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.

If I'm paying to use a cafe then no I don't want to clear my table. What next, sinks so customers can wash their own pots?

I hate eating at places that expect clear your own because the tables never get properly wiped.

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).

I’m intrigued by your rational here. Please elaborate.

Well YABU to use a crappy cafe like M&S so I’d leave the crockery on the table. In my experience, it’s the worst of the café chains for service. They seem to only employ gossipy staff who take forever to make a rubbish coffee. 😂

I wore those blue latex gloves.

I used to work somewhere like this. I Didnt care one way or the other. I did appreciate people not piling dishes on top of dishes and leaving condiment packets sandwiched inbetween them and I was grateful when people with babies swept the floor area after a heavy session!

But otherwise I felt I was being paid for my time regardless whether that was clearing tables or serving.

I agree with you. I always clear my own table in eateries that suggest you do so and I hate it so much when people say that staff are paid to do it. They're not paid to be your servant. What does it take to just pop your empty paper cup and sandwich carton into the bins provided? I went into a Pret once and the loos were horrendous. I saw a poor put upon staff member armed with bucket and mop to clear it up. They couldn't pay me enough.

Depends if there is somewhere to clear stuff away to?

In McDonalds for instance - always as there are bins and spaces provided. In some independent cafes, never as there's nowhere to take it to and I doubt they want me handing it to them when they're serving customers or leaving it on the counter. I always do tidy up as much as possible though.

Always clear. And if you can't, at least tidy and neaten the table.

Also, people need to wipe down highchairs and clean their children's food off the floor. Does my head in, makes you wonder what their houses look like.

I used to manage a cafe with soft play and we had nappies stuffed into teapots more than once and dirty nappies with pooey baby wipes piled in glasses regularly. Disgusting

I do I'd there's somewhere to take it to like M&S but in some smaller independent cafés where they have a small counter and kitchen space it can be more annoying if you out it on the counter in their way.

Where would you put them (unless there is a rack)
Another table? - Someone could have sat there with a couple of plates not yet cleared but now it is a dumping ground the table is unusable.
The serving counter? That is got to be really annoying for staff and customers

If there are those racks which take trays then I always clear the table and anywhere like McDonalds I clear the table the throw the rubbish away. I see many people that don't though and consider them lazy and entitled.

In other places if I have a tray I put all the crockery, cutlery etc on the tray. If no tray I at least leave everything tidy and put used napkins, empty sugar sachets etc on one of the plates. I also use a napkin to push any crumbs onto a plate.

I hate that some people just walk way and leave their table looking like a bomb hit it with their dirty crockery all over the table plus crumbs, splashed of sauce etc. Disgusting pigs

Pretty much all cafes I go to you are supposed to clear your table, there's always either racks or a trolley or a table in the corner where you are supposed to take your dishes so of course I always clear my table, I wouldn't not clear it for any reason, no matter the quality of service or whatever, its too deeply engrained and I don't want to get dirty looks from other customers for disobeying the rules!

Isn't it obvious?

If there is a rack and it's piled with plates etc then you clear away.

If there isn't, you leave it where it is rather than causing mayhem by dumping it in odd places.

I think it's good manners to try to leave the table tidy by stacking the dirties on the tray (if you still have it) and making some effort to clear crumbs and spillages.

Yes clear your own table, or atleast put it neatly on a tray.
don’t leave baby food and napkins smeared in food or baby food all over the table to be cleared up

Unless there is a clear culture of clearing your own table I wouldn't but I would always clear up into neat piles, pick up anything from floor. If kid has smeared mayo or something over the table I'd at least wipe up the bulk of it. It's horrible when people don't show some consideration for staff.

If there's no obvious rack or other system I wouldn't clear the table. I used to but a couple of times taking the tray up to the counter was met with obvious irritation so I'd obviously upset a system. I will try to leave the table broadly tidy - move crockery into one area and sweep any crumbs onto a plate, check the floor for obvious debris etc.

In a pub though I do take glasses back to the bar (there's usually an obvious collection area). As a former barmaid I used to really appreciate customers doing that!

Oh wow that's disgusting!

Yes it was gross.

Not the most cost effective way of dealing with it but straight in the bin they would go 🤣

I put everything back on the tray and leave the table tidy, so the next person can just move the tray to a different unoccupied table if they want to sit there. I won't leave half eaten food, empty drinks cartons, used paper napkins, strewn all over the table.

But I won't carry my tray across to the other side of a busy cafe, weaving between occupied tables and children in buggies, in order to clear it.

If it's a small cafe run by volunteers in aid of a charity, then I will clear the table if it's obvious where to clear it to.

They are literally paid to serve you and clear up after you. I wouldn't abuse that and leave food smeared everywhere but neither do I see what's so degrading in wait staff clearing tables.

If there’s a system to self-clear then I’ll always self-clear - why wouldn’t you? (Unless you physically can’t and then I am sure staff would be happy to help). The only thing that can be a bit hard to judge in a non-self-clear place is whether to neatly put your crockery etc on the tray or if to return the tray, as some places seem to run out of trays quickly.

I find it’s not always obvious and these cafes should have some signage if it’s an expectation.

I generally go by what I can see around me. Our local M&S don’t seem to have racks to clear that I’ve noticed and I watch the staff doing the clearing and wiping. But if I see the racks and notice people clearing their own then I would do so.

Macdonalds is an obvious one for example but the number of people who don’t clear their own trays away really astonishes me. Often the lovely floor person will take it off me as I’m walking towards the clearing area. Over Covid it was a big no to clear yourself and they were very insistent their did it at our local macdonalds. I think that’s probably not the case anymore though.

I think it depends on the establishment for me. The quality of the service wouldn't come into it. If eg I was in Wetherspoons /Hungry Horse, no I don't clear the table, neither would I in say an Indian Resturant.
As a rule, if you grab a tray and slide along the servery I'd look for a tray stacker/bin and take my bits over (eg works canteen, M&S).
Occasionally I'll return my empties when not required because its no trouble/tablesfull/im close to the kitchen/I feel nice.
If I'm waiting on a bill I wouldn't expect to take empties anywhere.

There are staff to clear tables at the M&Ss I use. They are paid to clear tables. How is it demeaning to expect them to clear?
I don’t eat at fast food or canteen-type restaurants.

Slightly different point, but what is it about cinemas. People walk away and leave food thrown around the place, there are always bins there. Fair enough popcorn spills but I'm talking about paper cups wrappers etc just left on each chair or the floor.