I work in fine dining and we get campers because a lot of people are from out of town and are on business, expense cards, so they sit after dinner, often a long time. We take everything off the table they don’t absolutely need. As soon as they sign the check, I grab it. As soon as they finish their cocktail or wine, we take the glass. Like immediately. Eventually they are left with nothing but water glasses on the table. When all else fails, I don’t go over to fill their water glasses until they are empty. Our managers will also stand about 20 feet away from the table and stare once all of the above has been done.
We run some tight turn times on weekends and we as servers can do everything right, but this still happens. On the rare occasion, a manager will ask them for the table back. I’ve lost tables, and money, because instead of me getting another table there, the hosts rearrange and put the waiting table elsewhere.
This is interesting! I find that the fine dining places around here encourage leisure dining. My roommate worked at one for years (while I was working in a casual spot), and I was always amazed they only planned to turn each table once per night. You get your early bird 5-5:30 diners, turn them around 7:30, then that table dines from 7:30 til close.
My husband and I never camp out sitting at a table with nothing, especially if we know the restaurant is going to turn our table again, but we definitely are leisurely diners if we are spending hundreds to be there. Starting cocktail, appetizers not ordered until the cocktail is mostly done, wine ordered when apps ordered, dinner ordered after apps have been cleared and we've revisited the menu again, more wine ordered as needed, dessert, and we are finishing our wine properly versus chugging it or leaving it behind.
But I feel like that's fairly standard fine dining flow. We leave when the wine is done.
I do think sitting there at a table with nothing when you see a restaurant lobby getting backed up is WILLLLLD. So rude. Especially in places that accept walk-ins.
I’ve worked at places like that as well, but it really depends on the demand. We usually allot parties of 2 2 hours, parties of 4 2.5 hours, and groups of 6 3 hours. At the end of the day this is a business, and the more people we can serve the better the business does. This isn’t saying we don’t offer a great experience, but we can do it properly within the times we need to stick by.
It’s not uncommon for us to have weekend nights where we are doing $70,000 in sales. Part of the server training is sticking to turn times, and sometimes they are tight. As we are a very high end place, we like to take control of the experience as much as we can. One thing we do is take the whole order as once. To allow us to time each course properly, not overwhelm the kitchen, and get the guests in and out in a timely manner. I can get you through 5 courses in 90 minutes and you won’t feel rushed.
Anytime you pass them “can I get yall anything else?” And stand an uncomfortable amount of time at their table. They’ll usually leave after the 15th time
After asking that a few times while there's a line out the door I usually ask if it's gonna be one or separate checks. Usually gets the message through without having to ask them to leave.
Why are you waiting to drop the check? Just drop one check after dessert or after entrees if they don’t want dessert. If they want to split the check they’ll speak up.
Because it's incredibly rude to drop the check without being asked for it.
And I'm not dropping the check for the clients to tell me they wanted it split and now I have to make another lap at the POS.
We've asked tables to leave after their meal, and I don't understand why this isn't more common. It's rush, we need the table, and they can finish their conversation at the bar or somewhere else that isn't messing up the night of a server, the owner, and the other patrons waiting to use that table
Yeah when I managed an upper chain steak house we had a certain to spend in comps for both giving the little extra and for actual mistakes. If I had some campers I'd politely explain the need for the table and offer to get a round of after dinner drinks on us if they didn't mind moving to the bar/lounge area. It usually worked, just make sure they aren't drinking Louis xiii lol
I've noticed it's becoming a lot more common in high end restaurants to give an end time to each reservation. Either like "You're reserved from 6-8" or I've even seen on the menu/website "Each reservation is two hours in duration".
Honestly, it makes sense.
We do this. 2hrs for anything of 5 and under. Usually 2-tops are 1.5hr, but we still budget 2hrs.
6 and more get 2.5hrs.
Also a big thing is communication. If people know ahead of time, or when they sit down they have X amount of time, it means they can't be offended when that time comes up. If you suddenly go up to a table and try to kick them out, it'll come off as super rude.
Completely this.
