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 ?

We were at a place with tables positioned like that and a waiter stood between the two to take the order from the other table and his bum was about six inches away from my face - I felt like jabbing it with my fork.
I wish I had now. 😡

Am I the only one who loves the chairs?
.In a bustling city I wouldn't mind but anywhere else it would be annoying.

Ask for a table with space for a high chair. Then when you arrive, "oh we managed to find a last minute babysitter".

What difference does it make to your arse and your back if you're in a city or not? 😳

They look bloody uncomfortable either way.

Which they're designed to be, so customers don't stay too long after eating.

Or

"Oh shit, we left the baby in the taxi" 🤦‍♀️

🤣🤣

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie The OP started the thread! Buzz off if you like chain restaurants and I don’t care that others do. Save up and go somewhere better less often,

I’m happy not to use them for special occasions: they are not special as you are too close to another table. I don’t need your input to tell me what I think or like. The OP doesn’t like this type of restaurant either. Some of us prefer something better - as evidenced on this thread. So stop the stupid privilege rubbish!

Book for 3 people and then once seated explain the other is stuck in traffic then a few mins later say they now can't make it. But I wouldn't expect any restaurant to be busy at 4pm, most near me that are decent aren't even open at that time for dinner service.

Never seen a Cafe like this... looks like a classic pub seating/dining but nothing like a Cafe.

My thoughts exactly!

We went for a posh meal before Christmas and the tables were all like this with the exception of the big tables which were circular for 9-10 people which were all spaced out and mostly empty. I hate it, was a tight squeeze as we also had baby in a highchair, although we did make friends with the couple on either side 😂

If you want more space you need to be paying more basically. Space costs restaurants money to rent and if there's less people dining it won't be earning for them.

i wouldn't say it's greed, given the current economics of the restaurant sector. It's just a choice, both for the restaurateur and the customer.

You could spend/charge a hundred quid for a nice meal in cramped surroundings or (say) a hundred and fifty for a nice meal in more spacious surroundings. Some will prefer one option, some the other. Personally I'm happy with either: I like buzzy.

I hate it too, always find the people next to me start listening to my conversation or watch me eat.

I can't stand eating at restaurants like that, makes me feel really awkward and claustrophobic. We ended up in one similar in Manchester earlier in the year and it was horrible - couldn't wait to get out of there.

If you don't like it, don't go. You don't have to, surely. I'd prefer a bit more room so understand how you feel but I would know the restaurant before booking.

No I won’t buzz off. You were implying that only chain restaurants are like this. My previous post made it clear that some very expensive restaurants are also like this. I’ve also made it clear that I don’t like placement like this, whatever the restaurant.

You were being a snob.

I can't stand this type of seating & I detest being so close to other diners.

Some people really blatantly listen in to your conversation! The worst is being seated to a couple who sit in silence chomping through their meal with zero conversation. I find that so depressing & uncomfortable to sit next to!

Well it's her DH's choice for his special meal out so she kind of does have to go. Should be fine at 4pm though.

I went to Polpo in Soho on Saturday (definitely not a cafe / fast food / cheapo place) and the tables were so close together my wine got taken out by a mans arse.

Hardly 'stupid privilege rubbish' when you're telling people to save up ab go somewhere better!

Personally a restaurant for a special occasion is somewhere I or the the other person likes and enjoys the food. It doesn't matter how much it costs, the idea is you go there to enjoy yourselves, unless you're a snob who is more worried about where they're seen of course.

My partner hates it so much he simply wouldn't eat there! We've been known to move more than once in restaurants.

As you’re going at a quiet time, I would book a table for 3. Then explain that someone couldn’t make it when you arrive……You’ll most likely get given a table for 4!

We are a family of 5 and often book for 6; restaurants can tend to shoehorn 5 onto a 4 table, rather than using a 6 seater one.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat People we know use cheaper restaurants quite often. They could go less often and go to a better one for a better experience. They like cheaper experiences and this why these restaurants exist. Some of us are not keen. We don’t go out as much as others but when we do, we go somewhere we will remember. The whole idea of the thread is the OP doesn’t like tables close together so is she a snob? We just prefer better food in comfortable surroundings but not every month. It’s not snobbish to prefer a better experience. We think it’s venue for money and @Frangywangywoowah : I agree: be discerning. It’s not privilege. It’s common sense.

Oh gosh, I wouldn't like that. It smacks of piling 'em in, to maximise profits. As opposed to customer comfort!