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Are they serious?
So I stumbled across a website, dinnersfromhell.com, that posts stories of awful dining-out experiences as well as various links to restaurant-related sites, etiquette tips, etc. The site also has a forum, which I perused. I must say, it's kind of unbelievable to see all our SCs outlining what they consider to be "unacceptable" and validating one another. A few choice quotes from the threads:
"And servers should be told that it's rude to begin clearing dishes from the table while someone is still eating. They should be instructed to wait until EVERYONE at the table is finished eating before clearing the dishes."
Yes, because pre-bussing is SO RUDE to you the customer. Please do disregard the fact that once your slow-eating ass leaves, we have to be able to clear and reset the table in (preferably) a matter of seconds. And don't worry about your companions, who may not want to continue staring at their empty plates while you chew each bite the recommended 32 times. Oh, and of course every table of every restaurant should be large enough to accommodate appetizer, bread, entree, salad, and dessert plates because clearing them away to GIVE YOU MORE ROOM is just so rude. Jerk.
(On the subject of "bad seating") "Believe me, I let them know what table I want. Often they act less than accommodating, which is just what I don't understand. Why not give the first customers the best seating in the house?"
Oh, I don't know...maybe because of a crazy idea called "making a reservation"? You see, often restaurants will allow customers to call ahead of time and RESERVE A TABLE. Often restaurants will allow them to even choose a specific table to reserve. That's why when you walk into a (nice) restaurant at 6:00 on a Saturday night without said reservation, you're getting a bathroom table. All the nice ones have most likely been reserved, and just because you're there "first" doesn't mean someone hasn't already beat you to that table. And of course little things like serving rotation wouldn't mean anything to this person. After all, they want to sit wherever they want, never mind if the section is closed, it would triple-seat the server, etc.
I get the feeling that many of the people posting on that board have never worked in a restaurant.
"And servers should be told that it's rude to begin clearing dishes from the table while someone is still eating. They should be instructed to wait until EVERYONE at the table is finished eating before clearing the dishes."
Yes, because pre-bussing is SO RUDE to you the customer. Please do disregard the fact that once your slow-eating ass leaves, we have to be able to clear and reset the table in (preferably) a matter of seconds. And don't worry about your companions, who may not want to continue staring at their empty plates while you chew each bite the recommended 32 times. Oh, and of course every table of every restaurant should be large enough to accommodate appetizer, bread, entree, salad, and dessert plates because clearing them away to GIVE YOU MORE ROOM is just so rude. Jerk.
(On the subject of "bad seating") "Believe me, I let them know what table I want. Often they act less than accommodating, which is just what I don't understand. Why not give the first customers the best seating in the house?"
Oh, I don't know...maybe because of a crazy idea called "making a reservation"? You see, often restaurants will allow customers to call ahead of time and RESERVE A TABLE. Often restaurants will allow them to even choose a specific table to reserve. That's why when you walk into a (nice) restaurant at 6:00 on a Saturday night without said reservation, you're getting a bathroom table. All the nice ones have most likely been reserved, and just because you're there "first" doesn't mean someone hasn't already beat you to that table. And of course little things like serving rotation wouldn't mean anything to this person. After all, they want to sit wherever they want, never mind if the section is closed, it would triple-seat the server, etc.
I get the feeling that many of the people posting on that board have never worked in a restaurant.
They also said to mention the experience to the manager so that they could take appropriate measures. Even we here say not to tip (at least that well) for bad service.
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