Breaking Point

[PoliteBoy]

It might just be who I am, but I honestly wish people would know how to order everything at once and take the damn seat we give them. This isn't really helped by how understaffed my restaurant has been lately. (Sorry if I'm basically repeating my older blogs).

First off was early last week. The lunch rush came in late, and I was getting swamped in drink orders. A table of seven orders seven waters. When I drop them down, the father of the table orders seven ginger ales and some tea. I was staring at him for a few seconds when another person asks for something.

"Do you have sweet chilli sauce?", she asks.

In the next few seconds, I had to hold back my sarcasm and try to answer as calmly as possible that we only had HOT chilli. And as far as I know, sweet chilli is THAI.

Next is the table problem. Again, this is when the high-minded twats refuse to sit at a table and want a freaking booth. This comes in two flavours.

First is the groups of four or less. If the booths have already been reserved, there's nothing I can do about it. Then there are those during the lunch rush. It boggles my mind that when the restaurant is turning into a disaster zone and we took the time to set a clean table seat, you still find the gall to ask for a fucking booth WHEN THEY ARE ALL CLEARLY TAKEN AT THIS POINT. You should be lucky we could you a table at all at this time.

The second flavour is the large group of families. This happened to me two days in a row to insult me. The booths are only meant for four people, but these parents insist on trying to fit themselves and four children into the booth. The first time, the father said last time that they were allowed in, but I was trying to convince him to take the table before that failed under the manager's grace. Honestly can't you spend at least one day at A FREAKING TABLE?!

The second time was more successful, thankfully. The mother said that the kids were restless and they wanted a booth, despite a party of six. I managed to get her to settle down at the table by telling her that they wouldn't fit and that we had reservations coming.

To be honest, while it is possible to fit that many people into the booth, they are still very small (Maybe just over a meter/three feet long?). Even if you could fit them in, all the food you order will clutter the table quickly, and I can't say it'll be comfy then.

Why are people so pretentious?

[Seanette]

In my case, asking for a booth has a lot more to do with comfort. I have hip/back problems that make booths easier on me. I won't throw a fit, though, and if all that's available is tables, I'll accept that. Still, if there is an available booth, I'll be much happier and less achy sitting there.

[Shalom]

The booths are only meant for four people, but these parents insist on trying to fit themselves and four children into the booth.

"Well, if you don't mind having two of the kids on your laps..."

[Crossbow]

In my case, asking for a booth has a lot more to do with comfort. I have hip/back problems that make booths easier on me. I won't throw a fit, though, and if all that's available is tables, I'll accept that. Still, if there is an available booth, I'll be much happier and less achy sitting there.

Where as, I'm just the opposite. My wife and I are too large to generally fit comfortably into a booth, so we ask for tables. If there aren't any available, we might make do, or we might go elsewhere.

[earl colby pottinger]

Booth

Why are people so pretentious?

I don't know.

The girl I often go to the restaurant to insists in staying in a booth. If no booth is available , we will wait. At times we have been even told that we need to wait of an hour or so, no problem. We have them write us into their table chart, go out to check the local shops and then return in time to take our table.

Works every time. We have done this in Ontario Canada, BC Canada, Quebec City Canada, Miami Florida, Key West (it's own little kingdom), Grand Turk, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.

The reason I posted all the locations above is the prove the point, that if you are polite and patient that there is no problem getting a booth if that is what you want. Never have we been told that no booths were available if we were willing to wait a little.

[MournBlade]

I often ask to be moved to a booth if available for the same reasons as Seanette. It's definitely better than a hard wooden chair on my crippling back injury.

[taxguykarl]

Mrs. TGK always requests a booth because of her neuromuscular problem--less falls when her seat is bolted.

[RealUnimportant]

I can understand why the families might want to use a booth to keep the kids restrained, but if there's only room for 4 adults then I can also see it backfiring & becoming awfully crowded & messy!

[wolfie]

Again, this is when the high-minded twats refuse to sit at a table and want a freaking booth.

I'm assuming that it's not a case (as described in some of the replies) of a polite request "Due to $medical_problem a booth is preferable - how long is the wait?", but a rude "You have booths - give me one! I don't care if they're already reserved, or people are already sitting there - move THEM to a table!".

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Where as, I'm just the opposite. My wife and I are too large to generally fit comfortably into a booth, so we ask for tables. If there aren't any available, we might make do, or we might go elsewhere.

I run into this when out with Mom: if she's in her electric wheelchair, then we really need a table as opposed to a booth. Too cumbersome to have to pull up to the end of a booth, not to mention taking up aisle space.

Myself, I prefer a booth (where I can have support for my back/hips) but again, if Mom's with me, it has to be a table. Most booths don't allow for a lot of room for larger folks (and even if my Mom could walk, she's a large woman so a table is more convenient/comfortable for her.)

[Sapphire Silk]

It was the same for me when I was using the Knee walker after I had my foot surgery. A table was easier. Usually I prefer a booth for the softer seats but only space available. First come first served and that includes reservations.

[cindybubbles]

In my case, asking for a booth has a lot more to do with comfort. I have hip/back problems that make booths easier on me. I won't throw a fit, though, and if all that's available is tables, I'll accept that. Still, if there is an available booth, I'll be much happier and less achy sitting there.

But what if your party has more people than the booth can handle? What do you do? Reserve more than one booth, or settle for the tables?

[Seanette]

But what if your party has more people than the booth can handle? What do you do? Reserve more than one booth, or settle for the tables?

It's generally just the two of us, so that doesn't come up. DH is not the most social person around.

[Lace Neil Singer]

"You have booths - give me one! I don't care if they're already reserved, or people are already sitting there - move THEM to a table!".

I once had a rude woman demand that I be moved from my comfy booth to a table for that very reason; I was sitting there and she wanted my seat. The waiter asked me, I said no cuz I hadn't yet finished eating my pudding, and the booth was where I was staying. Rude woman then came over to where I was sitting and demanded to know why I wouldn't move. My reply?" Cuz I don't want to. What makes you so special?"

[Slave to the Phone]

To the OP, I put salsa on almost everything I eat. What can I say, I'm a philistine. If I'm having fish, I'm going to want lemon. If I'm having shrimp, I'm going to want horse radish.

When I order, I always tell my server what I'm going to want with my meal. I watch them write it down. 9 times out of 10, I have to remind them when they bring my food. I don't get mad, but I do a mental sigh. I tried to save you some steps, you silly person. Now you have to make a special trip with only one very small thing.