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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

If you work in a restaurant, AIBU?

42 replies

wineoclockthanks · 17/05/2016 16:06

I'm trying to book a table for 8 people in our local Toby Cavery, there is only 1 table for 8 which is already booked, but apparently I can't book 2 tables for 4 near each other?!

It's a large restaurant, must have at least 40 tables, is it really impossible to reserve 2 tables next to each other? I have checked and it's nowhere near full, just that the 8 seater is not available.

Is there some reason I'm missing here?

OP posts:

IsItGinTimeYet · 17/05/2016 16:07

I don't work in a restaurant but that seems ridiculous!

WanHeda · 17/05/2016 16:08

Sounds bonkers to me! Why would they refuse that many paying guests?

AlpacaLypse · 17/05/2016 16:10

In a family run restaurant this would be no problem. However a Toby Carvery (and similar chains) will have been micromanaged by head office to the point where the branch manager will have absolutely no ability or incentive to use any common sense!

Leeds2 · 17/05/2016 16:10

I have often gone into a restaurant without a reservation, and they have moved two tables for four together so that we could seat six or eight people. No one has ever refused.

LineyReborn · 17/05/2016 16:10

Have you phoned them? That sounds nuts.

Bracknellshockatabag · 17/05/2016 16:14

The only possible justification I think would be due to staffing levels? Perhaps at the time you were wanting to arrive, they hadn't enough staff to accommodate a large booking? It does sound odd though!

Original poster

wineoclockthanks · 17/05/2016 16:17

I spoke to them trying to make the reservation Liney, I don't really want o have to go down there and speak to someone in person.

It's a birthday treat and the Birthday Boy has especially requested to go there otherwise I'd forget it (my children obviously don't have very high standards

OP posts:

OrangeFluff · 17/05/2016 16:17

Just phone them. My DH is a manager for a chain restaurant, and the online booking sometimes causes issues that wouldn't happen if a member of staff dealt with it.

OrangeFluff · 17/05/2016 16:19

Oh XP with you OP!

Sparrowlegs248 · 17/05/2016 16:21

Book two tables instead? In different names.

LurkingHusband · 17/05/2016 16:23

Book two tables instead? In different names

Which will be guaranteed to be at opposite ends of the building.

LineyReborn · 17/05/2016 16:24

wineoclock these people are loons.

Do they expect you to just turn up and hope for the best?

My family would undoubtedly book two tables, turn up, and express amazement if we weren't seated close together. Toby wouldn't want you walking out in the direction of Spoons / Harvester / Zizzis etc.

But my family are quite feisty.

Original poster

wineoclockthanks · 17/05/2016 16:24

I did think that Notta, but it's a family get together so we would like to be as close as possible to each other - knowing my luck we'd end up at opposite ends of the restaurant!

OP posts:

Original poster

wineoclockthanks · 17/05/2016 16:25

GReat minds Lurking!

OP posts:

ProfYaffle · 17/05/2016 16:26

Oh God, I've had this loads. Last time was at TGI Fridays, they wouldn't let us have a table for 6 even though there were loads of 4 and 2's free. We were turned away and the similarly sized party behind us too. Bonkers.

BarbaraofSeville · 17/05/2016 16:28

Is there another Toby Carvery that you could try, or go on a different day?

But it is ridiculous that they only have one big table available and don't seem to want to give you 2 tables of 4 next to each other, which is very reasonable of you - many people wouldn't accept this as its not properly together.

Sparrowlegs248 · 17/05/2016 16:28

Could you phone and book a table, then phone to book the second and request you are seated near friends? If they say no, cancel.

Yanbu BTW. I was amazed at a local independent restaurant when they refused to take a booking for more than 8 even though we would pre order.

Ernope · 17/05/2016 16:29

Partner works in an M and B pub (although not a Toby) in junior management.
In most cases (at least with Dps franchise) they're not allowed to book a party of one across two tables. It's bizarre but head office rules I'm afraid. May not be the same for a toby though, but it is quite likely

BoyFromTheBigBadCity · 17/05/2016 16:31

They may have a policy to only pre book a set amount of tables to allow for walk in trade (our pub has this policy)

ijustwannadance · 17/05/2016 16:34

Why can't they just push 2 bloody tables together? Utterly ridiculous.

HisNameWasPrinceAndHeWasFunky · 17/05/2016 16:43

can you persuade DS to go to nando's instead?

user7755 · 17/05/2016 16:44

Book the two tables next to each other and pick them up and move them yourselves when you get there?

MargaretCavendish · 17/05/2016 16:48

ProfYaffle if you've had this 'loads' is that because you have four children? If so, that's why it happens - they'd rather have six adults than two adults and four kids because the six adults will spend an awful lot more.

Pinkheart5915 · 17/05/2016 16:51

How strange of them? Not hard to reserve to tables next to each other what sort of crazy head office rule could that be in not letting you book they turn down money

Can you persuade your ds he wants to go somewhere else for the birthday treat?

TrillKitten · 17/05/2016 17:00

The ONLY thing I can possibly think of to justify this oddness is that usually kitchens will time all meals on a table to come out together. So a table for 8 makes quite a big difference to 2x tables of 4 as far as that timing is concerned. You could try saying you don't mind having your meals not all arrive perfectly at the same time? See if that's the sticking point?

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