There's Always One

[EricKei]

Personally, I'd have introduced them to Marcel's Talking Chainsaw myself.

Chainsaw good

Angel -- Well, yeah, but they're still stealing from the restaurant, and 99.99% of people who order food really DO intend to pay for it when they're done ^_^ I'd be more worried about whether the sort of person who steals food from other people's plates washed their hands after using the facilities >_> The -- quite reasonable -- assumption that not everybody does, is why buffets and other serve-yourself restaurants are forced to toss out any dish touched directly by human customer hands, immediately, even if it's a whole pizza or big pan of other food.

[PizzaDrone]

I thought it sounded like the SC was sitting at a vacant but uncleared table and eating the leftover food. Which is gross, but marginally better than stealing random customers' food? I guess?

Nope, she was having food from customer's plates. I believe they had half-heartedly offered her stuff to shut her up and she took them up on their offer. I hope they offered at least. Otherwise it's a whole new level of suck I couldn't even begin to comprehend.

Add me to the list of people who would fork without prejudice if someone made a move for my grub.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

The only person who gets to take food off my plate is my husband...and that's because he usually gives me something from his. If someone else I didn't even know started picking at my food they'd be picking themselves up off the floor. (And if they started eating hubby's food...there might not be anything left of them to pick up...) This post astonishes me, mostly for that part of it. The rest is rather run of the mill suckage

[Pixilated]

Wow, I was going to say that if she was eating leftovers, she was welcome to them, but I would never offer my own food -- halfheartedly or otherwise -- to shut somebody up! Especially not after they'd thrown a tantrum like that!

And yeah, if they helped themselves without my permission, there would be a request -- loudly -- to replace the food since "it's now contaminated."

But I'd leave the poor server(s) a HUGE tip for having to put up with the situation.

[ShadowBall]

And how good would it be for business if the people whose food was stolen demanded a free meal? Moreso if this crazy person pinched food off more than one plate? Placate the moron and end up not only comping a few meals, but possibly lose customers forever...gooooood plan.

[RealUnimportant]

Sadly it was just about getting her to pay for them. Can't afford to turn away business I guess. I would have preferred to see her kicked out for her behaviour as would some other customers. I think the best hope we have is that she's so put out by having to pay that she doesn't come back.

If you had a line out the door, you certainly aren't THAT hard up for business, especially when they've already forewarned you that they might skip on the bill!