Inconsiderate customers
I have to vent!!!!!
On a Friday night, not a busy one, mind you, but one that should have been steady - On one of my 4 tops, there was a 6:30 reservation for 4. One lady walks in and is seated (the host did ask if there were still 4 in her party, and she said yes). While she waited, I attempted to get her a drink or something, but she wanted to wait, thinking the rest of the party would want a bottle of wine. Finally, at 7:00, the lady who made the reservation walks her ass in and sits down.
At this point, I again tried to sell them drinks, but the 1st lady only wanted cappuccino. I didn’t really get upset, because I’m still thinking 2 more people were going to show up. However, I did warn the host that since they still had not ordered, that the 8:30 reservation for that table may have a wait. No problem. 15 minutes later, I go to check on them, asking if they’d like to order something to tide them over while they waited for the others. At this point, the late lady/the one who made the reservation decided to tell me that it was just the 2 of them. So, I said, "Oh, we were under the impression that there were going to be 4 of you", and proceeded to remove the extra menus and place settings. The 1st lady agreed, saying she thought others were coming. So the late lady, Connie, replied, "Oh no, just the 2 of us". At this point, I decided to just take their food orders and get them the hell out of there. Luckily, so I thought, they ordered some very simple dishes, so at 7:15 when I finally got their order, I thought, no problem, I’ll get them out of here by 8:15 in time for my 8:30 reservation. Cool!
Nooooooo. Miss Connie decides to take 30 minutes to eat a salad as big as the palm of your hand. Lady #1 was fidgeting, and clearly hungry, so I fired their entrees at 7:45, and that bitch still wasn’t done with her f#&*ing salad. In fact, her entree just sat there, while the other lady dived into hers. After they were done eating, finally, I brought over dessert menus and offered coffees. Connie ordered cappucinno, of course. I went over no less than 3 times to get their dessert order, but never got eye contact. At one point, I just stood there to try and force them to order, but they ignored me. So I just continued waiting on my other tables. Finally, I got an order, quickly put it in, actually received it within minutes. After I saw they were finished, and I got their bill, it was well after 9:00. I had already missed my opportunity to get the 8:30 table, which was really a 4 top. This bitch still wasn’t done. She pulled out a notebook and starts showing the other lady something! They didn’t leave until 9:45.
Their bill was $88, and for 3 hours of having them, I earned $15. Now don’t get me wrong, I was VERY nice to them, and they did receive top notch service. I came to the conclusion that connie made the reservation for 4 in order to get a bigger table, and since she was 1/2 hour late, she must have actually wanted at 7:00 reservation, and since we don’t take 7:00-7:30 reservations on the weekend, this was her way of going around the system and getting what she wanted. If she had been straight with us, she would have gotten a bigger table anyway.
But what gets me is that she took up a prime spot, during prime time, and all I got was $15, before tip out. That was my only seating on that particular table the entire night.
I wish there was a website for us to give customers like her advice on restaurant etiquette. Unfortunately, people like her wouldn’t read it.
Thanks for letting me vent!!!!
Comments
I’ve had a similar situation, and when I tried to get the guest to move and have a drink or dessert in the bar area, she refused. Then I got angry. We stopped refilling water glasses, bussed the table of all utensils and plates, just left empty glasses, and dropped the check. She still didn’t get it when I pestered her every 6 minutes (I timed it), asking if I could get change or run her card. It’s really difficult to get rid of squatters. It’s unfortunate that people really think it’s okay to take up valuable real estate and not pay for it. If I had a decent manager at the time, maybe he would have gotten rid of her for me, but even that didn’t happen.
I had a guest who tried to park at a table a few weeks ago. I just had the busboys remove everything. I think they even took the water glasses off. Sorry, sitting is for Starbucks. SOMETIMES, and very rarely, people will order something else - I’ve done it! But just sitting when there are other reservations waiting on a busy Saturday night is inexcusable. They gotta go.
