AIBU for being slightly annoyed at how he handled it?

[confusedwithacrawler]

My partner and I went for a carvery today at the local chain one we go to all the time. We pre-booked but found the website was having issues and constantly freezing. Eventually it went through but was booked under 2 people instead of 3 including our toddler. I completely admit we should have fully checked the confirmation especially as we knew the website was having issues and the amount of times we went through this so I am aware of our part in this situation.

However when we got there the man seating us made a huge ordeal out of it, that left me feeling like I was being publicly told off. He pointed us to our table which was just across from the host stand and then he started talking really loudly at us again as we had already walked away and sat down. I fully respect letting us know that we made a mistake and our daughter needs to be counted as a person and would expect him to do as such. It's also not like he could have known we usually always book as 3 on the many occasions we have gone there and specify a high chair as well as a space for a pram in the comments. Yet he said it like we did it to make his day harder or as a personal offence instead of an honest oversight. He complained that he could have had to move us to another table which would take a lot of reshuffling (it was 14:15 on a tuesday so empty except for that one section) had he not previously allocated us a 4 seater. He then went onto explain for 5 minutes that it's carless booking that can lead to wrecking his Sunday as it's busy and leads to disappointment because "people can't use their brain and count heartbeats."

Despite this creating an already odd and tense environment (especially as I noticed the tables next to and behind us saw and heard the whole exchange and some were talking about it) I tried to let it go and put it down to hospitality being a hard job and the man near his breaking point.

But during the meal he came over and asked how everything is and noticed my 18 month old had barely touched her meal and he said something like "nice to know we accommodate children unexpectedly and they don't even eat their food." Then as my partner went up to pay he asked him to give a good review and mentioned how this restaurant was doing poorly in the area standings so he was hoping he could personally bump it up.

As I say I completely respect and understand explaining we made an error so it was not done again but AIBU for being upset how he handled it?

Tell me you didn’t leave him a tip?? What an arsehole! I’d complain! Yes you made a mistake but it’s not bloody life or death! Had the restaurant been so busy they couldn’t see you as a 3 then all he would have had to to do is tell you that couldn’t eat there at that time. He was on a power trip op. Men like that often are. I’d leave a review and name and shame the prick!

I cannot think of a single reason why they might be doing poorly in the ratings 🤔

Did you not say something. Eg we tried to book but the website checked freezing and blocking. If it is too much trouble - shall we just cancel it then if it is inconveniencing you so much and have caused you all this stress? As you are suggesting you are fully booked you can give our table to someone else?

As for your patronising tone for us to count heartbeats and making your life so difficult - how about we don’t come here again?

I would actually put your review literally as you have said it here

something like

We visit this carvery often, but our most recent trip was ruined by the attitude of the host. We had issues with the website freezing during booking, which resulted in us accidentally booking for 2 instead of 3 (including our toddler). I fully take responsibility for the error, but the reaction from the staff member seating us was totally unprofessional.
He made a huge public ordeal out of it, loudly lecturing us even after we had sat down, claiming "people can't use their brains and count the heartbeats”. Although the restaurant being mostly empty on a Tuesday afternoon, he acted as if our mistake was a personal offence talking about how much “stress” this had caused him and potentially “ruining his entire day”. He even made a snide comment about our 18 month old child not eating enough of her meal by saying "nice to know we accommodate children unexpectedly and they don't even eat their food." To top it off, he then asked us for a "good review" to help their local rankings. Based on this experience, it’s clear why those rankings might be struggling. We won't be rushing back. It’s such a shame as we used to enjoy eating here. Once again apologies for booking 2 places and 3 places it wasn’t a personal slight to the host!

I think after the first lecture I’d have told him to stick his carvery up his arse.

If you had something to say you could have handled it yourself

I hope you are going to leave a review - a very honest one.

But really, you should not have put up with this idiot of a man lecturing and hectoring you. Mistakes happen with bookings, that's restaurant life. And I get that people can be tired and stressed out but there is no excuse for his continually rude behaviour. I've have shoved a Yorkshire pud up his nostril on the end of a carvery fork.

😅 Yes me neither 😆

What happened to the customer is always right??

Absolute arsehole.
I would give it a stinking review.
No way would I have allowed him to lecture me.
Email the whole incident to management and leave a stinking review, including hix ridiculous request for a good review after his needless lecture and rudeness.
Their website was the issue.

I am not surprised his ratings/reviews are low if that's his attitude to customers. I would leave a review in much the same vein as the original post above, and not return until it's under new management.

Yes, I'd have been out the door.

What did the manager say when you spoke to them?

I imagine that the OP meekly stood there being lectured and is now fuming on the internet rather than using her words at the time.

I don't understand what "count the heartbeats" means 🤔 Is it simply 'correctly ascertain the number of people in your dining party' (count the number of people)? Just seems a really strange phrase, and I can only imagine it if he's a very camp Scotsman 😀

“Count heartbeats”?!

wtaf.

nasty man. I hope you left a bad review.

I can't believe you stayed and ate after that, you should have told him to stick his Yorkshire puddings where the sun doesn't shine and left. What an arsehole talking to paying, regular customers like that.