"I'm sorry, but unless I can get you something else we do have more reservations coming in this evening."
"Hi there, I hate to do this, but we do need this table for a reservation." - usually I try to give a table at least a 15 minutes heads up
If they don't have anything going on, kick them out - nicely of course.
The bar is what we do. We do alot of drinks where I work but with the exception of like 4 regulars, no one ever sits at it. The owner is usually at or behind the bar. When tables are holding up tables or if we're debating if someone needs cut off or we're worried how thar person will react when we do...we send you to the bar. They don't realize at the time but it's comparable to Dr Phil sending you to the ranch.
It’s crazy that American restaurants care about this. In Spain a meal is meant to go slowly and be shared while people sit around talking with their loved ones. I guess it just shows how ultra capitalistic America is, even when it comes to the experience of dining out with friends or family.
I'm sure, I made it clear, they ordered only one item which is for 2 people maximum, and they sat there for a long time even though we had like 2 groups of family 5 and 6 waiting, they glanced, and turned their heads back, nope not my problem, I never said or claimed, sitting too long is the problem, but come in with many people for only 1 bowl of desert is a dick move especially rush hour night,
MORE CONTEXT: my desert restaurant is not really high-end, but like franchise restaurant, you pay after you order, and my owner is a young and inexperienced person, so he does not really know how to deal with a lot of situtation, he's thinking about put time limit for "campers" because last night he was furious when there were no table for another 2 groups of 5 and 6, and only one group wanted to wait and the other left,
When you go to the doctor, would you remain in the exam room reading a book for an hour afterwards? When you get a haircut, do you stay lounging in the barber chair playing on your phone for an additional 45 minutes? Do you get to take a 2 hour nap on the table after a professional massage? No! Those businesses need that space. Why would you think you could do the same at a restaurant? Even if there are other tables available, you are basically asking your server to keep waiting on you long after the business transaction is over. And if the restaurant is busy, you are actively preventing your server from making money. Even if it seems slow to you, you might still be blocking your particular server from getting a new table. Enjoy your meal, dessert, and coffee, and then leave. It's that simple.
After the meal is done, you can go elsewhere.
If you aren't spending money, it's generally time to go, especially if others have the intention of coming in to spend.
It's very selfish to think, "Oh well, just sit here now and spend an hour chatting.
Besides 2hrs is plenty of time to catch up over a meal. 2.5hr even more. After that, it's excessive.
A restaurants purpose is to feed you. After you are done eating it is time to wrap everything up and move on for others. (Editted).
If you want to hang out and catch up, go to a bar or cafe
Expecting a restaurant to host you past dinner is insane. It isn't your house. The restaurant isn't responsible for you having a fun time at the end of your meal. As soon as you are done eating and drinking, you should be wrapping up within 30 minutes.
Lots of other options in the world to hangout... but expecting to do so without spending is insane.
I’m a server and I would tip you 30¢ just to match your piss poor attitude. I can tell your service is just as shit as your attitude. You act like just because the bill is closed they haven’t spent $300 dining at your restaurant. They have paid for their time. THEY HAVE SPENT MONEY. Just because you’re loud and greedy doesn’t mean you’re in the right. A restaurant’s purpose is literally to provide a good experience for guests. Acting shitty the moment you know what they’ve tipped is not conducive to a pleasant experience and DOES NOT make people want to come back
Damn..... you'd tip me 30c on spending no money just sitting in my section? Fuck ya.
I'm not a server. I run a very successful (not fine dining) restaurant. We are very up front with guests about time restrictions when we need to be. Otherwise, we don't say anything. If we don't need the table, stay all night. If it's Friday night at 7pm and you've been sitting there since 4 pm and only bought Happy hour food and drinks, then it's time to go.
If a restaurant doesn't have reservations it isn't as much of an issue aside from costing the business and servers on other flips. With reservations though you can't stay all night, other people would like to come in and enjoy the FOOD and DRINKs we provide.... not the table.
Ps: I edited my previous reply as I realize my fuck off comment will come across as agressive instead of meaning it lightly. Text doesn't translate delivery sadly.