I worked once with a French MD in NYC, and what he did was probably what every MD would like to do, but can’t. He actually removed the table and let the guest sitting there, because they did not have a reservation and agreed to be out by 9.00pm. They got up and people start applauding. That’s the to do it with dump guests.( We were and still successful restaurant) but that’s NYC
Customers can be quite snobbish when sitting. They think, well we’re paying customers, they can’t make us move! Not considering there are other paying customers waiting, and how they would feel if they had to wait (which they have) for a table while someone selfish detained it. Think people, think!
I love the story of the MD removing the table. f#&*ing hilarious! These situations do happen to all of us, and they totally suck. I also hate it when it’s the last table of the night and I have plans with my non-industry boyfriend (he just doesn’t understand these things,) and you end up stuck at work for two hours or more just waiting for two “ladies” to pay the bill and get the f#*k out!
I had an md who wanted to charge a table by the hour because the guest decided to use it as a spot for interviews.
Did not order anything, except water…WATER. We asked this guy to order or move, and he too ordered the dreaded salad (call it campers salad)
this guy took up a table for 4 hours.
He was angry, since we embarrassed him in front of an interviewee, and refused to pay the fee….we gently told the guy that a coffe shop or HIS OWN F-ING OFFICE would be a better place. we have alot of reservations so either buy dinner or gtfo!
He ordered apps, with a smirk on his face….when I went to see how it was for them he sent it back. Ordered more food sent it back too.
After a third attemp at ordering…management intervened along with 2 bussers hovering over the table, and in no uncertain words, the guests were told to gtfo.
The bussers stood there…..refusing to leave the table, trying to use silent intimidation.
the interviewee got up to use the restroom, and the bussers removed everything from the table. Then stood there, telling the guy we need this table. We need this table, we need this table.
Finally this guy gets a hint, we run his card…..denied.
He had 15.00 on his person. he left no tip (bfd we wanted his ass gone)
the md comped everything, I received no other tables, my 20 top was seated in another section, because this jerk could not grasp that we are a place of business.
I got stiffed—in fact I lost money as I had to tip out on the comped items sold– 3% of sales–
The night of work cost me 5 bucks, and I had to walk home because it was my last fiver.
I f-ing hate campers.
My favorite - couples who come in right before the kitchen closes and order dessert and coffee, then sit there for 2 hours kissing and rubbing on each other, while we stand around and do side work hoping they’ll get the heck out of there. The last time I had a table like that, I dropped the check immediately after there dessert was delivered, and the jackass actually looked at me funny and mumbled something about not liking to feel rushed. Get a room!
I used to work at a bar and grill that got a very busy happy hour and late night crowd. One busy friday night in the middle of the summer Im working on the deck, the hostess told me she was seating me a party of 12 that had been waiting at the bar for a table to open up. I go over to see what they want to drink, well theyve already been drinking at the bar for 45 min so all they want is 12 waters… ugh. Ok so I bring them water then see if there ready to order…they say oh were not eating anything. WTF!!! I politely tell them that the tables are reserved for diners and they will have to sit at the bar if theyre not ordering food. The woman in charge says to me, “well the manager said we could sit here.” I said, “Yes but he was under the impression that you were going to be eating.” For some reaspn she thinks this is absurd and thinks it is ok for her to take up my two six tops when were on an hour wait. So I sent the manager over and he pretty much tells her the same thing that I told her
…and? whatsa matter honey, you fall asleep at your keyboard?
WAKE UP & FINISH YOUR DANG STORY! you dragged us along for this long, for chrissakes…..
Incomplete parties shouldn’t be sat. If they are, they need to be told when the restaurant needs the table back, so later there are no problems when the next reservation shows up. And if that was my floor and I needed your table for an actual party of four, you can bet your ass I’d move the inconsiderate table to a table for two.
You see a lot of this and the blame totally lays on the door. This kind of crap never happens in the dining room I run. Control the customers or they control you! Unfortunately most doors are run by inexperienced kids who get intimidated/suckered by the amateur tricks of the guest.
Btw, people think I’m the sweetest guy in town. You don’t have to be a jerk to do the job right.Also, as a manager in the case of “Connie and co”–I would have offered them a free dessert at the bar. Move them out. It costs the restaurant less money to give a free dessert. And, when I do that to these types of people, I give them a much smaller dessert portion. They won’t be back and I don’t want to encourage them back anytime soon.