Not clearing own table at cafe

[BallandBoe]

I always, as a general rule, clear my table - and will continue to do so unless I have been given reason not to (poor customer service, bad meal, etc).

There is a couple sat next to me discussing whether or not that they should clear their table. He says yes, she says no.

Does it depend on how much you paid for your food? Does it depend on the setting? Just curious!

YANBU - You should clear your table
YABU - That's what the staff are paid to do.

I think it depends on the context. If there's an obvious place to clear it to like one of those racks for tray, then of course. This only tends to be the case in bigger places like IKEA cafe, M&S etc. In a small independent cafe I'm not sure u less there's an obvious place to put them. If there isn't, I'd assume they don't want you to.

Yep, I'm in M&S.

Her 'arguement' is that it's not the cheapest cafe in the world and part of the higher price is not having to clear your own table.

It depends on the place?

In Costa for example, you are supposed to leave the stuff on the table.

In Tesco cafe you are supposed to put your tray in the racks provided.

In McDonald's you are expected to put your rubbish in the bin and stack your tray.

M&S Cafe have racks for you to put your tray on, so yes you definitely clear your own table in M&S.
If it wasn't a cafe with racks.... I'd neatly snack our plates etc and make sure to pick up anything the children have dropped on the floor. I always leave our table as tidy as I can.

If he thinks the table should be cleared, he should clear it. He doesn’t need his wife’s permission

They are having a discussion about it, he's not asking her permission. Jeez! 😂

As SmartHome says it depends on the place. One of the coffee shop I go to has a rack where you can place trays etc so I always clear there.
Another coffee shop I go to has nowhere you can place items other than handing things to the person serving behind the counter.

For me it depends on the situation. I'll always leave it tidy, everything on a tray etc if possible. If it's busy I will try and clear the table as staff might struggle to get the chance and other people are waiting for a seat. If its quiet I'd be more likely to leave it. I'd.always check go see if there is a tray trolley around that suggests tables are self clear. I'd never stuff all over a table.

I used to run a cafe.

And unbeknownst to them, someone eavesdropping closely and starting a thread about it! 😂

I am on tenterhooks re what they do do!

Our M&S cafe doesn't have racks. There are also staff clearing and cleaning tables.

I think it depends on whether there are racks, or other obvious way of clearing your stuff away. If there's no rack (or hatch etc), what are you supposed to do with it?

M&S you’re supposed to clear.

M&S is a cheap cafe and has facilities to clear away your own trays in order to keep costs down.

If there's an obvious place to clear it to then I do so. If there isn't then I don't.

I do stack the stuff up as neatly as I can so that it is a bit easier for whoever does come to clear it.

It depends on the place. If there is somewhere to take the dirty things then I’ll clear it.

If it’s table service or there is no where to leave stuff then I won’t.

In Japan you always clear the table. There is a little serving hatch to put stuff in and the kitchen take it from the other side.
The looks we got when we left our stuff on the table.

Ok so if it's M&M he's right and she's being a dick.

Please tell them that from me 😃

Let the staff do it . Bad enough having to scan your own shopping

m&s and yes it is not particularly more expensive than many other places. Dick behaviour from her.

You don’t “have” to 😐

It depends, I used to be a waiter, most helpful customers stack plates in a way you can’t carry them, so you end up unstacking them and walking to the kitchen with food smeared across your arm as you typically carry empty plates the same as full, across your arm.

Depends if there is somewhere to clear it to. The cafe staff still have to wipe the tables though even if it's cleared. I don't always clear my own table tbh and I've worked in cafes before and table clearing is part of the job.

I always, as a general rule, clear my table - and will continue to do so unless I have been given reason not to (poor customer service, bad meal, etc).

Neither of those things are a good reason to not clear your table. That's such an entitled attitude.

Yes! I liked to clear and stack plates in a way I can carry them. I had it down to a fine art.

No never. The reason I eat out is so I don't have to do any of that

I work in a cafe and I really appreciate it. Plates are heavy and every little helps my back thanks.

What used to annoy me was people clearing their tables and leaving their dirty pots all over the counter or handing me dirty pots while I was trying to serve. Please don't do that.