Yea see you keep missing the part where I spent $$$ at your restaurant. Just because the check is closed doesn’t mean I’ve spent nothing. It just means the tab isn’t going up anymore. Acting like an ass because the money tap isn’t flowing anymore leaves people with a bad taste and taints their entire experience, EVEN IF service was wonderful up until the check was dropped.
Going to a friend’s house is not supposed to be transactional. Dining at a business is 100% transactional. Restaurants are there to provide hospitality and experience, of course, but these things are provided with a cost and certain rules and expectations.
Of course many folks working in hospitality enjoy providing memorable service and making the guest experience personal, but at the end of the day, both the restaurant and the staff are there to make money and if a table spends too little and/or holds the table too long while other guests are waiting for it, that is problematic.
My recommendation, if you wish to have more time and leisure at a restaurant, is to visit on slower days when they won’t necessarily need your table to turn. I would also recommend being honest with the host when you book your reservation. Tell them that you’d like to spend extra time at your table so they can plan their night accordingly. You’ll just need to know that some hosts may tell you that it’s not possible, especially if booking on a popular night or during peak hours.
I'm not trying to defend, yes the portion is maximum for 2, but 4 people ? Take a whole table? Asking 4 bowls to share 4 waters, sitting > an hour ?no, one guy even gave me 75 cents, and he told me proudly, keep the change, and funny enough, it happens mostly during weekend night if this was in week days, feel free to stay as long as you could be because we are slow on weekday
I work in fine dining and we get campers because a lot of people are from out of town and are on business, expense cards, so they sit after dinner, often a long time. We take everything off the table they don’t absolutely need. As soon as they sign the check, I grab it. As soon as they finish their cocktail or wine, we take the glass. Like immediately. Eventually they are left with nothing but water glasses on the table. When all else fails, I don’t go over to fill their water glasses until they are empty. Our managers will also stand about 20 feet away from the table and stare once all of the above has been done. We run some tight turn times on weekends and we as servers can do everything right, but this still happens. On the rare occasion, a manager will ask them for the table back. I’ve lost tables, and money, because instead of me getting another table there, the hosts rearrange and put the waiting table elsewhere.
This is interesting! I find that the fine dining places around here encourage leisure dining. My roommate worked at one for years (while I was working in a casual spot), and I was always amazed they only planned to turn each table once per night. You get your early bird 5-5:30 diners, turn them around 7:30, then that table dines from 7:30 til close. My husband and I never camp out sitting at a table with nothing, especially if we know the restaurant is going to turn our table again, but we definitely are leisurely diners if we are spending hundreds to be there. Starting cocktail, appetizers not ordered until the cocktail is mostly done, wine ordered when apps ordered, dinner ordered after apps have been cleared and we've revisited the menu again, more wine ordered as needed, dessert, and we are finishing our wine properly versus chugging it or leaving it behind. But I feel like that's fairly standard fine dining flow. We leave when the wine is done. I do think sitting there at a table with nothing when you see a restaurant lobby getting backed up is WILLLLLD. So rude. Especially in places that accept walk-ins.
I’ve worked at places like that as well, but it really depends on the demand. We usually allot parties of 2 2 hours, parties of 4 2.5 hours, and groups of 6 3 hours. At the end of the day this is a business, and the more people we can serve the better the business does. This isn’t saying we don’t offer a great experience, but we can do it properly within the times we need to stick by. It’s not uncommon for us to have weekend nights where we are doing $70,000 in sales. Part of the server training is sticking to turn times, and sometimes they are tight. As we are a very high end place, we like to take control of the experience as much as we can. One thing we do is take the whole order as once. To allow us to time each course properly, not overwhelm the kitchen, and get the guests in and out in a timely manner. I can get you through 5 courses in 90 minutes and you won’t feel rushed.
I'll absolutely feel rushed after living in Europe. Reservation for 730, leave at 11 after 5 courses + cheese/port and maybe a coffee.
Anytime you pass them “can I get yall anything else?” And stand an uncomfortable amount of time at their table. They’ll usually leave after the 15th time
After asking that a few times while there's a line out the door I usually ask if it's gonna be one or separate checks. Usually gets the message through without having to ask them to leave.
