Was it unreasonable to take the table

[user17382]

Out with Dm today and my young DC's. There is a particular cafe that we really like and hadn't visited for a while. Went in and there were not tables so we said we would do some more shopping and then come back to see if any were free. Went back about 30 mins later and we see a table of 4. So we went straight to it and sat down/took coats off etc and went up to order.

At this point we realised a couple at the counter were complaining about us to the waitress. Apparently they had been about to sit at our table and as it was the last one available in there they now had nowhere to sit. Staff were very good and moved things around to get them some chairs but they spent the whole time in there tutting and giving us dirty looks.

My logic is that when going in to somewhere busy we always find a table first and then order. If we waited in line with the kids and then went to find a table and couldn't get one we would be stuck as the kids are too young to take the food or drink as takeout. But then I did feel really uncomfortable and that maybe we did something wrong.

Or sit at a table with someone sitting with no food or drink and ask them to budge up 🤷🏻‍♀️

Apart from the places that ask for a table number when you order, I generally get asked 'where are you sitting?'. Both suggest that I've made sure I have a place before I commit to buying food.

I prefer that system because then, as a PP said, I can look in and see if there are tables available before deciding whether or not to stay. It would be a pain to see plenty of free tables, buy food, then find that the tables had all filled up while I was doing so.

I prefer that system because then, as a PP said, I can look in and see if there are tables available before deciding whether or not to stay. It would be a pain to see plenty of free tables, buy food, then find that the tables had all filled up while I was doing so.

Exactly. It makes no sense whatsoever to queue up, order and then hope for a table. And yet the people who do it are insanely committed to it being the right way. 😂

If I’m on my own or just with one other, I’d order first, if there’s a few of us or I’m with my kids I’d get a table, then one of us go and order. Always done that and having been out with family and friends many times, so do most people I know! YANBU.

YANBU, you didn't deliberately take a table from them. For all you knew they could have been meeting people or with a bigger group of people already sat down.

If I were this couple, I'd have sat down first, decided between us what we want and then one of us would order while the other kept the table. I get the argument of, "but what about if you're by yourself?". I've been that person (who hasn't?) and I think it's simply a case of tough titty. That's why in coffee shops and such places, they have those bar style seats.

To those who say you order first then sit, my argument is that when you go to a restaurant with waiting staff, do you order food before you've sat down, generally speaking? JS

What about someone who is disabled?

Different places have different rules near us. There’s one place that has a single person’s placement to pop on a table to say you’ve reserved it so you can joint the queue. Some places want your table number but other give you a wooden spoon with a number on get your food to you. If I’m with my children I often get them to sit down at the table and then I go and queue.

Surely not!? Because then if you’ve ordered and paid for your food and you’re stuck with no table you’re screwed?

So u n ur kids r more important then people who do the right tjing n q n buy food. I see parents do this n lwave the cafe for it guaranteed they r gonna b nightmares with loud whiny kids running riot while mum sits on her phone n dad does even less but happy to order staff around type meal ruined by one selr entitled karen family

No, you did nothing wrong here. Find a table first that's what you do isn't it? Put a jacket/bag on a chair or someone sits while the other one orders. How were you to know they had plans for that table? Don't give it another thought😉

First world problem, get a grip and think of the people in Gaza who are starving and freezing to death.

Karen family?

ODFOD

Yes, buy food before grabbing a table. Very likely a table will come available once yiu have got yout food.

Same!

I’m utterly baffled at these “food first” responses!

Not one single person I know would ever go and get food first and then take the risk of not being able to get a table. Always always get your table sorted first and then go and order. It’s basic common sense!

And on the odd occasion I’ve eaten somewhere on my own, I’ll leave my coat on a chair at the table and then go get my food.

If someone goes and gets their food first without securing somewhere to sit, and then struggles to get a table, then sorry, that’s on them for not being more sensible.

I always get a table first busy or not it makes no sense to order food and then find there’s no where to sit plus it ends up a juggling acts of carrying food/drinks as well as any coats/bags/children you have with you.

I always find a table first! If the cafe was busy when the others arrived then surely they should have had the sense to get a table first?

Sitting first always makes more sense. Otherwise you're blocking the queue up with five people, a double buggy, shopping bags etc and the shop looks way busier. And then you're balancing a tray or two with a couple of small kids and a pile of shopping.

YANBU - I always get the table then order. Especially as there’s two of them…one get the table and one wait in line?

Im with you. Always find table first before ordering food.

YANBU OP at all

Can one of the ‘queue first’ people please tell me how you can be sure (even if everyone is playing by your mad rules) that there will be a table for you? You can’t! So what do you do then? Just stand around sadly with your tray waiting for someone to leave? Then a backlog builds up behind you and it all becomes rather stressful as various table-less parties are trying to predict who will leave first, and hovering threateningly by their tables. Sounds like a nightmare.

I’m sorry, can you try that again?

I always get the table first, no way I can manoeuvre bags, coats, children and then on top drinks, etc. You were right.

I think the venue needs to make it clear what the protocol is. A cafe I go to has strict rules about this and you get shouted at by the owner if you try and sit down before you've ordered and paid.

Sounds like a place to avoid!

It is not jumping the queue 🤣🤣🤣

You’d have to get served before that person already in the queue for there to be any queue jumping.

Getting a table before going up to order food, is called using your common sense to ensure you have somewhere to eat that food. Instead of being a stupid twit wandering around with a tray because you didn’t have the basic foresight to ensure you had somewhere to sit first 😂