To think this is terrible customer service?

[gktdfug]

I go to this restaurant every single week. It's a small chain in my city. It's always busy and a medium budget place.

My friend and I walked in and waited by the door as we said 'table for two please'. There was a large empty table in front of us.

We were told our table would be ready in two minutes. Great!

Five people come in after us and ask for a table for five. Neither of us had reservations. They were told their table would be ready in 2 minutes. Great!

The five stood behind us as they arrived after us. Yet they were seated first on the large empty table.

About two minutes later the lady came and said she didn't have a table for us as they were all full now.

This is a restaurant (similar style to wagammas) where often strangers share the larger tables. We have been seated on a large table before as a two with other people join further down the table.

We were very upset as they had effectively seen the people of five and thought there was more money there and prioritized them even though they arrived later.

I think this is terrible customer service. It will be a while before I go back. AIBU?

Maybe the Marks and Spencers cafe might be a better bet.

Or Costa

YANBU, it is understandable from their POV but then they should not have said there was a table available to you first.

It makes sense to sit the group of five at the large table. Were there enough spaces at that table for you two as well?

They're in it for the money, aren't they? It's their decision whether to piss off two customers (and possibly lose future business) versus turning away five customers now - they might have thought a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush.

They should have offered you a time to come back later, though - it shouldn't be beyond them to estimate when another table might be free.

Why didn't you call them out on it?

"Sorry, no tables available now."

"But you've just seated these people who came in after us?"

YANBU in terms of being annoyed by it, it's a crappy situation.

But YABU in terms of the aspect of it. You wouldn't go to a hotel and complain that a group of 5 people have a bigger room than you, that was prepared first, when they're paying for five people. Vs your room that you may have to wait an extra 10 minutes for, for it to be finished getting prepped when you're only paying for two people. That's just the way the world works... money talks.

If there was room on the table, why didn't you ask to be seated in the empty seats?

If the table was full, then what did you expect them to do? Seat you on the floor?

@Ishacoco I did, I was very firm but didn't raise my voice. They just didn't care

@andymary I don't think that situation is comparable at all.

@Keyansier no I expected to be seated first

YANBU. They shouldn't have told you a table was available when it wasn't. If there was only that table, you should have been seated first.

Have you had a name change fail?
In anycase yanbu but 5 people is going to generate more money that 2 so in that sense it was a business decision. It's annoying but try not to let it consume you.

OP did this even happen as you’ve clearly changed your username.

Wouldn't have happened in M & S

Someone already made that joke.