Bringing in outside FOOD and BEV

Ok folks, here's another question for ya.....
Let's set this one up like this....

A group of 6 comes in for lunch, without a reservation, eats lunch, and then, without asking, brings in their own cake for the whole table to enjoy.

A group of 4 that have been shopping come in for lunch. They bring their own 20 oz. soda bottles that they have been drinking and just order glasses of ice for them to pour their sodas in.

A group of 8 ladies make a reservation for lunch and to play cards. After eating lunch, they bring out their own snack mix, cookies, and candy to nibble on during their card party.

Restaurant folks - How do you deal with guests that brings in their own food or drink items?

HELP!!!!

Scott I sent you a PM.

I am interested in this too. I get people bringing booze still. They think hey it's Westport... I wonder if the same folks would walk into say the Bristol with a plastic cup full of Bourbon?

This is disgraceful. What's wrong with people. I had this happen to me when I was waiting tables downtown years ago. They brought their own sodas and a slab of ribs wrapped in foil. I was floored.

OK, as a customer, if I may address this......

I am guilty of bringing in a special cake for a special event, however, I first clear it with the host/manager either by phone or in person. I would never just show up with a cake/treat and expect the staff to serve it. That is my opinion is unacceptable, and Scott, I would say you would need to address that one with the customer.

Bringing in drinks to me is insanity. I know that the markup on booze is where most establishments go in the black. If I want a drink, I'll order it at the establishment.

And the card party......OH MY HOW FUNNY. Now I must confess, I can see my dear late grandmother and her buds doing just that (and have seen them do that). I know that turning tables is also important in the biz, and when I pointed this out to my grandmother, she admitted that she'd never considered that, and offered to pay the owner a usage fee for the table. People just don't think. That's what it boils down to.

Now, if you have a picky eater for a child that will only eat cold cereal, the parent should ask for a bowl for the cereal, order the milk to go on the cereal, and then have the cereal with them. That I can understand.

You are in business to make a living. You provide a unique service for the general public. And you need to educate them, politly and on a level of general comprehension, to this fact. Sometimes, the best way to get a mule's attention is to hit them in between the eyes with a two by four.

For what it's worth, that is my 3 cents worth........

All of this has happened to me within the past 3 weeks. I would not have had a problem with the cake people if they would have called and asked first....
" we are treating a friend for his/her birthday and wanted to know if we could bring a cake."

I agree with Will, what would happen if someone would walk into another establishment like Bristol like that?

I let the birthday cake thing go. But they usually ask first.

I've never personally brought food or beverages from outside into a restaurant, other than dinner at Napa Valley restaurants that encouraged you to bring your own wine for a corkage fee. It was always so much fun to spend the day touring wineries and then take that special find from the day to dinner that night.

I did attend a bachelorette party in Santa Monica a few years ago and there was a special cake for the bachlorette. We were at a pretty high-end restaurant, the Buffalo Club, and the hostess of our little group cleared it with the restaurant first and they charged us each an $8 a person serving fee. So they were happy, we were happy with our rather raunchily decorated cake (I remember nude plastic figures on it!) and it worked for everyone involved. (the restaurant is one of those that is so "in" with the in crowd that they don't even have their name on the building outside. you either know where they are located or else you don't need to be there. or something like that!)

But to take something to a restaurant that didn't invite you to bring your own wine or that didn't know (and approve) in advance about the special occasion cake would be really inappropriate. I think it's totally within the rights of the managment to say something, quietly, to the people in question. Knowing that you'll lose the customers in the process, of course, but who really wants those customers anyway?!

Another common practice that gets me riled up is adults ordering off the "kid" menu on the nights it's deeply discounted or free. If you can't afford to eat off the grown-up menu then stay home you cheap bas%$#@s!!!

I've never personally brought food or beverages from outside into a restaurant, other than dinner at Napa Valley restaurants that encouraged you to bring your own wine for a corkage fee. It was always so much fun to spend the day touring wineries and then take that special find from the day to dinner that night.

