense to me to do so.

I have little or no interest in helping the restaurant improve its turnover, as a customer I expect to pay for use of a clean seat, table and a hot meal.

In valid
Just incase anyone wants to go down the 'it's just a word' route.

sparkling I am assuming it was sarky. The poster could be a raving disabilist (but I don't think so

I hadn't noticed the use of invalid ( sleep deprived) op I think the word nob that you used in your opening post applys more to you than anyone else.

Felicity, I also don't worry too much about the restaurant, but I am concerned about society as a whole.

Yes, I'm polishing my halo, but I don't see why I as an individual am more important than someone else.

I misread 'invalid' in the OP as "having kids made the no table grabbing rule invalid" .

olympia/yellowraincoat
my DC are 10 and 12 so old enough to stand tidily while I get food. They can get sauce, napkins etc.

But if someone has a toddler or smallish child, I'd far rather see them sitting safely at a table than being at someones hip height and that person turns round , unaware there is a small child behind them,

And before you say I'm being overdramatic, I've seen it happen in McD.
A small child (4-5) was admiring the toys in the cabinet and someone with a laden tray turned round, looking for a table or the rest of their party and knocked their elbow on the childs head (The child was right beside their mum BTW) and they got covered in tea. Hot tea, .

It wasn't my child and it wasn't an sight I'd want to witness again.

So yes. For safety . They should take seats.

Yabu, why should loads of people queue up when just one can go and get everything? I do it all the time, nothing wrong with it.

And Yabu to use invalid, you are talking about people not some wrong data in Excel ffs

If you're so worried about safety, do you really think that alone at a table in a busy cafe is the best place for a three year old?

3 year old alone at a table in a busy cafe/scalding tea on head. I would probably go home for that sandwich TBH.

It is annoying but only when other people do it.
I do it with grace so i think its ok

I started a thread on this recently OP. YNBU

Good point yellow. Pathetic to day the least!

If I'm with somebody else, one sits at the table and one gets food. It's only common sense. What would be the point of standing up eating. I never mind sharing a table when it's busy.

No, it's not common sense, viviennemary. It's rude.

I think its daft that you have to get food first then find a seat, what if you're stood around for 20 mins with your food getting cold. I have no issues with people waiting at the table whilst others in their party get their food or wait for their friends to arrive.

Surely its first come first served!

Yellowraincoat. have you been in a cafe and not got a table. That would be really annoying. And I don't suppose you'd want to share a table with a rude person anyway.

I assess the situation, if the place is rammed with people queueing and holding tables I go somewhere else. THAT'S commonsense