To be annoyed at my seat in restaurant?

[inkyspells]

So last night me and partner went for a Indian meal for a belated birthday celebration.
Heard lots of good reviews but because there was just the two of us they put us on the two table (which was bang in the middle and people either side,no room to move etc )
I felt so uncomfortable the whole meal.
Felt like the other people watching us eating,couldn’t talk etc
I asked to move but they said “2 people is these tables “
Anyway il add a photo with arrow showing our table
abiu ? Or are these tables ridiculous
Bear in mind we have 2 curry’s ,2 cocktails ,2 rice ,a nan all on there and literally couldn’t move.

I was locked and loaded to tell you how unreasonable you are but having seen the photo, the tables are far too close together. I wouldn’t like to sit there for the reasons you’ve mentioned and unless you’re on the end, you have to ask strangers to move if you need the loo. So you’re not being unreasonable.

That’s madness. I’m older now and much more vocal about where I sit. A recent place tried to sit us next to a big table of 15 … there were 2 of us! The other side of the restaurant was empty .. they just didn’t want to be walking across. But they did move us.

Surely on a Wed night the restaurant wasn’t full OP.

You can't leave your seat without asking the person next to you to get up.

If you were sat on the end and enjoying your meal with your partner, would it not bother you if the person next to you had to make you get up so they could pop to the loo, then again when they returned, and a 3rd time when they were leaving..?

I am absolutely with you OP and would leave a google review mentioning it. 3 tables there would be perfect.

I wouldn’t have accepted that table.

I’ve threatened to leave in the past when given a horrible table & been offered better ones.

No guarantee of course but there are other restaurants. Or as a last resort, a takeaway at home would be preferable and cheaper too.

What's on the right of the last table OP? Doesn't look ideal for those people either if they are up against a desk or something.

Agree with the above. You would be elbow to elbow with others and have to basically put your bum on another table to get out to the loo. Tables in middle of restaurant is definitely normal, but that close together is just silly

From the position of the lights above, it looks as if they intended to (or once did) have three tables in that space. Probably slightly larger than the ones there now. Then they realised they could shoehorn two more paying customers in...

I would probably have rolled my eyes and got on with it, but I agree it's a bit shit. I have a fat arse and I'd have apologised, of course, to anyone who had to move to let me out...but I'd be apologising on behalf of the restaurant, not my arse.

Post the photo on a review site. Those saying they would be ok with the distance between the tables, I wonder if they would say the same if their dish of fluorescent curry was spilt into their lap as someone tried to squeeze past?

Perhaps because it’s ultimately a business and it’s just about money. They make more money from larger tables because more people fit round them and order more food. It makes no business sense putting two people at a table for 4 when a group ordering twice as much food could walk in at any moment wanting to sit together. Not all restaurants are booking only, some you can walk in. Before Christmas a group of us did book a table somewhere. 3 or our group dropped out on the night and when we arrived we were immediately moved to a smaller table because they didn’t want 4 of us at a table for 7 when they could fit a larger group there and make more money. It made perfect sense to all of us.

The only time this kind of arrangement can work is where people choose their own seating (like mcdonalds and greggs!) That way nearly always people leave decent space or just choose not to sit there, but at exceptionally busy times all the seating gets used (usually with apologies). There's no excuse for it in a decent restaurant.

Well YANBU to want more space but you were unreasonable to accept the table then whinge. They a NBU to want maximum covers in their business.

The tables themselves are very narrow, never mind the tiny gaps. I would be butting elbows with strangers. Horrible set up.

I would have turned round and walked out.
In that set up you feel like you are having a conversation with the next table AND you would struggle to get in and out without putting your arse in someone' s food or face. No thanks!

I could say it's restaurant s being greedy but I think that pubs and restaurants are really struggling so they are jamming everyone in.

Ridiculous. I would refuse that table & walk out if no other table was available.

My DH and I stopped off at a country pub on the way home once.
The only (dusty) table for 2 they had meant I was sat under the stairs in a dark corner, next to the loos.
There were a few tables set for 4 or 6 but we weren't allowed them.
We sat down while the waiting staff faffed about getting cutlery, glasses, napkins etc to make up the table.

DH looked around, said "fancy grabbing something from McDonalds instead?" so we left.

It wasn't a busy day, just a random Thursday. They weren't overly busy. The food was average pub grub, but a bit over priced.

They've since closed down and it's been demolished and has some lovely houses there now.

OP, I'd have walked out. Make sure you tell your DP that you won't be going back there unless you're on a bigger table.

Yanbu those tables are far too close together. There's plenty space for 3x tables of two on that row but 4 tables is too close for comfort.

There's no space to get up to the loo or anything without possibly knocking a drink. If you are bigger than a child there's no way you could squeeze out.

I agree OP I hate being wedged into tables like this .

How did you even get into the seat at the back in the first place?

Yanbu.
No way would I have sat down.
I would have moved on, and have.
The tables were on top of each other.
I would highlight that in a review.
Include the photo in your review.

How did you even get in our out of your seat/table!

I'm genuinely amazed almost a quarter of those who have voted think you're unreasonable!

I would be leaving a fair and truthful review to warn other couples they may end up effectively sharing a table with strangers.

Yanbu. I'd hate that.

What's with the quoted response?
“2 people is these tables “

I’m haven’t voted yet but I also think OP is unreasonable. Not because of the table, she is absolutely right about that but because she saw the table and proceeded to sit down, eat her dinner, pay £100 for the pleasure and then come here to complain. Pointless to do it here as we can’t do anything about it and it left the restaurant with the impression that what they are doing is ok and people will accept it. She is unreasonable not to have insisted on another table or walk out.

That’s a ridiculous set up. I often ask to move if they try to sit me somewhere unsuitable, whether that’s right next to a door, near a screaming child, on a bench seat in the window that’s too high for the table, on a small or uncomfortable chair (when they have several chair options). The ‘take it or leave it’ attitude here would have me walking out the door before I sat down. No way I’m getting my thunder thighs through that gap, and I want to be able to fit all the food I ordered on the table!

How did you even get in and out?!