To have walked out of this restaurant?

[MellieMGrant]

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?

[redexpat]

But people dont tend to make eye contact with the waiting staff unless they want something do they? So they chose to ignore you, twice. Have they got a page on trip advisor?

[MellieMGrant]

I have left a scathing TA review. What I lack in social assertiveness I make up for in being a keyboard warrior

[caz323]

Aw, bless you, OP!

You have said about your social anxiety, so don't beat yourself up about it. Yes, that was crap service, but hey, bet your Subway was yum!

Don't over think it - it's done and dusted. What's the point of dwelling on it now? Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

[reuset]

Don't be so hard on yourself, Mellie. Nothing to feel guilty about, poor service so you left, and still managed to have a good day. It sounds like a lot of effort to get served to me, unless they're busy most places are pretty keen to take your order.

[daisypond]

Dealing with slightly awkward situations like this will help your DD, too, so she will know how to handle them in the future.

[afatalflaw]

I really feel for you. I don't like situations like that and while I can deal with being assertive if it starts with me iyswim, when I am on the back foot to begin with I really struggle to pull myself together and speak my mind. It's like it crushes me and any confidence I have just goes. Quite unhelpful to hear other people say, 'I don't know why you just didn't...' Understanding is not always necessary - just empathy.

[reuset]

I have left a scathing TA review. What I lack in social assertiveness I make up for in being a keyboard warrior grin*

[Wauden]

Ah, its really about assertiveness. Might be a good idea to go in there again and face this one. If there is an uncleaned place and no service, perhaps raise your hand, smile, keep smiling and ask that your place be cleaned and to take an order.
I shouldn't over think this one, just get back in there.

[reuset]

I wouldn't bother, Wauden.

[BigChocFrenzy]

You say this is your "go to" place with kids
So they should know you, even if they are quite big.

Um, do you tip properly ?
I make it a rule to only frequent a couple of places, so they remember my face
No matter how busy they are, I get excellent service

But you do have to tip ....

[MellieMGrant]

I'm a generous tipper. Always have been. At least 15%, usually 20.

When I say go to, it's like once every row or three months.

[LilQueenie]

I have very bad social anxiety but a quick excuse me as they are approaching would have done it.

[CaraAspen]

Name and shame then. They deserve it. You were quite right to walk out.

[lalalonglegs]

I once went to a restaurant with a friend and we were ignored (for about five minutes). It was part of a chain so the friend looked up the number of the head office and phoned them to complain and get them to send some staff over to our table .

[Gabilan]

I even said to DD 'I'm ready to order, are you?' when the waitress was right next to me

Next time, say that to the waitress. And you're allowed to be kind to yourself. It's just lunch in a restaurant I expect the staff were busy, you were in a corner and since the table hadn't been cleared you looked like you'd finished.

[PageStillNotFound404]

Were the menus on the table OP, or were you handed them by the waitress who seated you? Because if the latter, then it's really poor customer service to leave customers waiting who have menus, as it's an obvious sign they haven't yet ordered a course (be that starters & mains, or pudding) - dirty dishes on the table or not. That's waitressing 101.

[MellieMGrant]

We were handed the menus and taken to our seats.

[Unihorn]

I'm sorry you had a rubbish time but I think leaving poor reviews without speaking to the restaurant directly is a bit out of order. You certainly shouldn't have been ignored but there could've been a reason behind it, and in not speaking up or mentioning it as you left, I would say you've waived your right to a public review...

[RubbishMantra]

I thought you meant walking out of a restaurant without paying! Not that I did that in my late teens, and the service was a comedy of errors. Not me. Honest.

[BigChocFrenzy]

You were right to leave a stinking review.
They just cba. No excuse
They didn't recognise you as a regular and assumed you and DD would be lower spenders than tables with 2 or more adults.

[MarklahMarklah]

Years ago, I was on holiday with DH. Went to a restaurant which was pretty quiet, got seated quickly, and we ordered our drinks. They brought these out pretty sharpish, so we said we'd like a few more minutes before we ordered.
Staff disappeared off behind scenes.
We waited. And waited. And waited. No sign of anyone. After 30 minutes we walked out.

[WillWorkForShoes]

You were not unreasonable to walk out, and, speaking as someone who was waiting staff, they should follow their customer. They should know who needs to be served, who needs to be cleared. You shouldn't have to chase a member of staff to be served.

It was poor service. Can you contact them on Twitter? Companies tend to be very responsive on such a public forum.

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

Sorry you had such a poor experience today. And sorry you aren't feeling great about yourself because of it.

Do go back, and practice being assertive. Don't let this put you off a place you like eating at.

[gaaahhhh]

Waiters usually have a section. And your waiter was being inattentive by not looking after his or her section. It also sounds like the people close to you but sat after you had a different waiter who was a bit more efficient with her/his tables. Whoever sat you probably didn't care whose section it was.

It is really shit teamwork though.

Also strange that they sat you on a dirty table. I know waiting staff who ignore 'walk-ins' who just sit themselves on dirty tables expecting service - I know you didn't do this - but they might have thought you did. Some waiters have real attitudes!!

[Aeroflotgirl]

Yanbu at all, that is piss poor service. I woukd write them a poor trip advisor review. The server that seated you and gave you menu, shoukd have been responsible for your table and taken your order. I woukd have looked the waitress in the eye and said 'excuse me can we order now', please coukd we have clean place settings!