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.

Yep that’s not on. It should be very clear if there’s a time limit, and for a Christmas dinner celebration they should expect the table to be booked for the evening! Definitely write in to the manager and above to complain - be polite and accurate.

I thought it was 2 hours minimum legally?

Oh, there's a law about minimum booking time? That's good, perhaps you could provide a link so the OP can quote it when she complains?

I'd be interested to see what other legal entitlements restaurants are diddling us out of too.

Is your issue not being told or the time itself? If it’s not being told then if you had been told would you have still gone? If yes then the time is fine.

90 minutes for dinner is standard where I am it means they can serve more people each night 🤷

We had similar at Bella Italia last night. All food ordered in advance, party of ten. One and a half hours before the starters arrived, then another wait for mains. Some people were going on to a gig and could not wait for dessert.

I just sniggered.

If you're a French speaker, 'zizi' means something else entirely.

You cannot expect a long relaxing lunch or dinner at this time of year.

The restaurant business is about sustaining it. (worked in it).

This is exactly how long our works Christmas meal was about 20 of us 3 courses several drinks each had a great night couldn't imagine being chucked out after 1 1/2

If you're a French speaker, 'zizi' means something else entirely.

Oh do tell! Need to know as I have French-speaking family....

Well 'zizi' is a French word for penis...

That's shocking from Zizzi as they've clearly priorized profit over customer service. They should allow at least 2 hours for a meal, and more for a large group.

Personally i would have complained at the time and either refused to move or refused to pay the bill.

You need to leave a review saying exactly what happened and I'd also contact their headquarters and complain. I'd be wanting a large % refund.

Are the people who think its common to only have an 1 1/2 hours live in cities or something because this is definitely not a thing where I live

Same 😂

Usually 90 mins for under 5 people; 2 hours for large group

Oh thanks @themerchentofvenus

From the OP’s second post: “We wouldn't have gone there had we known”

& that is why they didn't tell you.

its FAR too short a time for a large booking for a Christmas Event especially.

i know they are all struggling. But this kind of thing is not going to help. Post it an any & all social media you are on & email/x/ the branch and the CEO.

the main point that you were NOT TOLD ahead of arriving.

Yeah that’s poor, definitely not enough time.

We had a similar situation last Christmas day, where we were allocated 2 hours to eat our 4 course meal. We were not advised about this in advance, although all our food requirements had been submitted 2 weeks previously. We were asked to vacate the table at 2pm when we had not finished eating.

We were quite annoyed and upset and I emailed the manager that evening, stating how annoyed we were and how much the meal had cost.

The manager duly responded and apologised with the proviso
should we return this year we would be given 3 to 4 hours for the meal.

I enquired about another family meal this Christmas day and was informed that if I booked again this year, the meal slot would be at least 3 hours.

I know all families are different and not everyone wants to sit around to enjoy and digest their food.

So do not hesitate to complain.

They need their customers money at this time of the year.

90 minutes is standard in busy times
.As a chef I could recommend you pre order in future warn your guests and check how long the table is for when booking especially at Christmas,mothers day new years eve or any peak times.x

😂😂😂

I have had a similar experience recently (not Xmas season, but a Friday evening) in L’Osteria, and they didn’t take our order till 7.25pm (we arrived at 7pm sharp). Our pizza didn’t turn up till 8.05pm, and I could see the waitress at 8.20pm considering her options about whether to shoo us out. She decided against it, and they comped us dessert, which was nice. But I’ve also had staff try and eject us when our 90 mins was up and we were halfway through the mains, - yes, Isinglass in Urmston, this is one of many reasons you went bust.

Conversely, I have been stuck in an unfamiliar city at a weekend, not having booked, and the staff have said ‘we can only give you the table for 90 minutes’ - to which I responded - ‘you serve us the meal and we will be gone’.

But for a prebooked meal for 12 ? Completely unacceptable.

We had our Witka Xmas do last week, it was a pizza place and we didn’t want desert. Some had starters, most didn’t. We had 1:45 booking so longer than you but we we were a party of 17 and were out well under our booking time.

Hahahaha I’m literally laughing out loud.

I thought it would be standard to have closer to 3 hour slots.

It takes me this long when there are just 2 or 3 of us.

When we went out for our Xmas meal we were there a good 7 hours.