A rant by rumbo, apparently caused by his German-ness

[Tick]

I agree with Rumbo.  I think it's incredibly rude to just camp out for a long time after the check has been paid.  It's a service industry, once you have received the service and paid for the service, the relationship is over.

If you are still at the table and continue to order drinks and stuff, that's completely different, but just hanging out seems incredibly insensitive to the business and other consumers that would like the same service but can't because you are too lazy to loiter somewhere else.

It's not about laziness. I'm perfectly fine being told I have to wait to get in because people are enjoying themselves, with the expectation that I'm also not going to get herded out myself.

Its not being herded out. Floyd's post is awesome. I think he said it as well as possible.

[KevShmev]

In rumborak's case, his being a party of 5 made it more difficult, since most tables in your average run of the mill restaurants are designed for 2 or 4 people, so a party bigger than 4 often has to wait for one of the few larger tables to open up, unless it is kind of slow and they can pull two tables together or something like that.

As for asking people to leave, that is generally not done, nor should it be (although I think anyone who would get offended by that needs to get a grip, and that speaks to how easily people nowadays look to be offended, but that is whole other story...).  I get that "camping out" at a table for a long time could be considered rude, but what if it's two people who haven't seen each other in a while and they get caught up in conversation after dinner and end up sitting there longer than they had intended?  You don't always know you are gonna keep chatting away for a while after dinner. 

Now, if you sit there for a long time past closing, then you are kind of a dick, especially if you see the rest of the place is empty.

[chknptpie]

I'll let the check sit on the table, unpaid, until I am ready to leave. This way I continue to get service. I generally look at paying the check as saying "I'm done, no need to continue serving me". If someone pays the check, I take that as a sign to get going.

[KevShmev]

I'll let the check sit on the table, unpaid, until I am ready to leave. This way I continue to get service. I generally look at paying the check as saying "I'm done, no need to continue serving me". If someone pays the check, I take that as a sign to get going.

That can be somewhat of a jerk move, especially if you are the last table a server has before their shift is over.  You are basically making that server wait around for you, when you could just pay the check, and another server in the same area can then take care of you for refills of drinks or whatever.  And it's not like another server is hard to flag down if you feel you aren't getting good service anymore since paying your check.

[bosk1]

I'll let the check sit on the table, unpaid, until I am ready to leave. This way I continue to get service. I generally look at paying the check as saying "I'm done, no need to continue serving me". If someone pays the check, I take that as a sign to get going.

That can be somewhat of a jerk move, especially if you are the last table a server has before their shift is over.  You are basically making that server wait around for you, when you could just pay the check, and another server in the same area can then take care of you for refills of drinks or whatever. 

Yeah, but most people who have not worked as wait staff do not know that.

[Fiery Winds]

I think part of it is what constitutes "service" at a restaurant.  When you're talking about your average bar and grill, they're generally offering a place to sit down, eat, and drink.  Socializing beyond paying the bill becomes a challenge when there are other people waiting for a spot.  The restaurant shouldn't force you out, but I wouldn't mind a polite suggestion.  These types of places survive on high volume traffic moving in AND out. 

Contrast that with restaurants that sell the full experience.  You've got a fireplace, bay views, etc.  It's not just about sitting down and eating food. 

[Perpetual Change]

I agree with Rumbo.  I think it's incredibly rude to just camp out for a long time after the check has been paid.  It's a service industry, once you have received the service and paid for the service, the relationship is over.

If you are still at the table and continue to order drinks and stuff, that's completely different, but just hanging out seems incredibly insensitive to the business and other consumers that would like the same service but can't because you are too lazy to loiter somewhere else.

It's not about laziness. I'm perfectly fine being told I have to wait to get in because people are enjoying themselves, with the expectation that I'm also not going to get herded out myself.

Its not being herded out. Floyd's post is awesome. I think he said it as well as possible.

Floyd's talking about people camping out for 3 hours. Rumby's talking about having to wait around 20 minutes after he was told he was going to be seated. In Rumby's defense, the restaurant is to blame. They shouldn't have told him that the party was going to leave just because they'd asked for the check. That's a bad assumption for a lot of reasons. Lots of times, you get the check just because someone might be leaving, or because you want to pay before it becomes a battle over who’s treating. Other times, you might decide you want another round of drinks so you can chat it up some. All of that’s perfectly reasonable, and any restaurant that would tell waiting customers “hold on 20 minutes, we’re gonna try and get these guys out the door” isn’t worth going back to.

