Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For being annoyed at restaurant for giving our table away?

272 replies

diamondsareforever5 · 18/06/2023 23:27

Had a Father's Day meal booked for 4:30 at a restaurant today. Miraculously managed to get the kids out the house with plenty of time to get there (restaurant is 20 mins away and left at 3:45). Satnav said we would arrive just after 5 past.

Around 10 minutes into the journey, we got stuck in grid lock traffic. By the time we started moving, the satnav was now saying we wouldn't get to the restaurant until 4:40. I called the restaurant to let them know we would be 10 minutes late.

We finally got to the car park at around 4:42. I rang the restaurant again, as they have a 15 minute grace period, so I was aware that we only had 3 minutes to get to the restaurant and the car park was around a 5 minute walk away. Whoever I spoke to on the phone assured me they would hold the table.

We got to the restaurant just after 4:45 only to be told that our table had just been given away! I explained that I had just spoken to someone literally minutes before who said they would hold the table for us. The lady just shrugged and said "sorry, it's our policy" and that another table wouldn't be available until another hour and a half!

I understand that we were late and had just missed the grace period, but I was told that they would hold the table for us! AIBU to be really pissed off about this?

We did end up in another restaurant which everyone enjoyed so Father's Day wasn't completely ruined I suppose, but just annoying as I really wanted to try this new restaurant!

OP posts:
VeniVidiWeeWee · 18/06/2023 23:39

Yep. Burn down the restaurant and publicly execute the manager.

No-shows cost.

TiaraBoo · 18/06/2023 23:43

If you’re late, drop 1 person and 1 child at the restaurant door to claim the table and get the drinks in.

Original poster
diamondsareforever5 · 18/06/2023 23:45

VeniVidiWeeWee · 18/06/2023 23:39

Yep. Burn down the restaurant and publicly execute the manager.

No-shows cost.

I wasn't a no show though... I rang them twice to let them know I was running late and arrived literally 2 mins after the grace period

OP posts:
Whataretheodds · 18/06/2023 23:45

It's annoying but I probably would have dropped an advance party outside the restaurant and then parked up and followed.

theGooHasGone · 18/06/2023 23:57

It's unfortunate, but the restaurant was no doubt fully booked and they probably get a lot of people who call and say "I'm 5 minutes away, please wait for me" and then don't show up for 20 minutes.

15 minutes is a reasonably generous grace period; I've been to places that give the table away after 5 minutes!

Trying2understand · 19/06/2023 00:02

I'm totally with you @diamondsareforever5 one thing if you'd not rung, or only run once perhaps. But the fact you confirmed just minutes before and we parking etc., it was wrong.

I wonder if the message just didn't get passed onto the person who gave away the seats. Most restaurants if you ring are very appreciative and unless you are like more than 30 minutes late and they are worried the next seating won't have the table available in time, just want to know what time you are arriving etc. In my experience if there is a firm deadline due to the next seating, they also let you know. So they accept you will be 10/15/20 min late and just let you know you need to be done by 7 etc.

Glad you found somewhere else!

ItsNotRocketSalad · 19/06/2023 00:07

15 minutes is reasonable. All you'll achieve by moaning is getting the person on the phone in trouble, and they were obviously not in charge and just trying to be helpful.

ThursdayFreedom · 19/06/2023 00:12

ItsNotRocketSalad · 19/06/2023 00:07

15 minutes is reasonable. All you'll achieve by moaning is getting the person on the phone in trouble, and they were obviously not in charge and just trying to be helpful.

The person needs 'to be in trouble' or as adults prefer to say, have some training in what to do in that situation.

its not 'helpful, to tell a customer 'that's ok' then allow their table to be given away!!

ItsNotRocketSalad · 19/06/2023 00:13

No they don't "need" to be, unless you're a twat.

