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

Linda, I am not in the business, but frequent this site regularly. The statements about losing business and pi**ing anyone off is rather ridiculous. If you don't have the wherewithal to ask to be moved, well shame on you........

Quit threatening a foodie boycott!!

Well, I am well over 50 and am the biggest geezer. I love seeing people having fun. However, I couldn't hear a word and they were over the top loud. I know where all you compassionate people work and will hereby take my business elsewhere. There were other places to be seated. I am asking....don't you think a host should tell you that a group will be filling that space? We arrived at 6 pm and could have been seated anywhere. The reservation was "last minute" because of a schedule change, but at least it was a reservation. Thanks so much for your understanding.

Linda,
My two cents-

I'm not in the industry and understand your frustration, but still don't feel the restaurant did anything wrong. How were they to know a particular party would be loud? It could have been a nice quiet group of 30 year old librarians. And nothing I read from any of the restaurant folks was in anyway nasty- just their opinion- which was what you asked for.

If you asked to be moved after it got loud, and the restaurant was unwilling but able to accomodate you, then you'd have a point about that particular restaurant's customer service.

Deb

My answers:
1) No
2) It would have been nice if the wait would have offered to move you, but if you didn't say anything, I'm not sure how they would have known to.
3) Yes, I have teenagers. Are you saying the restaurant should have known that you would find it embarrassing to ask to be moved, so they should have initiated it? I bet they would have been very accommodating had you asked.

I have a teen, too ( 16) . I think she would have been horrified if I'd sat quietly, fuming at the situation. Politely explaining the situation to the server, and requesting to be moved to a quieter place is just good role modeling that It's okay/appropriate as the customer to request good service and a comfortable environment. Same applies for politely sending back food if it's overcooked, etc.

Deb

Linda-
This group NASTY? No way!! If you want to experience NASTY, please let me introduce you to ex-wife #2 who I believe still holds the patent on nastiness. <=== Another effective use of an emoticon.

Bryan, I have no idea what the H*** you mean. Just for the record, we are frequent diners. That's why I had an opentable check...get it? My husband and I or one or the other do not frequent any chain restaurant in this town, but eat out at least 3 times a week. I have never tipped less than 20% and I have only sent food back once. (I took 3 bites, sent it back and was sick for 2 days. 1976.)

I am sorry if I was harsh with my words. Nobody here agrees with me, I get that.
I let my daughters read this thread and they were in hysterics. Great. Nice to make the kiddies happy.
I did not sit there and "stew". However, both girls thought it was nuts in there and said they would have been embarrassed had I requested a move. I must be psychic!

One of my fav restaurants is Cafe Lou Lou, because of the atmosphere and the variety of food. However, I chose not to go there because it is always loud and I just didn't want that on Wed night. I've really never heard a group this loud before, no kidding.

I don't understand how to wait staff were supposed to know you wanted to be moved. If you didn't speak up, it appears that you have no reason to complain about the situation.

I want to hear from one of the 50 something noisy group. Maybe, they have read this and are too embarassed to contirbute, or maybe someone knows one of them. Let's hear from the other side of the table lol

Well, Michele, obviously you didn't read the question. I assumed they knew a huge ( maybe regular?) group was coming in and they didn't inform us or ask us if we wanted to be seated away from the middle section. That's all.

I think you may be laboring under the misconception that restaurants that accommodate large parties should by default give up the revenue from all the adjacent tables. That ain't necessarily so.

1. we know that you were not asked if you wanted to be seated somewhere else.

2. we know that you were dissatisfied with the place that you were sitting.

Those two facts in mind:


Why did you not ask to be seated elsewhere?

For golly's sake, i play the calliope on the Belle and work in rock bands. I know loud. Okay, it's my fault for not moving. I get that. But realize I was with a 15 and 19 year old who would have been horrified if I made any complaint. Do any of you have teens?

ok... i have four kids, a husband, and myself all battling the flu.... in my loopiness i missed this post......

So.... you did not say anything because you were with your teenagers, and they would have been horrified if you "made any complaint".

That being said, it has been stated that: No, it is not up to the restaurant/server to let a customer know that a large group will be coming in.

I believe it is the consensus that the customer should speak up in a situation as you described. But you chose not to, to appease your teenagers.

Do any of you have teens?

I have: a teenager, a preteen, a toddler, and a baby. I am very familiar with many, if not all, situations that might come up in public concerning children (of all ages).

Have i ever been in a situation at a restaurant where something needed to be brought to someone's attention and my teenage daughter thought she would die if i said anything. Of course! I take the situation as a chance to teach her something.......

I also stated that we could have been seated in the front by the window.

Did the host ask you as you were being seated if you would prefer the window over the location he sat you in? Or did that space just look to be available?

I don't believe that the restaurant has any responsibility in informing you of a large party coming in... even if you are being sat within 20 minutes of an incoming large party. The restaurant has no idea if you will only stop in for something quick, like dessert, and leave before the large party arrives.

In the future, to avoid such a situation, you could request as you are being seated - "a quiet spot where I can converse easily with my companions".

Well, Michele, obviously you didn't read the question. I assumed they knew a huge ( maybe regular?) group was coming in and they didn't inform us or ask us if we wanted to be seated away from the middle section. That's all.

Even if they DID know, why would they be obligated to mention this to you? You asked for opinions. The consensus is, no, the restaurant was in NO way obligated to mention that a large, obnoxious party of "old" drunk people was going to be seated by you. If you wanted to be moved, but did not ask to be moved to appease your kids, that is not the server's problem. If I was being disturbed, and wanted to move, I would SPEAK UP. If my kids didn't like it, or were embarrassed, tough! I still fail to see how this was lack of service on the restaurant's part. I mean no disrespect, but to expect the server/manager/waitstaff to read your mind, and move you, and then fault them because they didn't, is ridiculous.

If you wanted to be moved, but did not ask to be moved to appease your kids, that is not the server's problem. If I was being disturbed, ...

heyyyyyyy, you stole my use of the word appease! I am speaking up at my utter annoyance of this.... i demand you post elsewhere please.

ok... ok.... i got all caught up in the energy of your post....

Sheesh ! Can't we all just get along .. let's not taze poor Linda over this .. Move along Move along ... nothing to see here.