[KevShmev]

I'll let the check sit on the table, unpaid, until I am ready to leave. This way I continue to get service. I generally look at paying the check as saying "I'm done, no need to continue serving me". If someone pays the check, I take that as a sign to get going.

That can be somewhat of a jerk move, especially if you are the last table a server has before their shift is over.  You are basically making that server wait around for you, when you could just pay the check, and another server in the same area can then take care of you for refills of drinks or whatever. 

Yeah, but most people who have not worked as wait staff do not know that.

I know, which is why I just pointed it out.

Floyd's talking about people camping out for 3 hours. Rumby's talking about having to wait around 20 minutes after he was told he was going to be seated. In Rumby's defense, the restaurant is to blame. They shouldn't have told him that the party was going to leave just because they'd asked for the check. That's a bad assumption for a lot of reasons. Lots of times, you get the check just because someone might be leaving, or because you want to pay before it becomes a battle over who’s treating. Other times, you might decide you want another round of drinks so you can chat it up some. All of that’s perfectly reasonable, and any restaurant that would tell waiting customers “hold on 20 minutes, we’re gonna try and get these guys out the door” isn’t worth going back to.

Well said. 

[chknptpie]

I'll let the check sit on the table, unpaid, until I am ready to leave. This way I continue to get service. I generally look at paying the check as saying "I'm done, no need to continue serving me". If someone pays the check, I take that as a sign to get going.

That can be somewhat of a jerk move, especially if you are the last table a server has before their shift is over.  You are basically making that server wait around for you, when you could just pay the check, and another server in the same area can then take care of you for refills of drinks or whatever. 

Yeah, but most people who have not worked as wait staff do not know that.

I have worked as a waitress though...

[KevShmev]

I'll let the check sit on the table, unpaid, until I am ready to leave. This way I continue to get service. I generally look at paying the check as saying "I'm done, no need to continue serving me". If someone pays the check, I take that as a sign to get going.

That can be somewhat of a jerk move, especially if you are the last table a server has before their shift is over.  You are basically making that server wait around for you, when you could just pay the check, and another server in the same area can then take care of you for refills of drinks or whatever. 

Yeah, but most people who have not worked as wait staff do not know that.

I have worked as a waitress though...

No offense then, but you should know better.

[AcidLameLTE]

I agree with rumborak.

Busy restaurants here (in Aberdeen, at least) give you 2 hours to eat your food and pay your bill and then you have to leave. I'm sure there's some leeway in that I generally don't take 2 hours to order and eat my food.

[hefdaddy42]

I'll let the check sit on the table, unpaid, until I am ready to leave. This way I continue to get service. I generally look at paying the check as saying "I'm done, no need to continue serving me". If someone pays the check, I take that as a sign to get going.

That can be somewhat of a jerk move, especially if you are the last table a server has before their shift is over.  You are basically making that server wait around for you, when you could just pay the check, and another server in the same area can then take care of you for refills of drinks or whatever.  And it's not like another server is hard to flag down if you feel you aren't getting good service anymore since paying your check.

It's no more of a jerk move than paying the bill, then continuing to take up space, denying any other servers from making money on new customers.

[Jaq]

People stay after they pay their bill?

Never done that in my life. When I pay the check, I'm done. You get up and go. You want to bullshit with friends, go to a bar.

[King Postwhore]

Rumbo, my wife told me she would bus her own table bare to the bone to hint that they were done but she could never tell them to move on.  She wanted them to to make more money but she couldn't say it.

[KevShmev]

I'll let the check sit on the table, unpaid, until I am ready to leave. This way I continue to get service. I generally look at paying the check as saying "I'm done, no need to continue serving me". If someone pays the check, I take that as a sign to get going.

That can be somewhat of a jerk move, especially if you are the last table a server has before their shift is over.  You are basically making that server wait around for you, when you could just pay the check, and another server in the same area can then take care of you for refills of drinks or whatever.  And it's not like another server is hard to flag down if you feel you aren't getting good service anymore since paying your check.

It's no more of a jerk move than paying the bill, then continuing to take up space, denying any other servers from making money on new customers.

