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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have walked out of this restaurant?

212 replies

MellieMGrant · 04/03/2017 19:36

Took DD out for a nice day together, hair and shopping and lunch etc.

We went to a local mid range chain restaurant which prides itself (and usually delivers on) speedy service, as we wanted to get lunch done and dusted.

We were seated almost immediately, on the end of a long table. The table was filthy, and our place settings were used.

A member of staff came and cleared the rest of the bench and didn't acknowledge us at all. Didn't change our place settings.

We sat there, ignored, for almost twenty five minutes. I tried to make eye contact with at least two staff members but got nowhere.

A family were seated behind us and had their orders taken and drinks brought over while we were there.

I'm not particularly assertive and didn't want to make a fuss in front of DD anyway, so we just got up and left. Ended up going to Subway instead as we were really hungry by that point.

Was I being unreasonable? We often go out for lunch on a Saturday and I've never had such a poor experience, no matter how busy they are.

I feel a bit guilty for walking out but I'm not sure what else I should have done. Is a twenty odd minute wait at a dirty table too long or was I just hangry and irritable?

OP posts:

TrinityForce · 04/03/2017 19:37

I'd have walked out too.

TheNewSchmoo · 04/03/2017 19:38

Of course you weren't.

Shoxfordian · 04/03/2017 19:38

Yanbu but why didn't you ask a waiter to clear the table and bring you some menus? Why sit there for 25 minutes?!

NoArmaniNoPunani · 04/03/2017 19:38

YANBU. I'm not sure why you feel guilty, they clearly didn't give a fuck.

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 04/03/2017 19:38

Why would that be unreasonable? I would have said something/left sooner

Jaimx86 · 04/03/2017 19:38

I'd have walked out after 10 minutes, maybe less.

SoleBizzz · 04/03/2017 19:39

YABU for feeling guilty. Very strange reaction.

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 04/03/2017 19:39

Why didn't you say anything after 10 mins?

MaisyPops · 04/03/2017 19:39

I'd have walked out too.
Piss poor service so theyd not be getting my custom.

We did something similar. Mid range chain had a promotion outside for lunch. We got in and went to order and they revealed that the promotion outside wasnt on today. It was midweek so we had no reason to expect an exemption. They wanted us to order from the main menu at evening prices. We left

araiwa · 04/03/2017 19:40

maybe next time say something instead of sitting like a pudding for half an hour

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/03/2017 19:40

Maybe they saw the used place settings in front of you, and thought you had already ordered and eaten?

You weren't unreasonable to have left, but I think, in your place, I would have made greater efforts, sooner, to attract attention from the waiting staff.

NSEA · 04/03/2017 19:41

YABU to have sat for 25 minutes. Thats not making a fuss! You were forgotten about.

Astoria7974 · 04/03/2017 19:41

I would have walked out after 10mins. Being busy isn't an excuse for shit customer service

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 04/03/2017 19:42

Why did you not just go and find a member of staff? It's not making a fuss to ask that the table be cleaned.

I'd have walked out too though I think, but I would have found a member of staff on my way out and complained about the poor service.

StealthPolarBear · 04/03/2017 19:42

Surely when they were clearing the rest of the table that was the point at which to make it clear you were waiting

eurochick · 04/03/2017 19:42

I'm a bit about not wanting to make a fuss in front of your daughter. Surely you are just demonstrating assertiveness. You don't need to be arsey in the situation you describe, just clear about what needs to be done.

Peanut14 · 04/03/2017 19:43

No YwNBU. If I was in your position I would have tried to get a servers attention. Failing that I would have asked for a manager when leaving and explained why you were leaving.

Trifleorbust · 04/03/2017 19:43

I don't think it's ever unreasonable to walk out if you're not being served. I don't think I would be annoyed if they were busy (a waiter only has two hands) but clearly they weren't in a position to provide you with a quick lunch.

Original poster

MellieMGrant · 04/03/2017 19:43

We had menus in our hands and I tried to make eye contact with anyone who came near.

I probably should have spoken up but I am quite socially anxious a fucking mess tbh and felt like I'd got something horribly wrong to be ignored like that.

And now I'm massively overthinking the whole thing. I'll probably never go back there, which is a shame as it's our go to place for lunch out with the kids.

OP posts:

LagunaBubbles · 04/03/2017 19:43

Dont really get why you sat there for such a length of time rather than going up to ask if anyone was going to serve you?

MargoChanning · 04/03/2017 19:43

Asking a member of staff for a menu is not being 'assertive', it's a basic thing to do. Perhaps if you'd gone up to a waitress and asked for a menu, they would have apologised for keeping you waiting and served you a delicious meal. I think you need to take some of the responsibility for not simply pointing out to them that you hadn't been served yet. But yes, I do agree they shouldn't have kept you waiting and served other people who'd arrived later.

Aridane · 04/03/2017 19:45

Wagamamas??

Original poster

MellieMGrant · 04/03/2017 19:45

We had menus.

Hard to describe but I didn't just sit there passively. Two servers came right near us and I looked them right in the eye but they turned away and carried on clearing and took the order from the family behind us. I even said to DD 'I'm ready to order, are you?' when the waitress was right next to me.

OP posts:

MrsNuckyThompson · 04/03/2017 19:46

Yanbu for being annoyed but to be honest you sound like a bit of a doormat for sitting there for 25 MINUTES without either getting someone's attention or leaving sooner!! If I couldn't make eye contact I would simply get up and go to the serving station or bar and ask that someone come to serve me. What a waste to sit there being annoyed for so long!

It sounds as though in the lunchtime rush the server assumed you'd already been at that table and had eaten rather than being net new customers.

Original poster

MellieMGrant · 04/03/2017 19:46

Ariadne

OP posts:

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