To leave this restaurant?

[Whatsthepickle]

We are currently on holiday and today went to a beautiful tourist spot. We decided to have lunch and picked a restaurant right on the seafront. There were countless others in the vicinity but we liked the location of this one.

The place wasnt busy. We asked for a table and the waiter showed us to our place but had the most serious expression on his face. He didn't speak. 'OK, he isnt in a good mood-maybe something is on his mind' I thought.

DH took our (well behaved) son to the bathroom. I sat with our baby on my knee and asked for a high chair (in a pleasant tone using good manners). He looked at me like I was really taking the mick, then stomped off silently. He returned and put the high chair at the side of the table without looking at me and ignored me when I said thank you. I started feeling really uncomfortable and a little intimidated actually. This man was around 60 and struck me as being the owner or manager as he seemed quite gruff with a young waiter.

My husband came back from the bathroom and said there were loads of seats inside and maybe we should move as the sun seemed to be in the baby's eyes. I instantly knew this would be a problem, but as the waiter walked past, I said 'excuse me, can we move inside please?'.

He looked absolutely furious and without speaking and picked up the high chair (I'd lifted baby out) to move it back inside. My husband said 'thank you' and he completely ignored him and stomped inside.

I said to my husband, 'we aren't eating here. His attitude is terrible'. We all just left and walked off to a restaurant down the seafront where the waiters were lovely and the food was good.

I know I can leave a restaurant for any reason, and I hadn't ordered anything or owed money, but it felt like I'd broken some kind of protocol. The guy didn't actually say anything to us (at all actually) but he was so unsmiling and grumpy that I felt very tense. Should I have said something? Would this have bothered any of you or am I over sensitive? I just felt that i work hard for my money and would rather not spend it in a restaurant where I'm being scowled at.

Sounds like the South of France to me 😜 I've left in similar circumstances, the owners were vile, why would I give them my money?

I think I would have been sorry to miss the opportunity to say why I was leaving to spend money on the competition!

You did the right thing. Glad you had a lovely meal elsewhere. :)

I wouldn’t tolerate it either. Life’s too short to be sneered at and made uncomfortable by staff members employed to help you. I’d have made a show of telling the manager though.

Only thing I'd have done differently is tell them exactly why I was leaving.

There’s a cafe local to me where the owner seems to be really irritated when having to serve people, especially those with children. I’ve been a couple of times and felt really unwelcome each time. Strangely some people absolutely rave about him as, if he likes you, he apparently can’t do enough.

You were right to go elsewhere, I would have told them why too.

I’d have left too. He’d probably have spat in your food as well as being grumpy 😠
You made the right decision. Enjoy the rest of your hol.

You did the right thing ! Downright rude.
I recently walked out of a cafe as they could see us in the queue ( the only ones there) nobody came to take the order so we went somewhere else. It's their loss

I would have left to they clearly think their behaviour towards customers is acceptable when it isn't.

I'd leave a review.

"I can't comment on the food, which might be delicious, because the rude unwelcoming "service" was so deeply unpleasant we left before ordering. If you enjoy being scowled at and treated like an inconvenience it might be worth giving it a try but if, like us, you prefer to be treated with respect then give it a wide swerve and go to one of the other excellent nearby alternatives"

Ive done the same, also in shops, cafes and hairdressers. Won't stand for rudeness.

Thank you! Ive just looked them up online and they got quite a lot of 5 star reviews and a handful one 1 star reviews slating the owner for being rude. The same guy seems to reply to the negative reviews saying things like 'we all know what kind of person you are' or even just '😂'.

I don't think he cares, but I imagine does care about his pocket!

Weird.

I love this! I can't leave a review unless I've booked through an app though?

Oh, and a B&B in St Ives. Shown to the room, was made to feel really unwelcome and scowled at, turned around and walked out. Phoned ahead to the place we were due to stay at a few days later, went there early and treated like family.

Anyone can leave a review on Tripadvisor - and any number of other sites.

And Google reviews.

Always choose a busy restaurant. It's busy for a reason; the locals know which ones to avoid hence the quietness.

I’ve had some poor service and shocking attitude recently too. I always leave. Eating out is meant to be a pleasurable experience and it’s not cheap to do.

My stomach clamps shut the minute I feel tense or awkward when eating out. I literally can't swallow. Why would anyone put themselves through an unpleasant dining experience.

This also gives the lie to 'negative reviews are unfair, give them a chance to sort it out first'. If its a horrible, unwelcoming atmosphere then I'm not going to sort that out with anyone without making myself more tense.

Usually if someone's complaint in a review is responded to by a Basil Fawlty type of owner, the first thing I do is look at their other reviews if poss eg on Tripadvisor. Often you'll get a clue as to the type of customer they are and if they're reasonable people and if all their other reviews are ones praising establishments, especially if they're places you've been to yourself and the reviews sound accurate, then it's more likely you're looking at a Basil Fawlty and it would really put me off somewhere cos they just sound off their rocker.

Why is his age relevant?

Google reviews are your friend... You could even add your recommendation for the alternative!

I ate out at a lovely local restaurant recently where the food is hot and fresh and the service is brilliant. nAt the same visit we found out that the place was closing for good a few days later because they just couldn't make it work financially as staffing needs were too inconsistent to plan, and I assume the change in national living wage has also had an effect.

The food was still lovely, and more to the point, the staff, including the owner who also managed the place and served us, were still fabulous and welcoming. There's no excuse for surly treatment. I wouldn't be surly with the people who I deal with on a daily basis. I was working while my dad was very ill in hospital last year just before he died and still managed to smile at people who came to me for help and be pleasant with them, even if I did sometimes have to ask them something twice because I was a bit distracted.