To hate restaurants with tables this close together? (Pic included )

[ohchristmastrees]

Just the two of us and we will be stuck on one of these tables.
Does anyone else hate being this close to other people when you are eating ?

I just wouldn’t go. You’ll have someone’s arse in your face if they try to squeeze out from that sofa and there will be zero privacy.

I agree OP. Largely because of the proportion of overweight people.

Oh I can't bear being that close to strangers when dining out, you're basically sitting with them! Our local Zizzis does this. We've stopped going as it just makes for an awkward and unpleasant experience. You pay enough to eat out, you deserve some breathing space from the next table.

We were stuck like this at an Italian restaurant, for an anniversary one year.
It was awful, with people right next to us.
Ours seemed closer at the time
The food, my risotto was also awful. I couldn’t eat it, and also couldn’t wait to get out of there.
Sadly I don’t even eat a meal out for anniversaries any more 🤣🤣

We have an amazing local restaurant with tables and chairs like that (but not he bench seating and closeness to others). The 7 course tasting menu is £85 so I don't think you can always judge the food on the decor.
However, I hate that squished together bench style eating

@YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin I'm.a restaurant owner..you will be surprised at how little people know about the running costs for the business.

I've been to a lot of restaurants in paris like this. (Well, years ago. I'm more of a food bank person these days. Which I'm only adding in case someone some day does an advanced search on me and says ahh but you eat out in paris!😄)

Anyway when you edge out from the bench to go to the toilet your bottom is passing right next to someone's meal. Very embarrassing.

Oh God, I hadn't considered the arse cheeks table ornaments from people trying to squeeze past! 🙈

I wouldnt sit on the inside lol, i wouldn't fit!

Its the norm in Paris, even closer together. Might as well be on fellow diner's lap.

If its where he wants, do it and try to enjoy the closeness 😄

This is horrible. The tables are bad whatever the size of the people.

Well they don't have to know it to the exact pound but the majority would know restaurants are struggling more since Covid.

Still, they're not going to want to suffer that sort of seating when spending their hard earned cash.

People everywhere are struggling so if they do have the money to spend on a meal out, they're going to want to do it in comfort.

I agree.

I wouldn't feel comfortable.

I'm not disagreeing with you @YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin but the way things are going a lot of places are closing. It's a use it or lose it situation. But yes I know everyone is struggling. I already said that. And I said I didn't agree with the tables in this arrangement. Just offering an explanation

Yes, but far worse if you're overweight and embarrassed about having to squeeze past those tables or in/out of the chairs.

I think the PP was just stating a fact, not making a moral judgement.

As I said upthread, it certainly wouldn't suit some of my friends and family members.

And I'd be very considerate of that if booking.

I don't need to know the running costs as a customer though, all I need to know is the seating/table arrangements suit my needs. If you cram people in you don't get my custom. I know there are plenty of others who won't mind it, so places can do as they please but I won't accept 'running costs' as a reason to choose a place like this. I just don't go.

I’ll always remember my first anniversary meal. It was in the restaurant in the hotel we got married in. It was Michelin starred and I was really excited to go. Unfortunately all I can remember of the evening is the braying twat sat beside us so closely it could have been a table for four. It totally ruined the evening, I could barely hear anything husband was saying.

I agree..it's uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing.
We went out for New Year dinner and neither us nor the couples either side felt like we could have a conversation with our partners

@lleeggoo I'm not saying you need to know the running costs. And you are missing my point by quite a bit! I'm explaining why they put tables so close together. I'm not saying book based on what I'm saying.

You are just proving my point that people don't know or understand. They don't realise the cost of ingredients also and to break even we would have to charge a lot more now. But we don't as we will lose custom.

Anyway, I get it.

I’d say there was an accessibility issue here in addition to what everyone else has said - if I could even get my wheelchair in there nobody would be able to get out past me.

It would be a nightmare in a fire.

Whilst many of us may not know the actual running cost of a restaurant, I think it's fair to say many of us are aware of the decline of many businesses since covid....pubs, restaurants, clubs, cinemas etc
Whilst I don't expect a restaurant to "roll out the carpet" when I arrive, if you want me to part with my hard earned cash, you will have to sit me somewhere else if you have bigger spaces and tables available. I want to eat, you want the business, so let's comprise together.

Tbh lots of restaurants are like this and yes in London and across Europe. I don't have so much of an issue with it across Europe because generally the atmosphere and view is better and the restaurants are full and busy. I take umbrage with it in the uk as that's not the case generally.

In my experience fine dining and most other high street outlets will accommodate you if they can. The only one I've experienced is bills in a near empty restaurant and I said on my previous post, I walked out.

This looks like a Brasserie Blanc to me. It’s a chain restaurant and not really a special occasion one. Obviously less covers means higher prices. It’s not hard to find better restaurants and avoid chain ones.

But most people do know. I can't think why you're under the impression that despite there being a post Covid cost of living crisis, the majority of customers don't know that restaurants are struggling?

We do!

100% agree. I look at the photos of the restaurant now before I book. I have had lots of nice meals spoilt by being place next to someone talking loudly or listening into our conversation. One man was listing off every nice restaurant he had been to around the world whilst making frequent eye contact to make sure we could hear. Couldn’t wait to get out of there!

I didn't miss your point. I'm saying it's irrelevant to the customer. The discussion is about where we want/don't want to sit. It doesn't matter why the tables are arranged as so, we choose what suits our needs regardless of your costs.

For many people, something like that would be a special occasion restaurant, so maybe check your privilege.

Other than the recent street food place, the worst experience I’ve had recently for being sat in each other’s laps was a local fine dining place. We paid over a hundred pounds a head to be sat next to a couple and a screaming toddler. The experience was awful and I don’t think we’ll return to the restaurant, even though it’s been a favourite special occasion place previously.