Why are you waiting to drop the check? Just drop one check after dessert or after entrees if they don’t want dessert. If they want to split the check they’ll speak up.
Because it's incredibly rude to drop the check without being asked for it. And I'm not dropping the check for the clients to tell me they wanted it split and now I have to make another lap at the POS.
Aight
This is so rude lol
Drop the check as soon as you realize and repeatedly go to reach for it and be like oh my bad thought.the card was in there
We've asked tables to leave after their meal, and I don't understand why this isn't more common. It's rush, we need the table, and they can finish their conversation at the bar or somewhere else that isn't messing up the night of a server, the owner, and the other patrons waiting to use that table
Yeah when I managed an upper chain steak house we had a certain to spend in comps for both giving the little extra and for actual mistakes. If I had some campers I'd politely explain the need for the table and offer to get a round of after dinner drinks on us if they didn't mind moving to the bar/lounge area. It usually worked, just make sure they aren't drinking Louis xiii lol
I've noticed it's becoming a lot more common in high end restaurants to give an end time to each reservation. Either like "You're reserved from 6-8" or I've even seen on the menu/website "Each reservation is two hours in duration". Honestly, it makes sense.
We do this. 2hrs for anything of 5 and under. Usually 2-tops are 1.5hr, but we still budget 2hrs. 6 and more get 2.5hrs. Also a big thing is communication. If people know ahead of time, or when they sit down they have X amount of time, it means they can't be offended when that time comes up. If you suddenly go up to a table and try to kick them out, it'll come off as super rude.
Completely this. "I'm sorry, but unless I can get you something else we do have more reservations coming in this evening." "Hi there, I hate to do this, but we do need this table for a reservation." - usually I try to give a table at least a 15 minutes heads up If they don't have anything going on, kick them out - nicely of course.
Happened all the time to me and friends. Normally the restaurant offers drinks to help smooth the transition.
The bar is what we do. We do alot of drinks where I work but with the exception of like 4 regulars, no one ever sits at it. The owner is usually at or behind the bar. When tables are holding up tables or if we're debating if someone needs cut off or we're worried how thar person will react when we do...we send you to the bar. They don't realize at the time but it's comparable to Dr Phil sending you to the ranch.
It’s crazy that American restaurants care about this. In Spain a meal is meant to go slowly and be shared while people sit around talking with their loved ones. I guess it just shows how ultra capitalistic America is, even when it comes to the experience of dining out with friends or family.
I'm sure, I made it clear, they ordered only one item which is for 2 people maximum, and they sat there for a long time even though we had like 2 groups of family 5 and 6 waiting, they glanced, and turned their heads back, nope not my problem, I never said or claimed, sitting too long is the problem, but come in with many people for only 1 bowl of desert is a dick move especially rush hour night,
MORE CONTEXT: my desert restaurant is not really high-end, but like franchise restaurant, you pay after you order, and my owner is a young and inexperienced person, so he does not really know how to deal with a lot of situtation, he's thinking about put time limit for "campers" because last night he was furious when there were no table for another 2 groups of 5 and 6, and only one group wanted to wait and the other left,
What kind of dessert*** restaurant? Why do you expect every person to purchase one?
As a customer I hate this transactional level of restaurants and servers. It ruins the experience.
When you go to the doctor, would you remain in the exam room reading a book for an hour afterwards? When you get a haircut, do you stay lounging in the barber chair playing on your phone for an additional 45 minutes? Do you get to take a 2 hour nap on the table after a professional massage? No! Those businesses need that space. Why would you think you could do the same at a restaurant? Even if there are other tables available, you are basically asking your server to keep waiting on you long after the business transaction is over. And if the restaurant is busy, you are actively preventing your server from making money. Even if it seems slow to you, you might still be blocking your particular server from getting a new table. Enjoy your meal, dessert, and coffee, and then leave. It's that simple.
Not only the server, but the restaurant. BTW, all great examples.
