Restaurant seating

[creativegoblin]

Restaurant booked for 4 people last night. Normal restaurant, European food, prices high end of "normal". Hadn't been there before. We arrive and the "table " booked is actually 4 seats on a long table bar. We are therefore sitting in a row with the two at the end unable to talk to each other. There's no working bar infront of us, just a large fish tank!

Immediately I said we had booked a table to sit together - apparently I didn't specify this and there weren't any standard tables free that eve. By that point too last minute to book elsewhere but I was really angry tbh!
What would you do ?

What would you do ?

Well, at this point, I'd do nothing, because it's too late. You complained at the time and still ate there and (I assume?!) paid the full bill. I appreciate that you say there was nowhere else you could have gone to eat, so I can see why you agreed to have the meal anyway, but maybe you could have asked for a discount or drinks on the house or something.

The restaurant should have made it clear, when you made your booking, that the only had bar-style seating left, rather than an ordinary table, so you're not unreasonable to think they were out of order. But other than leave them an honest review on TripAdvisor or something, there isn't anything you can really do now.

I'd have left tbh.

Given that these are the only 2 options, I’d have sat at the table and ordered, or I’d have left

I'd have politely left, explaining that we'd booked the meal so we could talk as a group and the bar wasn't suitable. If that was all they had free, I'd feel no guilt about them losing my business.

I wouldn't have stayed. If there were genuinely no other suitable restaurants near by, I'd have gone home and had a takeaway!

I think you just chalk it up to experience. You can't do anything about it now.

If you feel very strongly about it, you could email to say that in future you think they should mention to customers that they'll be sat in a row rather than round a table, because it somewhat spoiled your enjoyment of the night. But other than just letting them know (with no expectation of anything other than a "thanks for your feedback" email) there's nothing else to be done.

I probably would have gone somewhere else even if it meant going someplace very casual or a pub or whatever. At least then you could interact with each other and have a normal conversation.

Well what we did do was leave. Had to get a taxi to other end of town and then wander round for a bit before finding a curry house where we enjoyed actually looking at each other ! Today the restaurant had the cheek to try to charge me for not showing up to booking! Glad to see others would leave also. The staff there seemed to think we were being childish.

I'd leave an honest review (so say whether the food was good or not) but also point out that it was a shame their booking system didn't specify whether seating was at a table or bar-style - I'd have been cross as well as I really dislike bar-style seating for a meal.

Point out that as they didn't in fact have a table for you, they have lost nothing by you leaving.

One of my pet hates is uncomfortable seating in restaurants. I hate bar seating and on other end of the scale those ridiculously low chairs that you sink into. Why do designers do this? It's so impractical for enjoying a meal or talking to your friends/family. I also detest it when they seat you right outside of the loos.

Good. It really feels like good service is going out the window over the last few years and meanwhile prices are going up. You shouldn't have to put up with their lack of common sense in putting a table of four sat facing a wall.

I'd have left too...ridiculous seating for a party of 4.

If I thought I'd a chance of getting a table anywhere else I would have left.

That's very unreasonable of the restaurant.

There's a big pub hear me that has that kind of seating so when you book a table you have to choose from at least 3 seating options and then a final confirmation that it is bar seating in a row rather than a normal table.

I would have left as well
And as for them trying to charge you I hope you told them to shove it where the sun don't shine!!

I would have left too.

I once went to an almost empty place, there were two of us, only one table in use. Empty table in the window so asked to sit there. They refused as it was a table for 4 and they might need it.

We looked around at all the empty tables, looked at the waiter, and left.

I would have left too. But how have they charged you? Did you have to give card details when you booked? I think if you made it really clear why you weren't happy and wouldn't be taking the seats etc, they are hugely unreasonable to charge you and I would be leaving reviews everywhere to this effect.

Edited to say I've now read your update properly...

Yes card details when booking

i would leave a bad review regardless if they ‘charge’ you. If they do then go through your credit card company for a charge back. I assume they didn’t send you any terms when booking therefore they can’t charge you.

You booked a table. They didnt seat you at a table, they seated you at a bar. Therefore they didnt provide what was agreed, so no way would I be paying.

Immediately I said we had booked a table to sit together - apparently I didn't specify this and there weren't any standard tables free that eve.

This is completely batshit. Who calls to book a table for four but doesn’t want to sit together?? That’s not a thing. The restaurant is just trying it on because they know that no one wants to sit silently in a row at the fish bar and they hate having the seats empty all the time. Cheeky sods.

I have back trouble (slipped discs) and would be in agony if I tried to sit and eat a full meal on a bar stool. I'd have left for that reason alone

They are being completely unreasonable. I have had bar seating at a few restaurants before but only ever for 2 people and we have always been notified in advance that this is all they still have available.