To think 1.5 hours in a restaurant for 12 people is not long enough

[Darkdarknightinthedarkdarkstaircase]

We went to Zizi last night four our Christmas work meal. When we arrived at 7pm we were told we only had the table until 8.30pm as they were booked back to back. We were NOT told this on booking and it also was not mentioned on the confirmation email.

By the time everyone had greeted each other and sat down, it was 7.10pm. When the waitress came to take our orders she kept looking at her watch and we were reminded and rushed through the whole meal. We didn't have time for puddings and at 8.30pm we were literally asked to leave as people were waiting outside for the table!

I couldn't believe it. It felt like a rushed school canteen, not a relaxing evening meal.

AIBU that it is not acceptable to think 1.5 hours is enough time for 12 people to order, eat and chat and enjoy a relaxing meal out?

Such a let down.

But we can see that the OP visited one…

Unless it's specifically mentioned I have never been on an Xmas meal where we have had to leave the table. Usually booked to start at 7:00 or 7:30 so maybe that makes a difference but the table has always been for the evening

Well yes obviously. I thought the don't you have eyes comment was quite rude.

But my point is that you can do that somewhere where they actually serve food worth paying restaurant prices for. Or at least go somewhere independent that makes it's food in the restaurant from fresh ingredients.

Went to my work do last night in a pub. About 30 of us. We were there from 7.00 to 10.30 ish and had a three course meal for £25. We pre-booked our meal choices. We've quite often been to pubs, rarely to restaurants, as there are a lot of us (much more than 30 in fact) and they can be a lot more accomodating. Maybe try a pub next time?

I've found restaurants often say 1.5 hours now, though when I go out with friends we avoid these as we don't meet that often and we want plenty of time to catch up. They do usually say on websites or in advance if they have a time limit though, so it's bad they didn't tell you.

I've booked a family meal for next week in a hugely successful Turkish restaurant in our home town. 10 of us for lunch (not a 'Christmas Dinner') and was told when I booked that the table would be for 90 mins only. I was ok with that because it then became my choice to agree or not. I'd have been cross if they'd told us on the day!

I have the same here (We live SC ) popular area all year round but esp at Christmas.I think you should have been made aware at time of booking ,however many places would probably have similar rules at this time of year .

What a bizarre comment. Not everyone has a zizzi's near them, I know I don't.

For a party of 12 90 minutes is a bit tight. 2 hours would be better. They wouldnt be getting a good review from me

I can’t see anything on their website either, 90 minutes isn’t enough for larger bookings, we were 3 hours in our local independent Italian last week, and a bill to match (thankfully i wasn’t paying!) I do admit we are most fortunate to have two independents in my town that know how to treat people right, both family owned and run and different from each other (one family is from Sicily, the other from near Milan)

That's rubbish. I would expect a 2 hour limit for a group Christmas meal. And I am surprised they didn't ask for orders in advance for a group that size.

When the hospitality trade bodies complain about the taxes such as business rates they face and lack of support in the recent budget, the likelihood of sympathy from the wider public is reduced by practices such as the one the OP highlighted. Even though they have a good case such as the antiquated payment for local council services that is business rates and the higher rents they face because of lack of action over shops which are a front for money laundering.

Most restaurants have that same time slot. I assumed it was common knowledge.

There are 2 out of 30 that do that in my town Hardly most

It’s nowhere near long enough. When we meet for a family meal (8 people) it always seems to take ages to get through. It makes no sense really either because you would have ordered desserts and drinks so it’s not like they wouldn’t have still been making money. Leave a review and maybe complain that you weren’t informed.

Not only should they have stated the time limit when booked
But they should have also taken pre orders
Standard for most large Christmas meals in restaurants in my area

Yeah, that was likely. Like someone would post the name of some obscure tiny one-off place rather than just making a typo with a well-known national chain.

"Do you really mean Pizza Hat, OP?"

"Do you really mean Wigamama's, OP?"

Definitely complain. Seems unfair that the group that book at 8.30 get the table for hours! Presumably until closing time?

@MasterBeth that made me cackle 😂

This is so poor of Zizzi. You are definitely not being unreasonable.

There is, an independent Zizi, where I live.

That’s definitely not standard for big groups at Christmas. I’ve got 4 meals coming up over the festive period all with 10+ people at separate restaurants (DH friends, my friends, work and family) and our booking is for 3 hours each time.

Extremely poor and I would complain.

I could have written this! Same thing happened to us!

@Rafting2022 , @luckylavender , not going too far at all. There are independent restaurants called Zizi and Zizi's.

Yes and given opportunity to pre order. The time would have been find if you'd prefer ordered