Page 2 | Time allowed in restaurants these days

Original poster

Toots22 · 07/12/2024 23:02

Lifestooshort71 · 07/12/2024 21:45

How can you take 90 mins to eat one course? You knew before you went in that there was a time element or didn't you think it applied to you?

Yes of course, I said that I knew that. I just think it’s a bit crappy that you can’t just relax and enjoy a catch up with friends, for all that money, and not get thrown out the door

OP posts:

TheSecondMrsCampbellBlack · 07/12/2024 23:03

I get turning tables, I get tight hospitality margins, I get it but when you’re selling lobster and taking your time to take orders it’s not reasonable

MrsBobtonTrent · 07/12/2024 23:03

We had this a few weeks ago. Took over 30 minutes just to take our orders and everything soo slow. We were still eating our mains (didn’t order starters) when they started hovering with a card machine and trying to clear our table. We refused to pay until we had all finished eating, asked for the service charge to be removed, went elsewhere for pudding and definitely won’t be going back. The same restaurant whines endlessly online about the government making life so difficult, customers not turning up to reservations, costs and overheads, people not paying. How about if you want a 90 minute table turnaround, you actually seat customers, take an order, serve drinks and food in good time to allow customers to finish eating, pay and leave within that timeframe?

Eating out just isn’t a pleasure anymore. I avoid it as much as possible now. We mostly socialise at home or at friend’s houses. Picnics in the summer. Why pay over the odds for crap food and poor treatment?

Original poster

Toots22 · 07/12/2024 23:04

LadyKenya · 07/12/2024 21:49

One of the reasons that I do not eat out, is that I refuse to be rushed, when having a meal. I am not paying over the odds to be given a time restraint like that.

Thanks, I agree. I won’t be doing it again. I’ll go to a different place, with no time pressures, or I’ll eat at home!

OP posts:

captureitrememberit · 07/12/2024 23:05

changedmynam · 07/12/2024 22:18

We booked similar a few weeks ago.... a table of 8

I KNEW we had only booked for 90mins (fine)
However due to "circumstances in the kitchen" only a small fraction of the menu was available without a 60min + wait. (They couldnt be sure, it might be longer)

I said, well I assume if we order from that 75% of the menu we will have time to eat the food and was told in no uncertain terms, no our table is booked again in 90mins so we might not have time and probably wouldnt even be able to order a pudding as no time to serve it.

I was quite annoyed actually but we all ordered something from the small selection of items that were ready to serve in reasonable time, to avoid an arguement, and because the children in our party would not have been happy to NOT have pudding (we were at an ice cream place with the highlight being the deserts; the same children would have been happy to keep playing in the playground for an hour waiting for their lunch if necessary)

I know it's frustrating but sometimes things like this happen, it's nobody's fault. They probably had booked your table for 90 minutes later way before the unforeseen circumstances. There is only so much hospitality staff can do 🤷🏻‍♀️

BigJabroni · 07/12/2024 23:05

Must be a popular place. But 90 minutes for 1 course should be manageable if the service is swift. Wouldnt want to rush 3 courses and a couple of drinks in that time though.

Modern Britain I guess. Fleece the customer and do the same to the next on repeat. Nobody cares.

Original poster

Toots22 · 07/12/2024 23:06

changedmynam · 07/12/2024 22:18

We booked similar a few weeks ago.... a table of 8

I KNEW we had only booked for 90mins (fine)
However due to "circumstances in the kitchen" only a small fraction of the menu was available without a 60min + wait. (They couldnt be sure, it might be longer)

I said, well I assume if we order from that 75% of the menu we will have time to eat the food and was told in no uncertain terms, no our table is booked again in 90mins so we might not have time and probably wouldnt even be able to order a pudding as no time to serve it.

I was quite annoyed actually but we all ordered something from the small selection of items that were ready to serve in reasonable time, to avoid an arguement, and because the children in our party would not have been happy to NOT have pudding (we were at an ice cream place with the highlight being the deserts; the same children would have been happy to keep playing in the playground for an hour waiting for their lunch if necessary)

Oh that’s not good, I would have been fuming!

OP posts:

another1bitestheduck · 07/12/2024 23:12

changedmynam · 07/12/2024 22:18

We booked similar a few weeks ago.... a table of 8

I KNEW we had only booked for 90mins (fine)
However due to "circumstances in the kitchen" only a small fraction of the menu was available without a 60min + wait. (They couldnt be sure, it might be longer)

I said, well I assume if we order from that 75% of the menu we will have time to eat the food and was told in no uncertain terms, no our table is booked again in 90mins so we might not have time and probably wouldnt even be able to order a pudding as no time to serve it.

I was quite annoyed actually but we all ordered something from the small selection of items that were ready to serve in reasonable time, to avoid an arguement, and because the children in our party would not have been happy to NOT have pudding (we were at an ice cream place with the highlight being the deserts; the same children would have been happy to keep playing in the playground for an hour waiting for their lunch if necessary)

realistically, what are they going to do if you've had your food and haven't finished eating it? they can't physically make you move if you're still eating.

In OP's case specifically, I agree with everyone who thinks 90 mins for 1 course lunch is fine as long as service is prompt. 10 mins to look over the menu to decide, then served a drink within 5-10 mins and food within 20-30 mins, leaves you with 50 mins to eat it and pay- that's ages to eat one course, it would be cold within 10, 15mins max. There's only a set amount of time people will reasonably have lunch, if sittings are 90mins each that's only 2 sittings so makes sense they need to be as efficient as possible.

It would be different if they hadn't told you and then started to rush you, but complaining about something you were made fully aware of at the time of booking is unreasonable.

