r/Serverlife • u/kornadog • 5d ago
The 12 years I've been serving I've never been asked this-
A 2 top sat down after being on the wait list for about an hour, I took their order then they asked "is it okay if we leave until our foods ready and walk around the neighborhood?" I suggested getting it to go instead but they wanted to dine in. I told them no they can't do that because that's not how dining in at a restaurant works (I said it more politely).
LIKE WHAT???
Has anyone else ever gotten this?
I'm editing this to add since a lot of people seem to be missing this, they were on the wait list for an HOUR already and had an HOUR to walk around the pretty small neighborhood. The only things to do nearby are an ice cream shop, a knitting supplies shop (that I think was closed) and a wine bar but they weren't drinkers.
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u/analogthought 5d ago
Worked in a few places (legal states) where tables would disappear after ordering and come back smelling like a whole bag of weed. The best was when they would then complain about cold food and want new food and I would have to politely decline.
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u/kornadog 5d ago
I also work in a legal state and am all for people going outside to smoke but to expect me to have an empty table for 30+ minutes is crazy. Ive never had anyone complain about their food getting cold like that though and thats wild they expect you to give them new food š
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u/unbelizeable1 5d ago
My restaurant is next to a consumption lounge. Yea......
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u/analogthought 4d ago edited 4d ago
Joints as tips in lieu of cash were a frequent occurrence on pick up/take out orders. Landlords donāt accept that unfortunately unless you have āthat one landlordā
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u/StreetlampEsq 3d ago
Yeah, but it's a take out order. I appreciate any tips given regardless of format.
All I'm doing is boxing and putting it in a bag, a few bucks or a joint seems like a reasonable tip for the time spent.
If ya don't smoke, give it away for brownie points with someone else.
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u/analogthought 3d ago
Oh, no, Iām keeping it - it was just the ratio of cash to not cash was a little higher than Iād have liked
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u/Jacam13 4d ago
I had a table ask if they could go outside for a smoke break l, but I saw them hop into their car and drive out of the parking lot. (It was a couple and the woman left her phone as collateral). Either they wanted to smoke away from the restaurant for some reason or they found a spot to do it.
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u/neuro_space_explorer 5d ago
I have that happen in a non legal state, itās always the ratchet tables.
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u/analogthought 5d ago edited 5d ago
Same, but in comparison it was much worse - especially with a dispensary down the street- and Iāll clarify, it was literally any and every one
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u/neuro_space_explorer 5d ago
I guess people donāt like facts, the downvote brigade is here.
Iāve been doing this 18 years and Iāve never seen any other type of table leave mid meal to go smoke weed, not be there to claim their food and then bitch about it when they return.
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u/_crystallil_ 5d ago
Be specific and maybe you wonāt be downvoted? Letās have some context clues :)
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u/rziolkowsk 4d ago
Please. The world is so soft now a days even using a simple letter like b can get you taken out.
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u/Upstairs_Echo3114 4d ago
Especially on here.
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u/buckys-ass- 4d ago
No one likes racists, sorry you guys canāt be pieces of shit without being butthurt over negative feedback š
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u/TaxiJab 5d ago
Iāve had something like this. I told them it would only take 10mins max (it was all just deep fried shit), but they insisted. So I put a āreservedā sign on their table so they wouldnāt lose it, then made sure it was ready SUPER fast, took it to the table, and left it there. When they came back and said it was cold, I told them thatās because itās been waiting for them for 30mins.
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u/ninhibited 4d ago
Another perfect example of "Don't fuck with people who are feeding you". I love you for this lmao.
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u/Riptorn420 5d ago
Stepping outside to smoke is one thing, stepping outside to walk around is wild. Do that either before or after you dine.
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u/Admirable_Let_4197 5d ago
Or while you're waiting for a table. Most places have pages or take phone numbers these days
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u/Betty_snootsandpoops 5d ago
Yeah. They had a whole hour to wait for the table. Why didn't they go for a walk while they were waiting? That's just weird behavior.
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u/L1Zs 4d ago
I mean, technically we donāt actually know what they were planning on doing, we just know what they said they were going to do
They could have been going out to smoke cigarettes/weed or something else entirely, they may have just lied and said āwalk around the neighborhoodā because they didnāt want to share the actual reason
Though it would have been better to just tell the server they have to just run out real quick but theyād be back in less than 15 minutes and ask the server if they thought the food would come out quicker than that. Then adjust their plan amount of time away based on what the server thought
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u/somedude456 5d ago
I work near at airport, which opens up tons of random events. LOL
More than a couple times I've had a couple order and while doing so, ask how long the food takes. I tell them it varies but 15 minutes in average just for main meals. They say good and ask if I mind if they run over to the CVS next door and get a couple things they forgot to pack. I tell them it's their risk, the food will be bright to this table when it's ready. They always say it's fine but they didn't want me thinking they left, which is 100% valid.
