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.

That's ridiculous, I'd have gone elsewhere when they said there was nowhere to move to. I'm skinny but would struggle to fit through that gap, in fact there doesn't appear to be a gap at either end, how do you actually get in and out? I'd leave them a 1 star review, maybe they will have a rethink.

I can't stand restaurants that pack tables in and would be thankful if I saw a review that pointed this out.

That's not as bad as my recent experience for a table for 2. They tried to sit me on a tiny table right next to the kitchen opposite the pizza oven and where all the staff walked passed constantly to collect orders.I am a menopausal woman and it was like a furnace! I immediately said I can't sit here and they did move us but huffed about it like they were doing me a favour!
Think I'll order takeaway next time.

I wouldn't even have sat down at that table. Never mind eat there. Fair enough having to ask your friends to move to let you out if you were seated as a 4, 6 or 8 at that table, but no way would I sit that close to strangers.

Thats ridiculous. And really highlights the fact that they prioritise numbers over a enjoyable experience for the customer.
Which then just stops people going again.

I don’t think the table itself looks too small for 2 but the gap is ridiculous.
How did the person sat at the back get in? Did the table have to be moved? What happens when other diners arrived to sit at the other tables? Did your table have to be moved for someone to get to their seat?
I think I agree with other posters. I can’t see how it would be too busy on a Wednesday evening for there to be no other available tables so I’d have left.

I hate it when restaurants pack tables in like this.

It's not unreasonable for them to put those four tables in that space, but they should do this to provide flexibility and not expect to fit four separate parties on the tables. They could use them as two fours, or a six and a two, or at a push possibly three twos with one couple seated at a four-top with two empty seats.

It's not reasonable for them to seat four separate two-tops in that space, as the gaps aren't big enough to get in and out or to have conversations without being overly conscious of the people next to you overhearing.

Oh no I couldn't do that at all. I have Dyspaxia and I swear my clumsy self would send everything on my table and the table beside me flying when getting up and leaving.

That looks so claustrophobic. They should remove at least one of those tables to allow for more space between couples. To be honest though, we went to The Ivy to celebrate something last year and were in a similar situation to that.

I think it is too small, where do the plates, dishes of food, naan, rice, glasses etc. go? It’s an Indian restaurant so the food isn’t served plated as OP said. Nothing worse than having to juggle all that on a small table, along with napkins, cutlery and elbows.

I would feel extremely uncomfortable sitting there and would have left. For all those saying the restaurant needs to make money, sure, but it needs to be a pleasant experience for the diner or they won’t return so it is self defeating.

Last time I went to the Ivy it was this cramped, so I left. We were so close to the next table, which unfortunately had a very loud couple on it, and barely an average sized thigh space between.

Have also requested to be moved in a restaurant when they sit you near an outside door that is constantly being opened and shut. I really don't know why they cram too many tables in, no privacy and a really crap experience.

Vote with your feet in future.

Looks like the kind of set up they'd have in a fast food place, I would hate that too

Yeah that's cramped. But for London looks kinda normal. Even, or sometimes especially, these trendy popular places will cram you in like bloody sardines.

But yeah you could only sit there comfortably if people to left and right were part of your group.

Yeah, If they had one less table in there it would be fine

Yeh. Fuck that. I’d have been uncomfortable. Nice to have a bit of privacy and space.

Well, I wouldn’t be going back there, that’s for sure! More room in our local cafe.

Because the business owners could put the picture and the poster together to come up with a name.

You're right though - it was wrong of me to make presumptions for other posters

Leave a review with the pics attached - this is absolutely ludicrous, how do people get up to go to the bathroom?

We went to a little French restaurant once which was like this and was an even bigger nightmare into the corners of the restaurant. There was a fairly big group to one side of us and as a waitress was approaching with a tray of drinks someone at that table tried to get out from the table and the waitress was knocked spilling all the drinks. The restaurant later tried to charge that table for the spilled drinks and it was only when a number of us surrounding (one benefit was that we could all hear!) pointed out that the cramped layout was actually the issue did they back down. Suspect the waitress may have had to foot the bill which is also an unfair outcome of corporate greed.

If it’s a busy restaurant and full then why would you be seated at a table for 4 for example? 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

So basically when we arrived only 1 table was sat .right on pic
so we got in then filled the next and next but when the very far table wanted to leave ,the back seating had to stand to allow them out

Then within a few mins all tables were occupied

I would have asked to be moved and insisted on it or left. That’s a horrible table to be sat on. Yanbu op

I get that but they have too many 2 seater tables rammed into the photo op showed us.

Imagine having to move your drink every time someone want to get up to go to the toilet and swipes their arse across your table 😂way to close, there should only be 3 tables in that area ideally

Way too close … how can you even get out with asking people from other tables to move. There should be max. 3 tables along that section!