True, but different circumstances could change things.  Like, if the end of the night is nearing, business is dying off, and no other server is gonna take over that section/table anyway.  If you sit around not paying your bill and chatting away, you are basically making your server sit around waiting for you, instead of just paying your bill and letting one of the other servers (most of whom are probably closing) take care of you if need be for refills and whatnot.  That is what I had in mind when I said that earlier.

[XJDenton]

British etiquette demands that you move your socialising to the nearest ale dispensing establishment once you are done eating.

[bout to crash]

...which is always fine with me

[MetalJunkie]

People stay after they pay their bill?

Never done that in my life. When I pay the check, I'm done. You get up and go. You want to bullshit with friends, go to a bar.

I don't like bars... When I bullshit with my friends, I might pick a different type of social setting, like - I don't know, a restaurant.

[kári]

I understand the frustration but as a waiter as weekend job I would never ask people to leave after they've paid their check. They leave when they want to leave.

[black_biff_stadler]

Well yes, the waiter job isn't your primary source of income. It's a much different ball game for those who have it as their only job.

[Perpetual Change]

Well yes, the waiter job isn't your primary source of income. It's a much different ball game for those who have it as their only job.

Likewise, actually going out to order food can cost me anywhere from 1-4 hours wages, if not more, depending on where I go, if I'm treating, etc. I deserve to stay as long as I like after eating, within reason.

[black_biff_stadler]

You have a right to stay there past closing until they call the cops to forcibly remove you if you wanna chest thump about rights. Just cuz you wanna show off for friends and treat them, it doesn't mean you aren't being discourteous and legitimately costing someone money if you directly cause them to miss out on tables by camping more than 15-20 minutes without tipping additional money to keep it fair for both sides.

[chknptpie]

No offense then, but you should know better.

Any time I pay a bill and we hang out, the servers always ignore us. They have their tip, the don't care anymore.

[KevShmev]

You have a right to stay there past closing until they call the cops to forcibly remove you if you wanna chest thump about rights. Just cuz you wanna show off for friends and treat them, it doesn't mean you aren't being discourteous and legitimately costing someone money if you directly cause them to miss out on tables by camping more than 15-20 minutes without tipping additional money to keep it fair for both sides.

  Good grief, man.  Where did PC say he wants to spend money to show off for his friends??

No offense then, but you should know better.

Any time I pay a bill and we hang out, the servers always ignore us. They have their tip, the don't care anymore.

I get that, but if you get a server's attention and ask for a refill or something, I suspect most will be more than happy to oblige.  No, they won't come over on their own and ask you, but in most cases, one or two are gonna be in your area enough that getting their attention for something small should never be a problem.

[eric42434224]

If you are done with your meal and have paid, and are not going to order anything else, then show some courtesy and get up and leave within 10 minutes.

[Jaffa]

It's not about laziness. I'm perfectly fine being told I have to wait to get in because people are enjoying themselves, with the expectation that I'm also not going to get herded out myself.

Yeah, I think this is kind of a key point.  I'm sorry if some people leave because the wait is too long, but I didn't leave when the wait was too long.  I stood outside for an hour waiting patiently, never complaining once.  Maybe it's selfish or inconsiderate of me, but I think that hour long wait gives me the right to linger a bit if I feel like it. 

I mean, I personally don't usually linger.  I'm ready to leave as soon as everyone else is ready to leave.  But if I did feel like hanging out for a bit, and my waiter asked me to leave or told me that people were waiting for my table, would it bother me?  Yeah, a bit.  For me, atmosphere is a huge part of eating at a restaurant.  And being asked to leave does kind of hurt that atmosphere.

[KevShmev]

Yeah, I get the "you gotta turn your tables fast" mentality that exists in the service industry, but if a customer waited for a table for an hour or even longer, I agree that it is rude to expect them to vacate the table the second they are finished eating.  If you wait that long for a table, you damn well have the right to relax a bit after eating and chat for a little longer, if that is what you and your friends want to do.  Sure, it is easy to say, "Then go to a bar if you want to keep visiting," but not everyone wants to get up and drive somewhere else just for a little bit more convo.  Sure, it sucks for the server, but that's the rigors of the job (which I know, since I worked in that industry for years).

[lonestar]

 

[bout to crash]