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.

Exactly the same with my work do at Fothergills. Rushed through, no time for a coffee after the meal and kicked out after 2 hours. 15 of us spending upward of £2000. Really poor and won't book again 😕

This happened at our xmas meal! (Pizza pilgrims, not zizi though).

They at least gave us some free prosecco to apologise though.

Five of us went to Zizzis before going to the theatre. We still hadn't had our meal after 60 minutes of waiting and were told that, although they were sorry we had waited so long, we should allow up to two hours for dinner. Can't quite fathom how they expected to get 12 of you through in 90 minutes.

I booked a restaurant for 3 of us before a gig last Saturday and knew we had 90 minutes which felt more than enough time. We arrived early and people were still at "our" table so we were happy to wait in the bar till our timeslot. 10 minutes after our time, the table was still occupied so I asked staff how much longer it would be - they said not long. I asked again 10 minutes later saying we had a gig to go to and the staff only then asked the people vacate the table. However they obviously weren't happy to move and chose to stagger going to the toilet, paying bill separately and slowly getting costs, bags etc together. We got our table 30 minutes later than booked for and yes they expected us to be finished by the end of the original slot 😡 so only an hour to eat. We quickly ordered main courses and didn't have time for starters/desserts. I won't hurry back due to lack of customer care but 90 minutes is only fine if you can stick to it and not impact the next lot of customers significantly or yiu should make slots longer to ensure everyone gets a good service. 90mins for 12 people sounds an impossible task.

In a very popular area of London, where I still occasionally work, there was a local Zizzi. My colleagues and I would often drop in for early supper. Our boss would regularly take the staff there for lunch when we were working on a Sunday. Over time, it was so noticeable that the quality and the service had drastically declined that we all stopped going there. That particular branch has now closed. I'd suggest that Zizzi is an ex-brand and other places are to be preferred.

Ridiculous. There’s no way you can have a nice relaxing chatty meal in that time. It would feel rushed for four people, let alone 12. They should have told you when booking so you could just say no thanks. I hate being rushed in restaurants anyway as I’m a slow eater. A restaurant is for chilling out, it’s not McDonalds.

Was it the Winchester one? They are awful

@Darkdarknightinthedarkdarkstaircase i need to know if you paid the service charge?

I would have refused! What a way to make you feel like you are on the Christmas conveyer belt. They should have longer for groups that size. I’d say 5-8 I’d allow 2 hours and over 8 2.5 hours. Also, to have all greeted and sat down by 7:10 is actually impressive! My colleagues would have just about managed that by 7:30!

They should have asked you to preorder in this case and food should have come out shortly after you were sat.

How would you know what you fancy on the night if pre-order?.And when a group of my friends meet up for a meal we like to have a drink first, peruse the menu then order not have food slung in front of us before our bums have barely hit the seats

We booked lunch on Xmas day and that has a time limit of 2hrs but Xmas day they are very busy.

In the past I’ve had to preorder for Christmas meals out, I don’t think it’s that unusual. Often it’s a set/limited menu anyway.

Still doesn't mean you want it plonked in front of you on arrival

Unforgivable of the restaurant, I wouldn't be going back. I would also post a honest online review and tell my friends. Disgraceful.

If booking was for 7pm then id expect to arrive at 6.50pm to be seated for 7pm

I would guess that for 12 people 90 minutes is not enough time unless you had the entire restaurant to yourself which it sounds like you didn't. Because you're right, by the time everyone arrives and is seated, drink orders are taken, and then the drinks delivered, that's usually half an hour, menus are given out food orders are taken, that usually takes at least 20 minutes sometimes longer for the food to come out, so you'd be at 8:00 already, eating doesn't take exceptionally long but it definitely wouldn't leave enough time for you to eat comfortably, have the plates taken away, choose dessert, have dessert come, eat dessert, sit around a little more maybe with some coffee, have the check come pay the check and comfortably leave without feeling like you're being rushed. No, 9:00 would have been closer to it, at 2 hours. Depending on how lively your group is they might have even needed a bit more time.

I would leave a review for the restaurant and just say exactly what you said here, no more than that, no less.

If restaurateurs say this to me I say if you can serve three courses in the time I can eat them. I very much push it on to them to serve the meal in the time particularly if it isn’t mentioned at booking

If they told on booking or when people turn up as a walk in then it is up to people to decide then to stay or not but they shouldn't move people on without being told but also they are a business to make money same as people who order one drink in a cafe and expect to sit thete for 6 hours taking up space, it is not a charity

I've worked in restaurants and it should always be a 2 hour slot and you should always be advised before booking. This is terrible customer service and you need to complain.

It really is standard for a larger group.

People manage to make their choices for weddings, weeks in advance.

As a rule when restaurants go into 'works Christmas meal' season, there tends to be a more limited choice.

You are not really being helpful comparing a leisurely catch up and meal with 3 friends at anytime during the year, with a large party going out for a work party. They are completely different events.
Making your choices when booking / paying the deposit really is very normal for large parties.

Not a fan of Zizzi and wouldn't return. Booked a group of 40 in the summer in a holiday town. No time limits then which was just as well as service was very slow. They asked us to pre order. However, several dishes not available on the day and we had to change the order (luckily I had a list of who ordered what)
Staff all very young and inexperienced. Never again!

Zizi means penis in French slang.

And where would a dozen people mill about until their tables are ready? They are probably still in the process of throwing the 5.30pm sitting out onto the street at ten to seven.

Really unacceptable. Part of what you pay that much money for is to sit and enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace - and have time to sit and chat afterwards.

No way would I want to pay restaurant prices for just be rushed through.

I agree.

I don’t mind pre ordering as “what I fancy” isn’t such an over riding consideration. I know what I like and dislike and that’s fine - if I like something I’d never think it ruined my night to have that.

But you don’t want it given to you the minute you sit down I agree. You want time to sit and chat, order a drink etc