Rude service in restaurant,aibu ?

[echofallss]

Just been to a Italian restaurant for lunch.
Ordered starters and mains and said we would decide after if we wanted a dessert.
I was on my last slice of garlic bread and she came over and removed the plates etc before I had finished with it.

Then 1 minute later main came out.
Just put my fork down and she comes over and removes the plates and brings the bill.

We didn't even ask for the bill as we were still deciding if we wanted a dessert.
We had a drink and were still drinking it.
Within a minute she's back over asking are you paying card or cash?
So I said card and she gives me the card machine.

It was all so rushed.
Normally they let you ask for bill.
Then after we had paid and were drinking our drinks she kept staring over as if to say "are you leaving yet"

Aibu to think this is quite rude ?

Yes, that sounds shit.

Of course it's rude, but why on earth did you just sit there and allow this? I would have spoken up when she first tried to remove my bread plate.

Were you there long? The restaurants by me are really busy right now and you only get 2 hour slots

Bad service but I can't understand why you didn't question it.

It's rude but were they operating a two sitting lunch service? ie letting the table first at 12.25 and then again at 1.45? More and more places seem to be doing it, especially where they have space their tables out.

Write to head office and you'll get a freebie.

We were in and out in less than a hour.
We didn't have a chance to even relax
I probably should have said something but I didn't want to appear rude.

It was really quiet too and lots of spare tables.
We didn't even have to book.

You're right. Usually you should be offered the chance of having more drinks and/or dessert.
Was it busy? Were people waiting for the table?

I wouldn't say anything now as the moment has been and gone, but I would have said something at the time.

If they were operating using a ‘sitting’ system then it’s necessary but not ideal. As with the PP restaurants in these parts are doing it to maximise trade.
But booking online it always states that’s the case.

@Aquamarine1029

Of course it's rude, but why on earth did you just sit there and allow this? I would have spoken up when she first tried to remove my bread plate.

Exactly. It's so frustrating reading all the threads on here where people rage about rudeness but never actually speak up.

"Excuse me, I haven't finished with that."
"Could we have the dessert menu instead?"
Not hard.

I agree that the time to have asked or complained was then and there.

Sorry cross post.

In which case it sounds like she was trying to hurry you up so she could finish her shift maybe? It's a nice day (up here anyways) and she may have been told she could finish once you're table was done.

Pure speculation from me there, but when I worked in hospitality, if it was quiet we were often told we could leave after a certain table was done, and on a nice day, who would say no to that?!

Doesn't make it right though. Shame you've had that experience.

Yeah very rude, you should have said something

Late lunch services always suffer a bit when it comes to service as people come to the end of the shift / or need to set up for dinner. But this is shit even in comparison to how shit it usually is. Definitely complain and do it via their website so you know it will def go to a manager. Sometimes if you ask to speak to a manager staff club together to protect the staff member and may pretend to be one so the complaint goes nowhere (eg Bella Italia )

Sounds like an inexperienced waiter.

Yes, this is rude. I was a waitress in my younger years and even on the busiest days I would always make sure the customer had finished before I cleared their plates.
I get staff are overworked but they still should provide a good service.

@Aquamarine1029

Of course it's rude, but why on earth did you just sit there and allow this? I would have spoken up when she first tried to remove my bread plate.

Exactly. You let her / him walk all over you so they continued to do so. Stand up for yourself.

So when she bought the bill you could have said actually we would like to look at the dessert menu please?

Did you get there at 2pm when the close at 3pm until the evening?

@Biancadelrioisback

Sorry cross post.

In which case it sounds like she was trying to hurry you up so she could finish her shift maybe? It's a nice day (up here anyways) and she may have been told she could finish once you're table was done.

Pure speculation from me there, but when I worked in hospitality, if it was quiet we were often told we could leave after a certain table was done, and on a nice day, who would say no to that?!

Doesn't make it right though. Shame you've had that experience.

If this is the case, that's massively unreasonable. Completely unacceptable behaviour from an employee.

JesusIsAnyNameFree oh completely agree, just thinking of a scenario to explain the behaviour but certainly doesn't excuse it.

Not acceptable, but why on earth didn't you say something?

So many things on mumsnet could be resolved by just simply speaking up, it doesn't have to be confrontational?

I hope you didn't leave a tip.