ShandaLear · 19/06/2023 00:13

Think about it from the restaurant’s point of view. It is one of their busiest days of the year. They have a group of people waiting to take the table versus someone who keeps phoning to say they’re definitely turning up but who haven’t yet actually arrived and although they say they’re two minutes away they might actually be 10-15 minutes away. On top of that, they’ve sold that table again at 7pm, so even if you do show up you might not finish in time for them to set up for the next group.

SkyandSurf · 19/06/2023 00:17

Restaurants have been through enough, I think they are entitled to have firm rules and make as much money as they can from the people who are there in front of them.

Why didn't you drop everyone but the driver off to claim the table and then go park the car?

Womencanlift · 19/06/2023 00:17

TiaraBoo · 18/06/2023 23:43

If you’re late, drop 1 person and 1 child at the restaurant door to claim the table and get the drinks in.

This! It’s Father’s Day and they are a new restaurant, they were likely fully booked with a tight turnaround of tables.

15 minutes grace is very generous. YABU

justgettingthroughtheday · 19/06/2023 00:23

SkyandSurf · 19/06/2023 00:17

Restaurants have been through enough, I think they are entitled to have firm rules and make as much money as they can from the people who are there in front of them.

Why didn't you drop everyone but the driver off to claim the table and then go park the car?

It's fine for them to have those rules but then they need to be clear what they are and not tell you something different when you call to say you will be late!

GatesOfBabylon · 19/06/2023 00:23

Being late is a choice.

Original poster
diamondsareforever5 · 19/06/2023 00:24

GatesOfBabylon · 19/06/2023 00:23

Being late is a choice.

So it was my choice to get stuck in grid lock traffic on the motorway?

OP posts:
whynotwhatknot · 19/06/2023 00:31

i think there was some miscommunicationthe prson on the phone obvio9usly didnt tell themanager or whover was checking in

Strawberrydelight78 · 19/06/2023 00:43

Yes this is what I would have done.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 19/06/2023 01:02

I mean would the outcome have been any different if on the 1st or 2nd call they told you they wouldn’t hold the table?

why didn’t you drop everyone off and the park the car?

Hawkins0001 · 19/06/2023 01:06

diamondsareforever5 · 19/06/2023 00:24

So it was my choice to get stuck in grid lock traffic on the motorway?

Show quote history

Using Google Maps to see how the traffic is, as it has live view which may help for different journeys

JudgeRudy · 19/06/2023 01:07

They said they'd hold the table for 15mins. Not everyone would have done this, especially on fathers day. They held it. If you'd have told them when you were parking up you would be at least 5mins they wouldn't have held the table as it would be more than 15mins late. I suspect you said 'lm 2 mins away' when you weren't. You seem to think this is about you being 2 mins linger than you said but it's actually 17mins.
Just unfortunate. Its your problem and you're blaming someone else.

purpleme12 · 19/06/2023 01:17

I think you're right OP to be annoyed.
You were told one thing which wasn't right when you turned up.
I think it's fair enough to be annoyed at that

WallaceinAnderland · 19/06/2023 01:18

They will get loads of people saying they are just 2 minutes away when in fact they are nowhere near that. That's why they have the 15 minutes policy. It's a shame you missed your table but the business has to have a cut off point.

slore · 19/06/2023 01:21

I think it's pretty mean of the restaurant, you did phone ahead and warn them and you were within 15 minutes grace period. I would leave a bad review about the experience.

suburbophobe · 19/06/2023 01:42

No don't leave a bad review.

Hospitality industry have had awful covid years. I can imagine they will take anybody dropping in for a meal. (They do. Have worked in it).

The guy on the phone may have answered correct what the situation was at the time, but then 10 people walk in. What are they supposed to do?

You need to plan for motorways being chockablock too when going out in a time-limit.

TimesRwo · 19/06/2023 01:59

If you’ve called and they said it’s fine, then they should hold the table for a bit longer, as it’s clear you won’t be a no show. The only thing that needs to change is your total booking time will reduce accordingly (so if it was only for 90 mins, you would still need to finish by 6pm no matter what time you arrived)