Loitering in a restaurant....

[Retiredguy2]

Spouse and I have been talking about this (not arguing) since Saturday pm. We met three other couples at a mid-priced seafood restaurant at 5 pm, we had a reservation and were seated promptly. We had finished our meal at about 6:45 pm (about $25-30 a plate with tax and tip) and bid the other three couples farewell, they wanted us to stay and chat but we declined. Upon exiting, we observed about 15 other patrons waiting to be seated. My wife got a phone call at about 7:30 pm and from what the caller said the other three couples were still seated at the table (!!!)

I am glad we left when we did...according to my beliefs, loitering at the table after finishing your meal and paying your check at a busy restaurant when patrons are waiting for seating is quite rude. Knowing the other couples as I do, they are cheapskates when it comes to tipping and I doubt if they gave our server anything more than 10% although she delivered exemplary service. My feeings are:

If you are finished with your meal and the check has been paid, you do not loiter for chit-chat, and if you do you want to chat go sit in the bar area if there is one and order something to provide revenue for the establishment. YOU DO NOT LOITER AT THE TABLE and deprive the business and server of income and tips, and most of all: During a busy evening, you do not keep other patrons waiting for seating.

Comments are quite welcome, thank you.

 

[davesl708]

I agree retiredguy2.

Considering the number of tables in a restaurant and the hours open you can see the earnings per table can be little. Turning the tables several times during the night is the difference from a profitable night and a losing night.

Keeping others waiting when the bar area is available is inconsiderate. I know people have choices and can go elsewhere but a little consideration for the business and others is in order.

 

[300UGUY]

I wouldn't do it, surprised the manager didn't run them off. Friend of mine owns a restaurant. He calls those folks "campers".

 

[fidowanttobe]

I agree also. When we have a family group and take up several tables, we go at 2:30-3:30 pm so that the place isn't busy. Then we also tip better also because we have coffee and BS afterwards. Learned this little etiquette thing from my 2 sisters who used to be servers when they were young. However, rudeness does seem to be the norm these days.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Agreed. Common courtesy, seldom practiced any more, what a shame...

 

[oldpilgrim]

If you are finished with your meal and the check has been paid, you do not loiter for chit-chat, and if you do you want to chat go sit in the bar area if there is one and order something to provide revenue for the establishment. YOU DO NOT LOITER AT THE TABLE and deprive the business and server of income and tips, and most of all: During a busy evening, you do not keep other patrons waiting for seating.

And I am unanimous in that.

 

[Bird]

Yep, I don't mind staying and visiting when business is slow for a restaurant, but no way I can sit there with other people waiting.

 

[Looking4new]

I agree with the rest of you guys.

 

[Trials]

Retiredguy2 you sound like one of the men who still opens a door for a lady or holds her chair as she is seated, then you probably assist her to put her coat on when you are leaving. You probably don't wear a ball cap at the dinner table and you likely say please and thank-you at the appropriate times. If you were traveling public transit and a lady was standing, you would probably offer her your seat too. We are old school, this is why we do these things, it's becoming such a rarity that it draws stares and comments, occasionally even compliments. :/ I recently had a waitress go out of her way to tell me she had Never seen a man hold a chair for a lady.

The best you can do is to set an example as you did and hope that some of your common sense and good manners rubs off on the dullards. The only thing you might have done differently was to communicate your concerns to the others before leaving, but you probably didn't notice the situation until you were leaving, so let's hope that was the reason your friends failed to oblidge.

Some people are aware of their surroundings, polite and considerate of others, then there are those who are simply oblivious to the world around them.

Stay sharp stay wise and keep up the good work, but don't let it bother you too much, depressing as it sounds it's simply not worth it. To the rest of the world we are the freaks of nature.

 

[Grateful11]

Agreed. Common courtesy, seldom practiced any more, what a shame...

You're right there isn't much of that these days. Far too many seem to be mad at the world or think they are owed something for whatever reason.