WIBU to walk out of this cafe/restaurant?

[disappearingfish]

Booked a table for 5 for MD lunch at a local cafe/restaurant.

Me, DH and DD arrive first, my parents still on their way. We are given a table that comfortably sits 8, 10 at a push.

A few minutes later, a group of 6 arrive (five adults and a baby) without a booking. Waiter tells them to sit "at the end of that table". Meaning ours. As we were still a party of three at that stage, they spread out to take the majority of the table. I point out we were waiting for two other people. They make an attempt to shuffle up, but there really wasn't room. I see red, pack up and leave after telling the waiter that it wasn't an acceptable way to treat us given we had booked two months ago.

For context, it's not fine dining. It's a cafe that does very nice (and expensive) food at an exclusive waterside location.

WIBU to throw a strop? In my defence we've had a very stressful week with relatives in hospital etc.

I don't think ywbu but guess you got no lunch. I'd have asked for the manager and politely but firmly said it wasn't on.

Terrible service given you'd booked in advance.

Why did you leave?
I would have ring fenced the space you needed. If this didn't leave party of 6 enough space tough.

You booked and they hadn't so imo the restaurant should of said no space sorry, who doesn't book for Mother's Day? I would of spoke to a manager first and if they'd said nothing we can I would of left too.

Did you get lunch somewhere?

Did you find anywhere else to eat? We ended up eating pizza express pizza in the car as we hadn't booked!

Shouldn't the other party leave considering they hadn't booked? Were you able to find somewhere else to have lunch?

Possum We had a great lunch in the restaurant next door.

I didn't want to get into a discussion because that would have ended with the waiter saying something to the other party like "these people don't want you sitting at your table" which would have spoiled the whole occasion.

Really poor service. They're clearly putting the idea of more money before customer satisfaction/comfort.

I wouldn't have left without more of a fight though. I'd have insisted on them moving us to our own table. Only if they refused, and after i'd spoken to a manager and made a complaint in person, would i have left.

I bet they squished more people without reservations in to your spots as soon as you left, and they won't think twice about improving things for future.

Did you complain first then leave?

I quite fighty but I didn't want to have a fight and then to stay. It would have spoiled the atmosphere and I would be afraid that the would spit in our soup

*am

Titania I didn't complain but I did tell them why I we were leaving, and that what they did was unacceptable.

Yabu not to complain. Perhaps the waiter was just being a bit dopy.

Oh OK. Yeah just read that. Well done for saying something. They needed to know. Really bad service.

I don't understand why you left tbh. I'd have waited for your parents to arrive, there wouldn't have been enough room and reminded the waiter you booked the table.

I would have left too. Paranoid about people spitting in soups and cannot deal with a bad atmosphere.

I do think you were a bit unreasonable not to give them the chance to sort it out. The waiter probably saw just 3 people on a large table and thought the 5 other customers would fit.

If there was a table available right next door I would've been tempted to go back and tell the other family they can go there. I am pretty though.

I'd have complained first.

YANBU. It would be awkward to have to essentially tell the other people to leave, the waiter should have done that.

I didn't complain because the only outcome that I would have been happy with would be for the waiter to tell the people they couldn't sit there after all. Full, busy restaurant, everyone overhearing my complaint, family with cute baby thrown out into the cold because of unfriendly me.

Not conducive to good digestion

I'd have said something as the waiter showed them to our table. "Sorry, I don't think there is room to share this table, we will be five shortly."

The waiter probably saw just 3 people on a large table and thought the 5 other customers would fit.

Tough shit, he was doing his job badly then. How about checking the booking first? I'd have known that when I first started waitressing at the age of 17. Basic.

YWNBU. I think you were very good under the circumstances although you could have said to the waiter you had booked for 5 people and were waiting for others when he first brought the others over

I would be inclined to follow up with a letter to the manager so they can improve their systems