What's the funniest or worst restaurant experience you'd had so far LONG 604

Sheldon

Business is all about the customer. Without customers you have no business.

First come, first serve. Smart restaurants insure that their seating arrangements are modular to avoid just that issue. Even without that, if there is a party of two here how that want's to be seated, you do not keep them waiting just because a party of four might show up for the larger table. Seating a party that came in after a party that you have waiting will guarantee you some horrendous reviews.

I expect to be seated promptly when there is a table available. I do not care if my party is smaller than the nominal capacity of the table, or if only half of my party is currently present. Neither is an acceptable excuse for not seating us.

When I make reservations I make them for the expected size of the party. If there is a change in the size of the party I do my best to contact the restaurant promptly and notify them of the change. I do this for both increases in party size *and* decreases. I also call to cancel if necessary. I am conscientious to the restaurants needs and I expect them to be conscientious to my needs.

I've been to plenty of restaurants with good service that will seat you at whatever table is available rather than make you wait. If a restaurant tries to not seat me when two of us walk in and say we need a table for three, then they are effectively insinuating that I am either lying about the third person or they are implying that they are only interested in my money and want me out as quickly as possible. Neither case is acceptable under any circumstances.

Perhaps I'm not interested in waiting in a noisy crowded bar when I could be seated at the available table and have half my order in already. In fact the restaurant in question didn't even have a bar.

They are obligated to provide service to the customer that is in their establishment *now*. Whether another person arrives or not is not their concern. There are customers present and they need to be accommodated *period*.

Actually, they love it when I return since I always tip well for good service and will readily tip more for exceptional service. My norms are 10% for buffets (they still bring drinks and clear plates), 20% for normal good full service, and I've been known to do 50% on more than one occasion for exceptional service (like when they have five people servicing your table for two).

Given the fact that I will also tend to drag many people to restaurants I like, particularly obscure ones that many people would never find, my recommendations carry some value.

Pete C.