Should you be informed abou a party of 20 before seated?

Be sure to specify when you make your reservation that you don't want to be seated next to crying children, loud parties, people that are going deaf, or for that matter, any other tables.

Maybe they didnt know they were expecting a party of 20 beforehand. Personally, from my small experience with how restaurants work, i would think it is up to the customer to ask/ let someone know if they would mind the party of 20.

i have been to restaurants with large groups, (Steve we were the large group of 2 families with all the kids!!! ) and noticed when people around us have asked to be moved. Other way around, i have been to places where there is a large loud group, and for once it wasn't us!, and we asked to be moved.

Did your server come and ask if everything was ok? That probably would have been the best time to speak up. Did they ask if everything was to your liking when you paid? Again, a good opportunity to speak up.

well, bless you suzi because I really have been at both ends. I do think they erred by not informing us that the group would arrive. There was outdoor seating as well.

What upsets me most is how everone is jumping on me.This was WEd at 6 pm, for goodness sakes. We wanted to tals about school and boys, whatever.

I spend loads of money on the places in this town. This was a one time occurance.

It sucked. Can you try to put yorselves in our sandals?

I understand that it sucked. I understand completely.

But that wasn't the fault of the host or the restaurant, that's what I think most of us are trying to say.

I apologize for the spelling, I don't know how to type.


In response, yes, they knew about the arrival of this group. The had to clap and scream to get them to shut up so that they could announce the nightly specials. It was so over the top, that I couldn't believe they wouldn't have told us. Shame on them. I would have loved to be a part of that group. but for others, there should have been a warning!

What upsets me most is how everone is jumping on me.

Linda,

Who, precisely, is jumping on you? I see folks disagreeing with you, and some folks having some fun at the "over 50" remark. But I don't see anyone "jumping on you" over the main question.

MarshaL and RonnieD gave you very polite (re-read Marsha's post in particular) responses. The only criticism you received was over the "over 50" remark--responses to your question were polite and measured--but none of them agreed with you.

It really goes against the spirit of a forum such as this to go for the "I know where you work, and I'll be taking my business elsewhere" move when you don't like the answer you get.

Charles

It sucked. Can you try to put yorselves in our sandals?

I am trying to, and if i were you, i would have asked to be moved. You said you didnt have your food yet, and you had already noticed the group. Which means there was time to move....

but, why didnt you express your feelings to the server? or a manager?

Becky, we were just having our salads when the group arrived. I really don't have a problem with a "group" per se. However, these people were literally screaming the whole time.


My original question was.....if you know you are having a LARGE group, should you not inform the diners? btw...this was not a last minute reservation.

We made last minute reservations. The food and service were totally wonderful. I chose not to eat outside because I have had early allergy woes! This was a special dinner just to celebrate with my girls over their new jobs. After about 10 minutes, the room next door was filled with a group of perhaps 20 people who were over 50 and maybe hearing challenged, but they were so loud that i could not hear or communicate with my daughters. When we were seated, shouldn't they have told us that a large group was coming in and maybe we would like to consider moving? On a generally quiet Wednesday night, this group was over the top loud. We had already received our bread and made our order when this group began arriving.

I think it is the responsibility of the host/hostess to tell you about such matters. I would like to hear your feedback.

When I read your subject line, I presumed that you were asking if the restaurant should be informed if a party of 20 was coming. The answer is, yes, of course. Should a customer be informed, no, of course not.

Becky, we were just having our salads when the group arrived. I really don't have a problem with a "group" per se. However, these people were literally screaming the whole time.


My original question was.....if you know you are having a LARGE group, should you not inform the diners? btw...this was not a last minute reservation.

To answer your question directly..... No i dont think the customer/diners should be informed. Again, it is up to the customer to speak up about any problem they are having with the establishment.

I'm well North of 50, and this thread is starting to remind me of one of my ex-wives. She'd ask for my opinion and when I gave it to her she'd disagree and get pi$$ed off at me. <====Note effective use of emoticon.
BP

I wouldn't have any expectation of going to a restaurant and being informed of a large party coming in. It's not their job to determine whether or not a large party would be offensive to you. It's your responsibilty to speak up, and inform someone who works there that you would like to be moved. Nobody is picking on you, but like I said before, it seems like you may have unrealistic expectations.

Just curious, what restaurant are we talking about?

1. You youself have said a few times that normally you don't mind large groups, it's just that this one was so loud. In that vein, how in the world could the restaurant have known they would be so loud? To me, its irrelevant if the group made reservations 6 months ago or showed up reservationless - what's relevant is that I'm guessing this was a more upscale place based on your comments, and it's doubtful the restaurant commonly gets loud, drunk groups. Therefore, they had no way of knowing.

2. Why didn't you ask to be moved? The restaurant likely would have accomodated you, and I realize you were already eating your salads, but that sounds pretty early in the meal, and you could have been re-set in under 5 minutes.

And under this theory, how big does a group need to be before you feel the restaurant has some obligation to alert incoming diners? 6? 8? 10? 15? 20 or more? I've been in many restaurants (and a part of many groups) where a group of 6 can easily become annoyingly loud, but a group of 15 is quiet as a churchmouse.

What matters are the facts of each situation, not generalizations about diners needing to be alerted to large groups. In your case, the large group was loud, so you should have asked to be moved.

I'm well North of 50, and this thread is starting to remind me of one of my ex-wives. She'd ask for my opinion and when I gave it to her she'd disagree and get pi$$ed off at me. <====Note effective use of emoticon.
BP

Ya know, I was thinking about weighing in on this matter when I had the precise thought you did. Having "been there, done that" I don't have a spare ounce of ass for anyone to chew on...So I'll be on the sidelines for this one <Note attempted effective use of emoticon>