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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
wineoclockthanks · 17/05/2016 17:04

That would make sense Trill, but it's a Carvery so you just queue up and serve yourself.

OP posts:
ijustwannadance · 17/05/2016 17:04

It's a carvery Trill. You pick up a plate and queue up. No timings involved.

ProfYaffle · 17/05/2016 17:05

margaretcavendish No we don't have 4 children. It's usually just me, dh and 2 dc but on occasion my parents join us so 4 adults and 2 dc. Plus the dc are now 12 and 9 so order off the adult menu. Not that this gets discussed at booking, I just request a table for 6.

zozzij · 17/05/2016 17:08

I think Trill probable has it - restaurants are usually more limited by the capacity of the kitchen than the number of physical tables/chairs on the floor. An 8 is big order and they do tend to slow down service more than you would expect.

zaalitje · 17/05/2016 17:08

ASk them the question on Twitter.

Might find it suddenly becomes possible.

zozzij · 17/05/2016 17:09

Cross posted. That is a bit weird then.

LineyReborn · 17/05/2016 17:20

user that's what OP tried to do.

diddl · 17/05/2016 17:22

"So a table for 8 makes quite a big difference to 2x tables of 4 as far as that timing is concerned."

Am I being thick as I don't get that.

It's 8 meals needed at the same time.

Presumably it's not possible to treat 2 tables of 4 as if they are 1 table of 8?

That really is a case of "computer says no"!

almostthirty · 17/05/2016 17:24

If it's anything like our local Toby, they won't let you book any table unless it's a large group (so you wouldn't be able to book a table for 4). When we go as a large group usually 8-10 Inc children they just push tables together while we get a drink at the bar. By the time we have been served our table is usually ready.

ijustwannadance · 17/05/2016 17:27

A busy pub/restaurant should have sufficient kitchen staff at peak times. Taking bookings is only to reserve tables. You still have walk ins to deal with. And they could've just staggered the bookings and asked op to come in half an hour earlier/later.

MrsMushrooms · 17/05/2016 17:27

That's ridiculous! Also a sign of terrible customer service that needs to be avoided. If they can't deal with your booking, how decent can it really be? I've never had a good experience in a Toby.

Last time we went, we were some of just a few customers there and half way through our meal one of the employees came back with McDonalds for the staff so they all sat down at a table in the corner to eat that! I was extremely temped to ask if there were any spare cheeseburgers as our food was awful.

RedSoloCup · 17/05/2016 17:39

I work in a restaurant and I don't understand why they wouldn't at all, we take bookings in all numbers and just push tables together to accommodate them, we also allow large walk ins to sit together on 2 tables if they want to.....

gunsandbanjos · 17/05/2016 17:42

Probably head office interfering, the place I used to work we could sit you as close together as possible but you weren't allowed to push tables together.

Bitchqueen90 · 17/05/2016 17:45

I have worked in restaurants including 2 chains (wetherspoons and hungry horse) and this would never have been an issue. We often rearranged the tables/pushing them together to make room for larger parties.

TrillKitten · 17/05/2016 17:59

wineoclockthanks ijustwannadance Oops. In my search for possible reasons I completely missed the name of the restaurant.. and therefore that small, but vital, fact! Blush

Then no, I can't think of a single reason this should be an issue!!

Rawhh · 17/05/2016 19:23

There can be a number of reasons for this including:
Only booking a certain number of covers for 1 time slot and that slot not having enough rpom for both tables
Only having the capacity for one 8 per service dictated by head office and them knowing you will push the tables together creating an 8 preventing you from booking.

Restaurants are businesses they wont be turning away business without reason. They put in rules that seem arbitrary to those who dont understand them but are actually there to ensure that the restuaurant runs smoothly.

Dieu · 17/05/2016 19:27

Try phoning up again and speaking to someone else?

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