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 think you made the right call OP. Really poor service from the waitress.

Waiter, not waitress

YANBU. I'd definitely complain to management.

The other group was incredibly rude to sit down at a table that was already occupied. If a staff member told/asked me to do that, I'd refuse and/or walk out.

YWNBU. I think you've handled it well.

YANBU. I'm not a complainer either, I just quietly withdraw my custom to go somewhere they do appreciate it.

Did you know you could get a table next door when you left?

It does sound as if your upset took over, and you could have been left with nowhere to eat for MD lunch.

If you knew you were able to get a table elsewhere, your choice!

The cafe has replied - email below:

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I am very sorry to hear that you made the decision to leave Cafe XXXX today before ordering any lunch due to your table not being satisfactory for you.
We only have 5 large tables in the Cafe so all of our customers do have to share tables during peak business times unless a pre-booking is made for 10 people. I do apologise if you were not made aware of our Cafe set up at the time of your reservation.
We do take advance table bookings to avoid disappointment on busy days but we did not offer a special
'Mothers Day Lunch' menu as such as we are a Cafe and have a demand for our regular offerings of our breakfast/brunch menu and our blackboard specials.
Today was an exceptional busy day and therefore I would like to offer you to return to Cafe XXXX another time at your convenience to enjoy a complimentary meal on us.
Please telephone me to make your booking.
We look forward to welcoming you back and I hope we can resolve your bad experience with us.
Regards
Cafe Chef/Manager

===

I don't really think they need to give us a free meal to make up for the experience, especially since we had a lovely lunch next door! But it's nice they got back to me quickly and made the gesture. As I said, it's a lovely place, just a bit too hectic for me when busy.

What a lovely response.

Reminds me of a time I booked quite expensive tickets to take my kids to a big sporting event. Another family arrived and quite aggressively said we were in their seats, they had booked at the venue and we had tickets from an agency and they insisted the seats were their's. I don't normally let people push me around but everyone was looking and it was getting embarrassing so I stood up and an usher came over and asked what was going on, they had a rant and I smiled and he said OK come with me. They smirked at me and sat down as I moved kids out. We were moved down to where the players family were sitting, kids got invited on the pitch to "have a go" and got given t shirts. I wish I could have seen the family's faces. Sometimes not being assertive works well.

Oooh granny! That's a lovely story, made me smile. Sometimes nice people do come out on top.

It's quite a nice response but it seems to imply that you share tables and it was your fault for not wanting to share rather than you were physically not left enough room for your entire party.

That would irk me.

Thanks Titanias, it was a wonderful experience for my children and something we all remember as a fantastic night out and I hate sport but even I enjoyed it.

it seems to imply that you share tables and it was your fault for not wanting to share rather than you were physically not left enough room for your entire party.

This. If the tables are for 10, you were 5 and they were 6, how could you share - even if one was a baby?

Anyway it completely confirms my prejudice about going out for Mother's Day lunch - much better to go out on a different, less busy day.

Why do Mumsnetters make everything so complicated?

Just say, before the family sit down "Sorry, there's not enough room here. My parents are on the way."

We went out on Saturday instead, meant GC celebrated with me on Saturday and their mum on Sunday. I never go out for a meal on Mother's Day, I imagine it is busy but don't know and don't intend to find out.

If it's a table for ten people and there's two groups of five (I'll ignore the baby) then one person in each group is going to be sat opposite a stranger. Way too cosy for lunch.

@PossumInAPearTree you can't ignore the baby, they were in a high chair so took as much room up as a person.

The way the seating worked out was one person on each end, four down one long side, five down the other. As I said, squashed.

That's even worse then.