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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Restaurant demanding table back?

149 replies

Wildflower123 · 03/01/2020 16:28

Came over and (we’d only just finished our food and were still enjoying the rest of our bottle of wine) and said we need this table back in 5 minutes.

There was no prior warning given at any point. Sing to think this is bad service?

OP posts:

Dustarr73 · 04/01/2020 18:24

But if they were getting loads of on a whim walk ins like the OP they wouldn't know in advance. If all the tables were taking their time there'd be no turn around.

Then they should say no to walk ins.

shamalidacdak · 04/01/2020 18:26

Bloody hell they won't be in business long!

LagunaBubbles · 04/01/2020 18:27

you never booked then you can't moan really especially at this time of year

They were seated by the restaurant so there must have been a table available. If it was only going to be available for a set period of time staff should have said this.

iklboo · 04/01/2020 18:35

Then they should say no to walk ins.

Like the OP was?

StarlightLady · 04/01/2020 18:44

This is table turning. It would never happen in France.

If you were not warned when you sat down it is unacceptable.

Commenting on MN is all very well, but I think it’s time for a negative review on Trip Adviser!

FelicisNox · 04/01/2020 18:46

YANBU.

Email the management and complain.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 04/01/2020 19:40

Maybe they made a genuine mistake and someone should have told you when you arrived that the table was booked at x time for another party. Maybe people shouldn't be so hard on resturants where staff have been working flat out over christmas and new year

Then where was the apology and explanation? You’d apologise for a last-minute change of plan if you were letting down a friend - surely if you’re running a business it’s the least you can do.

Its5pmSomewhere · 04/01/2020 21:59

If a restaurant tells you upon booking there is a time limit then fine, no problem. If they don’t and then come up to you during your dining experience and tell you, that’s bad practice and just rude

Rezie · 04/01/2020 22:22

I was once annoyed when this happened (not in uk). We had to it there for so long because it took forever for the food to come. After eating we were sitting without wallets out clearly waiting for someone a attention to get the bill. Then a waiter shows up to tell us that they need the table, hmm.

Retroflex · 04/01/2020 22:27

If I remember correctly, it's standard practice to allow guests to remain seated at the table for 30 minutes after they have finished eating, after which time the table should be vacated and the diners can move through to the bar area. What time you arrived, finished eating and then how long it was before you were given a 5 minute warning is all relevant information which is missing from your post.

CripsSandwiches · 04/01/2020 22:41

@iklboo

Imagine if there is one table left. OP walks in and asks if they have a table and they give it to her. An hour later another family walk in and ask if there is a table. They would have to say no to them wouldn't they because the table is now occupied? Or they would say "we don't have one immediately but there should be one free at X o clock". Just because you say yes to one walk in doesn't mean you say yes later when there's no longer a table free!

PitterPatterOfBigFeet · 04/01/2020 22:46

This happened to me once. We ordered a set menu which came with various small courses. We just ate the food as it arrived. It was a bloody expensive menu too. Before we'd even had our desert they said they needed the table back and we'd have to take our desert (which was part of the set menu) away with us. Bloody annoying as they shouldn't advertise the set menu if they're not going to give you the chance to bloody eat it in the restaurant (it's much cheaper to buy pastry's to go than in a restaurant!).

GabsAlot · 04/01/2020 23:31

This happened to us long time ago my df would never take any shit (he is a narc) and when they said they neede the table he called the manager over and told him he would make a scene if he was asked to leave

they apollogised and we sat there for another hour

it wa a tad embarrasing but i digress they cant make you leave esp if they didnt pre warn you

ThirtyAndASmidgen · 05/01/2020 00:03

I had this shit a few months ago with friends, before we’d even finished eating. Waiting staff and managers came over more than a dozen times to ask for the table back - so many that we lost count. The more they harassed us, the more we dug our heels in. We asked that the optional service charge be removed from the bill, and told them why.

FruitcakeOfHate · 05/01/2020 01:33

You have to put up with a lot of crap in the UK, don't you?

Yes, people really do!

KatherineJaneway · 05/01/2020 08:23

Then a waiter shows up to tell us that they need the table

We experienced the same thing. Terrible service all throughout and we were trying to get someone's attention to get the bill then a waiter came over to ask for the table back Not surprisingly the place closed shortly afterwards.

PurBal · 05/01/2020 08:54

Restaurants problem not yours.

WTFdidwedo · 05/01/2020 09:07

Im intrigued as to how long people think restaurants should leave tables empty for for bookings now, as everyone seems to claim they'd "dig their heels in" if this was them. If my restaurant was fully booked at 2pm and I opened at 11am should I not let anyone in just in case all the walk ins were planning on dining all day? And then deal with complaints from all those walk ins who don't don't understand why they can't eat in an empty restaurant?

MinnieMountain · 05/01/2020 09:22

Some restaurants keep a few tables free for walk ins, like The Wolseley. But I suppose they're pretty busy and can guarantee they will fill those tables.

We turned up at Pizza Express on a busy Saturday and were told we could have a table in 30 minutes. It was our choice to accept the wait. There's no way I would expect someone else to be turfed out early.

WTFdidwedo · 05/01/2020 09:29

Yes and the waits people are given by hosts are based on them anticipating people leaving at a certain time. If you were given a 30 minute wait then that was probably on the basis that a few tables were eating their main courses or had finished their main courses depending on the covers. If all of those tables decided to stay for an extra hour just to be contrary then the restaurant gets the joy of pacifying waiting guests as well as trying to diplomatically ask others to leave.

KatherineJaneway · 05/01/2020 09:30

@WTFdidwedo

You'd just say to walk ins you'll happily give them a table now but you have bookings at 2pm so will need the table back by that time. The walk ins then decide if that is ok or not.

adaline · 05/01/2020 10:16

We turned up at Pizza Express on a busy Saturday and were told we could have a table in 30 minutes. It was our choice to accept the wait

But the table you were waiting on might not be happy or ready to vacate in thirty minutes. The restaurant is estimating that it'll be that long because the people already at the table are at a certain stage of their meal.

If they then decide to sit for an extra thirty minutes after they've finished, you'd be stood around waiting longer as well.

Restaurants can't afford to have people sitting and taking up tables while they're not ordering things and spending money.

SalmonFajitas · 05/01/2020 11:51

I don't think anyone is saying you should be able to sit around indefinitely. If I had just finished my desert and someone came in wanting a table it would be fine for the restaurant to say "there'll be one ready in about half an hour". This gives me a reasonable amount of time to finish my wine and them to clear the table. It would not be reasonable for the waiter to say "yes there's one free now" and kick me off immediately.

curlilox · 07/01/2020 11:50

Once went to a Christmas meal out with work at a restaurant. Paid for their Christmas deal - 3 courses for £25. When we arrived (on time) they told us we could only have 2 courses as they needed the tables for another group after us and there wouldn't be time to eat 3 courses! They insisted we would have been told this when we booked (we definitely weren't). No amount of argument would change their minds. None of us ever went back to that restaurant and we all warned friends & family not to go there.

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