These are horrible examples lol you don’t go to the doctor’s office with the intention of sitting down and catching up with an old friend.
After the meal is done, you can go elsewhere. If you aren't spending money, it's generally time to go, especially if others have the intention of coming in to spend. It's very selfish to think, "Oh well, just sit here now and spend an hour chatting. Besides 2hrs is plenty of time to catch up over a meal. 2.5hr even more. After that, it's excessive.
As a consumer, you don’t think about “am I spending money?” You’re thinking “am I having a good time”.
A restaurants purpose is to feed you. After you are done eating it is time to wrap everything up and move on for others. (Editted). If you want to hang out and catch up, go to a bar or cafe Expecting a restaurant to host you past dinner is insane. It isn't your house. The restaurant isn't responsible for you having a fun time at the end of your meal. As soon as you are done eating and drinking, you should be wrapping up within 30 minutes. Lots of other options in the world to hangout... but expecting to do so without spending is insane.
I’m a server and I would tip you 30¢ just to match your piss poor attitude. I can tell your service is just as shit as your attitude. You act like just because the bill is closed they haven’t spent $300 dining at your restaurant. They have paid for their time. THEY HAVE SPENT MONEY. Just because you’re loud and greedy doesn’t mean you’re in the right. A restaurant’s purpose is literally to provide a good experience for guests. Acting shitty the moment you know what they’ve tipped is not conducive to a pleasant experience and DOES NOT make people want to come back
Damn..... you'd tip me 30c on spending no money just sitting in my section? Fuck ya. I'm not a server. I run a very successful (not fine dining) restaurant. We are very up front with guests about time restrictions when we need to be. Otherwise, we don't say anything. If we don't need the table, stay all night. If it's Friday night at 7pm and you've been sitting there since 4 pm and only bought Happy hour food and drinks, then it's time to go. If a restaurant doesn't have reservations it isn't as much of an issue aside from costing the business and servers on other flips. With reservations though you can't stay all night, other people would like to come in and enjoy the FOOD and DRINKs we provide.... not the table. Ps: I edited my previous reply as I realize my fuck off comment will come across as agressive instead of meaning it lightly. Text doesn't translate delivery sadly.
Yea see you keep missing the part where I spent $$$ at your restaurant. Just because the check is closed doesn’t mean I’ve spent nothing. It just means the tab isn’t going up anymore. Acting like an ass because the money tap isn’t flowing anymore leaves people with a bad taste and taints their entire experience, EVEN IF service was wonderful up until the check was dropped.
No response huh? You must have FINALLY seen the logic and reason in all my previous posts
This is a crazy comparison. A server is in the hospitality and experience industry. Some of these recommendations in this comment section are insane.
So you hate the fact the business you're visiting is in fact a business. Just stay home
It’s in the business of hospitality and experience. It’s not supposed to be transactional.
Someone has to be mindful of costs and margin or your experience wouldn't exist. Pull your head out of the ground
Going to a friend’s house is not supposed to be transactional. Dining at a business is 100% transactional. Restaurants are there to provide hospitality and experience, of course, but these things are provided with a cost and certain rules and expectations. Of course many folks working in hospitality enjoy providing memorable service and making the guest experience personal, but at the end of the day, both the restaurant and the staff are there to make money and if a table spends too little and/or holds the table too long while other guests are waiting for it, that is problematic. My recommendation, if you wish to have more time and leisure at a restaurant, is to visit on slower days when they won’t necessarily need your table to turn. I would also recommend being honest with the host when you book your reservation. Tell them that you’d like to spend extra time at your table so they can plan their night accordingly. You’ll just need to know that some hosts may tell you that it’s not possible, especially if booking on a popular night or during peak hours.
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I'm not trying to defend, yes the portion is maximum for 2, but 4 people ? Take a whole table? Asking 4 bowls to share 4 waters, sitting > an hour ?no, one guy even gave me 75 cents, and he told me proudly, keep the change, and funny enough, it happens mostly during weekend night if this was in week days, feel free to stay as long as you could be because we are slow on weekday
That's smart. Even a 1/5 of most dishes is too much