Quickie

[draftermatt]

Went out to dinner last night, and there were a lot of large parties due to the High School Graduations.

As we were leaving we heard them call for a party of 16. They never came to claim their table.

Yes folks a party of 16 came in, put their name on the list and left.

So the restaurant made arrangements, had everything set up and ready to go for them, and they were gone.

I've never worked at a restaurant (other than fast food for a few months) but it just made me mad to think that these people, knowing that special arrangements would have to be made, didn't bother to say "Sorry, we're going somewhere else"

[unclejampuff]

We had a table of 9 do that to us on Mother's Day. In a restaurant that can only seat 41, that's a major annoyance.

[One-Fang]

I have nothing to add to the conversation, really, but wanted to say unclejampuff - I am SOOO doing that to my poor dog! LOL

[tropicsgoddess]

As we were leaving we heard them call for a party of 16. They never came to claim their table.

Yes folks a party of 16 came in, put their name on the list and left.

So the restaurant made arrangements, had everything set up and ready to go for them, and they were gone.

I've never worked at a restaurant (other than fast food for a few months) but it just made me mad to think that these people, knowing that special arrangements would have to be made, didn't bother to say "Sorry, we're going somewhere else"

I don't blame you. That was really rude of them and it's not an easy task for the restaurant to have to make a table for such a large group of people. To top that, on a busy night or if the restaurant has a not so generous amount of space it's even harder. During my Hostess days, I used get people that would make reservations with all sorts of special arrangements, requests, etc. and come to find out they don't show (they never bothered to call!) . I once had this guy that claimed he was a regular who made a reservation on a Saturday night, he didn't call at all to say if he wasn't gonna show or if he was gonna be late, but the bastard shows up right as I'm about to give the table to some customers that were patiently waiting for one (it was a busy night and it was over an hour until he came). Hell, we had this older couple who were regulars and SC's to boot because more often than not they would make a reservation and then cancel out at the last minute...more than once!!! Fuckers..

[Meegz]

It's like the suck can go either way.

When I worked at Pizza Hut, our management decided to throw the employees a Xmas party after hours on like the 23rd. We closed at 9 that day. When we all arrived at 830, we saw that the last server left, who started breaking everything down, had to take a party of....45. No call, no nothing. I know its just a pizza place, but to have a party that big a half hour before close and nothing you can do about it is a bit of annoyance. Everyone that showed up for the party helped our poor server, even though we weren't paid to do it, so she could partake in the festivities

The next day (Xmas eve) I was the only server on. We weren't busy, but I got a phone call at 3pm (we closed at 7) saying a party of 12 was coming at 530. He gave us the order and I said Id have it ready for them by the time they arrived. I put the tables together, they arrived and I had their food and drinks. Turns out I knew who they were anyways, and were incredibly nice. Went without a hitch.

Their 50 dollar bill footed me a......25 dollar tip. Because it was Xmas Eve. Anytime they showed up afterwards, I'd hook 'em up with free drinks or free salad bar. If only SCs would learn from that behavior