Crikeyalmighty · 07/12/2024 23:13

I have recently found that eating out has in many places turned into a bland 'rip off'- I do it way less than I used to because it's simply not worth it - I stick to the same places over and over again and hence they know me as 'a regular' and I get better service.

MermaidMummy06 · 07/12/2024 23:14

I get time limits, but food has to come out quickly in that case.

We've a local cafe where they shut half the seating area off (to save cleaning I suppose) even when busy. Last time we had to sit between the ordering counter & where the food came out, even though there was about 10 tables shut off in a nice area. They then forgot to serve DM's order & it sat on the serving counter for 15 minutes until I made a fuss, after asking politely three times. Thankfully, DP's finally let that place go after that.

AGoingConcern · 07/12/2024 23:32

So they brought you the bill & card reader 80 minutes into your lunch?

That’s entirely reasonable. They give you that indication that it’s time to wrap up, you pay, finish your current drinks, gather your coats and bags… that’s usually another 5-10 minutes. And the dramatics of “thrown out the door”… honestly.

RubyRedBow · 07/12/2024 23:34

It could be that in the past they’ve not been on the ball with the bills and people have had a chance to leave without paying.

FestiveFelines · 07/12/2024 23:36

Toots22 · 07/12/2024 21:04

AIBU

Went to a fairly nice cafe / restaurant for lunch today - 4 of us. The booking was for 90 minutes so I knew that up front. Place is busy, it’s a Saturday, I get it. But after paying £45 for my 13 year old and I for lunch, for a main and a drink each and then get pretty much kicked out the door before we’ve even finished our drinks, when we get the bill without asking and the server appears with the card machine immediately (there were empty tables). I know the cost of living etc is through the roof but is it unreasonable to be hacked off these days at the cost of things and the little time you’re allowed in a place for that price to just to enjoy your food and have a little bit of chat over lunch?

Go somewhere cheaper if you don’t think it’s value for money. I don’t know anyone who has a drink and a main course over an hour and a half. If you want more time to eat then book somewhere who allows more time to reserve a table for.

I feel so sorry for hospitality staff at this time of year.

RubyRedBow · 07/12/2024 23:37

Lifestooshort71 · 07/12/2024 21:45

How can you take 90 mins to eat one course? You knew before you went in that there was a time element or didn't you think it applied to you?

You can be 45 mins in before your food has even came out though.

wombat15 · 07/12/2024 23:41

BigJabroni · 07/12/2024 23:05

Must be a popular place. But 90 minutes for 1 course should be manageable if the service is swift. Wouldnt want to rush 3 courses and a couple of drinks in that time though.

Modern Britain I guess. Fleece the customer and do the same to the next on repeat. Nobody cares.

You make it sound like a job. Eating out is supposed to be a pleasure not something to “manage”. Why would anyone want to pay to eat somewhere if they then had to manage eating their food on time?

wombat15 · 07/12/2024 23:42

RubyRedBow · 07/12/2024 23:37

You can be 45 mins in before your food has even came out though.

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Exactly.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 07/12/2024 23:42

I don't think you are unreasonable to want to linger longer over a nice meal - but it would be unreasonable to expect that in a restaurant which clearly states your booking is only 90 mins.

Personally I would be looking for an alternative venue for my next lunch out.

wombat15 · 07/12/2024 23:44

FestiveFelines · 07/12/2024 23:36

Go somewhere cheaper if you don’t think it’s value for money. I don’t know anyone who has a drink and a main course over an hour and a half. If you want more time to eat then book somewhere who allows more time to reserve a table for.

I feel so sorry for hospitality staff at this time of year.

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They don't give you the food as soon as you sit down. It could easily be 45 minutes from sitting down to eating.

BigJabroni · 07/12/2024 23:47

wombat15 · 07/12/2024 23:41

You make it sound like a job. Eating out is supposed to be a pleasure not something to “manage”. Why would anyone want to pay to eat somewhere if they then had to manage eating their food on time?

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Sadly because some people take the piss. If a restaurant is busy with bookings it has to manage it somehow or else horace and doris may sit there for hours on end.

Lalalaking · 07/12/2024 23:49

Would you be OK if you had booked a time at same restaurant and had to wait for longer because the previous diners had over stayed their slot 🤔

Biffsboys · 07/12/2024 23:50

This has only happened since the pandemic where I live ..
Years ago I could book a table , have a meal and stay for hours having drinks .

Original poster

Toots22 · 07/12/2024 23:52

Lalalaking · 07/12/2024 23:49

Would you be OK if you had booked a time at same restaurant and had to wait for longer because the previous diners had over stayed their slot 🤔

Of course not. It would just be nice to get a reasonable time to eat without clock watching the whole time and have time for a desert if we’d wanted one.

OP posts:

allthatfalafel · 07/12/2024 23:52

LadyKenya · 07/12/2024 21:49

One of the reasons that I do not eat out, is that I refuse to be rushed, when having a meal. I am not paying over the odds to be given a time restraint like that.

Then just don't go to places that have a time limit and stay as long as you like.

BigJabroni · 07/12/2024 23:53

allthatfalafel · 07/12/2024 23:52

Then just don't go to places that have a time limit and stay as long as you like.

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Wetherspoons is great for that and free coffee refils lol

wombat15 · 07/12/2024 23:54

BigJabroni · 07/12/2024 23:47

Sadly because some people take the piss. If a restaurant is busy with bookings it has to manage it somehow or else horace and doris may sit there for hours on end.

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Very few people want to sit in a restaurant for hours on end. Most restaurants are only very busy for a couple of hours over lunch anyway. After that they will usually have spare tables so even if someone does stay there they aren't preventing more people eating in the restaurant.

This sort of rule puts many people off even if they don't want to stay long as you never know how long it will take to get the food.