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 ?

One of the local coffee shops used to have sitting like that until someone trying to get out from one table knocked a tray of hot drinks on the lap of a customer at the next table with their bum as they tried to get out.

After that they took out two tables. It is much more pleasant and more importantly safer now.

Yanbu. I've sent someone's wine and dinner into their lap before trying to escape to the toilet.

So that poster was right then 😳

They are piling them in to maximise profit.

Your post is literally agreeing with them?

Not quite so bad if stand alone tables but in a row like that I agree it's way too close.

They are ‘piling them in’ to do more than break even. Making money from a restaurant is really hard.

My favourite London restaurant has seating like this. I don't like it but find I usually get absorbed in the conversation with my friend and aren't bothered about what my neighbours are doing. Their conversation becomes like white noise, and there's a cheery buzz in the place.

Here is Sketch in London.

There are many restaurants where seats are not too close but are convivial. There is a difference.

Well no, I said to stay afloat, as in open, as in able to pay their suppliers, staff and utilities because they don't work and supply stuff for free do they? And as those costs have increased, a lot , that increase needs to be covered by increased income, generated by increasing prices or decreasing service, quality, quantity or experience. Or a combination of all of them.

Because to keep the same prices, quality, service, quantity etc when the cost to deliver that has risen sharply, would mean that the money runs out very fast.
When outgoings increase then income needs to increase or things don't add up do they? Do people really need that basic principle explained?

A restaurant takes out a quarter of it's tables to increase customer comfort are you going to pay a quarter more than they used to charge for your meal? Or are you still going to call them greedy anyway because they've got higher prices now?

As I said in a pp, people seem to love hating hospitality yet demand it's services!

@HospitalitySux I see it as a choice. It’s very hard to make ends meet in restaurants and many are forced to close. I think I’d rather go to one with more space that’s recognised by reliable guides for top class food. If they are local, that’s great and I’m happy to pay for that. What many seem to want is lots of space but in a lower end restaurant that needs to get the table back after 90 mins. Throughput obviously matters and so will price but the customer surely knows what they are getting? Tables close together are not tables for the evening and price will reflect that. It won’t be the appetizer in my photo but look at the work in that! And the taste too!

I feel refreshed that someone else has this phobia. Apart from me, I know nobody with it!

I am much better than I was (eating out was out of the question mostly for me for decades) but It's still there.I used to not eat at all if visiting someone, or make an excuse to nip out and eat in my car!

As for the OP, that's horrendous.

Isn't there a certain cuisine/culture where you're deliberately seated with strangers, in order to sample menus and mingle?

I also hate 'too small' tables. I had a dish that comes in several bowls/plates recently and had to practically topple them atop one another to fit everything in, elbows almost knocking something over whenever I moved.

We have a decent restaurant here, just received an AA rosette, which has its chairs and tables that close. It was awful

Tbh I would pay more to be comfortably seated if that's the issue.
I've posted on this thread previously so don't want to keep repeating myself but I do think it's fair to say we're all we aware how many businesses are struggling after covid. But equally restaurants need to realise....use me as an example....that every single thing in my life has gone up. From basics like gas, water, electric, petrol...to my nails, hair, salon services.....to my food, clothes,house insurance, car insurance....even the little toddler group I take my granddaughter to.

Lots of arguments here about high end or not. London or not. I live in central London. Yes lots of places are like this even at high end. I only go those places for "high days and holidays". Thats my budget for those restaurants. But equally ny husband and I do (did) like to eat out in the high street chains....pizza express, wagama etc and they're all like this. This isn't about class or money or who goes to better restaurants.....my point is, whether restaurants are struggling or not.....Im still choosing to go out and spend my money whether it's £50 on pizza express or £200 in The Ivy and onwards....I simply don't want to eat like this.

Again I reiterate from my previous posts, most restaurants have accommodated when asked. I refuse to sit at wagama at my age and stage of life with a table of kids. Sorry I've done my time. We request and wait for a booth. Never been a problem. I may wait a while but it's OK. It makes me want to go back again. Bills wouldn't accommodate that request in a near empty restaurant. No problem I won't eat there. Restaurants need to work with customers if they want the business.

As awful as it is everyone is struggling and if your business isn't viable without making customers deeply uncomfortable it simply won't last in any economy.

If the food is good, the price is right and the vibe is appealing then there are probably enough people who'll be willing to pay even if it's a bit cramped. Not everyone finds sitting cheek by jowl deeply uncomfortable. Not ideal, but a price worth paying.

@longtompot An AA rosette means very little. Michelin is THE guide. Good Food Guide and Tatler are reliable. Those tables and chairs are not high end. They are high street chain,

There are top class restaurants where you eat together at the Chef’s table. The chefs cook where you can see them. Yes, you sit next to someone you might not know but it’s a choice you have. It’s not obligatory to go to one. However I recommend Aulis if you are in London! Food is just fantastic.

@TizerorFizz its not a chain, it's an independent which has been open 18 months. We don't have anything with any awards here, so for one to get something is quite a big deal.

I didn’t mean yours was a chain restaurant @longtompot but there’s always restaurants on holiday for a treat. However AA rosette is decent enough.

@HospitalitySux I literally said what you said up thread and got scoffed at. Thank you for confirming how hard it is!

Cant stand it OP and people are wrong to say that nice restaurants wouldnt have seating like this, many do

As you try to get out your seat your bum pushes everything off the table next to you

awful

Well we went and it was packed.
Think everyone had the same idea of going yesterday instead of today
Squashed in one of those tables
Someone two tables up smashed a glass of wine on the floor (luckily not me )
Never again there

Common in French brasseries/bistros. Never had an issue really, and your dining companion or waiter pull the table out if you need the loo.

@ohchristmastrees Oh dear! You really can find more spacious restaurants. Start looking for next year now!

They're a lot slimmer in France and you're right its fairly common like this in Spain and Italy too but people are much smaller. Im not particularly big but aware I cant fit into tables like this

I agree, I love eating out and going for the atmosphere. I'd rather have slightly less quality food but a nice, spacious seating environment. Seats like that are basically sharing a table!

I've been to many expensive popular restaurants where they cram tables in like this. When demand is high they can get away with it.