I did attend a bachelorette party in Santa Monica a few years ago and there was a special cake for the bachlorette. We were at a pretty high-end restaurant, the Buffalo Club, and the hostess of our little group cleared it with the restaurant first and they charged us each an $8 a person serving fee. So they were happy, we were happy with our rather raunchily decorated cake (I remember nude plastic figures on it!) and it worked for everyone involved. (the restaurant is one of those that is so "in" with the in crowd that they don't even have their name on the building outside. you either know where they are located or else you don't need to be there. or something like that!)

But to take something to a restaurant that didn't invite you to bring your own wine or that didn't know (and approve) in advance about the special occasion cake would be really inappropriate. I think it's totally within the rights of the managment to say something, quietly, to the people in question. Knowing that you'll lose the customers in the process, of course, but who really wants those customers anyway?!

I've always been found of the "cutting fee" that more or less includes the kitchen cutting the cake and/or use of the china/silverware, the extra plates the dishwasher has to clean, and the extra "free" course the server has to attend to/clean up after.

i don't think it's without cause or unreasonable if weigh out the total cost to the restaurant.

Is there any Health Code violations bringing in outside food? I'd think the Health Dept would be concerned about possible cross-contamination. I can never get over the gall of some people bringing food from other places into restaurants, bringing their lunch from home (and using the utensils and glassware) and sneaking alcohol into drinks. When I was in the "biz", I saw all that and more. Yes, some people are thoughtless, but some are out to scam, are cheap or just plain nasty. I guess I would not be a good restaurant owner, cause I could not be silent about any of those situations......

We get a birthday cake or two a week. Sometimes they ask us to put it in the cooler until they are ready. We are a pizza joint! That's okay. Sometimes when i am bussing tables, I'll find Cherrios or peas on the floor, which are for the infants, that's ok. Never had a problem with adults bring in food or drink though.

I've never personally brought food or beverages from outside into a restaurant, other than dinner at Napa Valley restaurants that encouraged you to bring your own wine for a corkage fee. It was always so much fun to spend the day touring wineries and then take that special find from the day to dinner that night.

I did attend a bachelorette party in Santa Monica a few years ago and there was a special cake for the bachlorette. We were at a pretty high-end restaurant, the Buffalo Club, and the hostess of our little group cleared it with the restaurant first and they charged us each an $8 a person serving fee. So they were happy, we were happy with our rather raunchily decorated cake (I remember nude plastic figures on it!) and it worked for everyone involved. (the restaurant is one of those that is so "in" with the in crowd that they don't even have their name on the building outside. you either know where they are located or else you don't need to be there. or something like that!)

But to take something to a restaurant that didn't invite you to bring your own wine or that didn't know (and approve) in advance about the special occasion cake would be really inappropriate. I think it's totally within the rights of the managment to say something, quietly, to the people in question. Knowing that you'll lose the customers in the process, of course, but who really wants those customers anyway?!

I've always been found of the "cutting fee" that more or less includes the kitchen cutting the cake and/or use of the china/silverware, the extra plates the dishwasher has to clean, and the extra "free" course the server has to attend to/clean up after.

i don't think it's without cause or unreasonable if weigh out the total cost to the restaurant.

I believe this is called the "cakage" fee.

grrr....bringing in your own cake is a pet peeve of mine. Please understand that I am not speaking for my employers; this is just my own personal opinion. But the question I really really want an answer to is this: WHY oh WHY do so many people make an exception for birthday cake? How is it any different from bringing your own ribs? And then (this has never happened where I currently work, but multiple times at more upscale, white-tablecloth places), to be forced to cut someone else's cake and serve it to them (especially some crappy, Crisco-frosted, grocery store deli monstrosity) just really, really burns me.

I vote NO EXCEPTIONS FOR BIRTHDAY CAKES, unless your dying grandma made it on her deathbed. Otherwise, I will make you the best birthday cake of your life and serve it to you with pleasure, just give me a little advance warning!

/rant off

I believe this is called the "cakage" fee.

Heh. Good one, Ron

Bringing 'outside' food into a resturant IS a health code violation. If a person get ill from the food they brought in, the resturant is still held accountable.