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.

@GreenAppleCrumble It's hardly mathing it up to observe that if the people who could, ordered before getting a table, it would ease the pressure on table space. I agree that it's better FOR YOU, to get a table first if you can, but it's not better for anyone who couldn't come in because it was too busy. That's exactly why I think it's selfish.

I agree with this

Unless the cafe has a clear policy stating otherwise, you get your table first. Doing otherwise is very foolish.

If I am alone I will reserve table with coat or cardi. If that’s not possible I would just go to a less busy cafe.

There are some real martyrs on this thread 😉

YOU DON’T WIN ANY PRIZES FOR MAKING YOUR LIVES SO HARD.

It's weird the way people assume that getting your food first, then scouting for a table, will inevitably result in some kind of living nightmare.

I've always done it and it's never caused any problems. The longest I've ever had to wait is like 30 seconds.

What?!

No. You were doing some sort of calculation about how long it takes to free up tables in relation to how long it takes to buy food etc.

But I was pointing out that all that is pointless if you’re aiming for a situation in which people aren’t wandering round with trays of food. And surely that’s what we’re all aiming for? So it’s not selfish - it’s just good sense!

What do you personally do if you’ve queued, paid and there’s no table? Your calculations about how this system should yield tables more efficiently will be no use to you then!

There may well be more parties wanting tables than there are tables available. If people secure a table first, at least people know this fact in advance rather than sweating it out in the queue with their fingers crossed!

I'm team table first then order. 😁

But can’t you see that it easily could be a massive ball ache?! What if you’ve got two small, hungry children, a precariously balanced tray of food and nowhere to sit? And no one budges for, say 10 minutes? Are you saying that couldn’t happen?

Most people would rather organise themselves to avoid this!

Table service is much better, but if a family of five walk into a coffee shop what are they supposed to do if not get a table? Stand about like Brown's cows waiting till those queuing get served and sit down? That would cause a bit of a bottleneck if everyone did it.

So they sit down and someone goes up to order.

Single person slightly more ambigious, I personally queue then find a table, if there isn't one I don't take the hump, and almost every time one becomes free very shortly anyway.

And how did the couple think anyone else was to know they'd mentally reserved that table - telepathy?

Are you meant to scan the queue for people glaring hard at a table? 😂

Sure it could, but it never has - to me, anyway. It's my experience vs your theorising.

Absolutely table first

why would I stand at a queue with 3 coats bags 2 kids and then get a tray of food and drinks and attempt to wander around looking for somewhere to sit

Good first is fine if the cafe is quite empty.

If it's busy - table first always.

Food first

As I an on my own, if the place is full, I order food. Then I just ask to join another table if there are 3 people sitting there, or i go to an empty table with bags etc. I will move if asked but I will have half my food eaten by the time the table 'bagsiers' have returned.

If people say 'our friend is coming'. Eg 2 don't want to let me share a 4 seater table, I just sit down and offer to move when the friend comes. 9 times out of 10 the friend does NOT come...

I love the table threads. 😁 On MN people talk about occupancy rates, protocols and time taken to order food. We have many people insisting that they would never take a table before picking up their tray, even if it means that their 5 children, granny and dog queue up with them.
In real life people find a table, either leave someone sitting at it or if alone they bags a seat with a coat, book etc, then go and get their food.

😁👏🏼

How does that work with a single person? Or an elderly couple where neither is capable of carrying the tray for both so they need to carry their own??

People ahead of you in the queue have priority. If you take a table but you're at the back of the queue, you're effectively queue jumping!

@user1471554720 what? So if people clearly don’t want you to join their table, (for any reason) you just sit down anyway?
This is so weird, and rude

How does that work with a single person? Or an elderly couple where neither is capable of carrying the tray for both so they need to carry their own??

Tell me you haven't read the thread. 😁

What I do is put my coat down.

And the frail elderly couple are going to struggle are walking round and round looking for a table carrying their trays.

That's why you find a table first.

@user1497207191

So if you have six sets of two or three are they all supposed to stand in the queue behind others ordering?

Or do they hang about looking gormless at random spots in the cafe blocking the spaces beyween tables and waiting for their appointed orderer so they can sit down?

Or maybe if its children they should wait outside or again in the aisles until they are given the nod that their food has arrived?

Jeez talk about making something quite simple into wading through treacle

Not necessarily they may have been getting food to go. Equally should that couple then have occupied a table for 4 where they are only using half of it?

Yes but you’re clearly a normal person who can understand ordering before you get a table means you have to wait, not going around giving people who sat at a table before you evils and complaining to management? Or coming on mumsnet to say those who dare to sit at a table before ordering are the devil 😂

Table first, always. This is why I rarely visit small cafes anymore, they're always heaving! Great for business not for me 😁

Hmmmm. But as I mentioned earlier, the one time I actually tried your way, there were no tables available. A friendly couple budged up for us after a while - but they could well have been rolling their eyes inside and slightly resenting having to compromise their time together by having me and my toddler barge in. I don’t think people generally like having to inconvenience themselves because others haven’t organised themselves sufficiently!

helpfulperson
If its the last table and there are people buying food it's fairly obvious what their intentions were.

Telepathy required. Obviously. 😉

Busy cafe. Young DCs. Hustle and bustle. No it's not alway obvious.