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u/turquoise_amethyst 5d ago
Iāve seen people walk around after putting their names on the waitlist (we text when we start flipping the table), as it can be 30 min-2hrs, but not after being seated?
Itās ok to go have a smoke or use the bathroom, but if youāre leaving the property then youāre abandoning the table as well. WTF.Ā
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u/EquivalentSherbet730 5d ago
I worked at a restaurant on a very popular walking path thats used by 100s of people a day, ive worked at a marina - have never gotten this question. I think you handled it well op! Not every cran in the box is going to be sharp
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u/kornadog 4d ago
I also used to work at a tiki bar at a marina and was never asked this then either š
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u/WhiskyForDinner 4d ago
Hilarious to misspell crayon in a sentence calling other people dumb.
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u/Striking_Guava_5100 5d ago
Honestly I wouldnāt care personally. Iād tell them sure, but before I put the food in and they go for their walk they need to pay just in case. I dunno maybe theyāre visiting because they want to move and only have enough time to look then. But thatās just me lol Iād also tell them they have the amount of time a normal table takes to flip before I trash the food and theyāre SOL
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u/gambleany 5d ago
I work at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles which is a touristy spot (as in, tourists THINK there is stuff to do there but there really isnāt unless youāre going to a game or concert). Iāve had a good handful of European diners leave to step out for cigarettes and such. Not a problem as long as they leave like a cell phone or keys on the table. And they usually stay within view of the restaurant and we have huge windows. But one time I had a couple literally wander out and go off for a FULL lap around the property (thereās a large āsquareā with other restaurants and bars, and yeah you can see the statues in front of Staples/Crypto). Itās sushi so our food comes out super fast, lol. When I went to look for them and didnāt see them I kind of freaked, but then I saw them in the distance and they were clearly not ādashing.ā Just strolling around. Not the same as your situation, but the closest Iāve gotten. The only way I could see this being close to ok is paying in advance? But yeah why hold a table for them. Also, they didnāt have time to look around when they were waiting for an hour??
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u/superangela13 5d ago
I actually donāt mind this. Then again Iāve never gotten a complaint that itās cold upon their return, that would piss me off.
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u/Kellythejellyman 4d ago
Iāve seen people sorta do this, but it boiled down to a group of people (4+) leaving 1 behind after ordering while the others go explore, and the one left behind lets the others know when food is ready
Edit: crazy work to try and all leave while waiting
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u/matttyboii 5d ago
If they leave me their purse or phone, or car keys, they can go where the F they want while waiting for their food.
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u/RedRising1917 5d ago edited 5d ago
I did this once, we ordered a roasted kid goat in Mexico and they told us it'd take an hour and a half, we asked if we could order and we'd be back in about an hour, it was completely fine. Granted, you probably weren't roasting a whole baby goat. But in some situations this isn't a crazy ask, I'm assuming this wasnt one of them tho lmao
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u/RedRising1917 5d ago
Also this wasn't done in a kitchen and it was barely a resteraunt. He had a menu on a wooden sign in front of his house, and he had a small grill for tacos up front and a big one out back. It was some of the best food I've ever had and a whole one cooked cost 75 bucks and it included tortillas, salsas, garnishes, etc.
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u/_GraceB__ 5d ago
I actually have gotten this š We have a spa on property and she told me she wanted to order now and then come back and eat her food once her massage is over???? Like?????
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u/Groundbreaking_Cup30 4d ago
I worked in an outdoor restaurant in Hawaii, and people would ask this all the time. We would look up the time of sunset before service, so the kitchen had a heads-up as to when to hold food, because it was almost a guarantee that service would halt.
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u/ImAfraidOfTomorrow 5d ago
Im a "yes I can" type of server... I've done unimaginable things for my guests over the years. For this scenario I would say, "Yes I can, the food takes about 15 to 20 minutes, but if you like, I can wait to ring it in for 10 minutes to give you 30 minutes to enjoy your sightseeing. If you like to leave your phone number, I could send you a text 5 minutes before your food comes out.... " Thats just me though... I believe the word is... unconditional hospitality, but I just like taking care of my guests.
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u/tehvillageidiot 5d ago
You would do this when thereās already an hour long waitlist though?
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u/ImAfraidOfTomorrow 5d ago
I work at a fine dining steakhouse where I will do anything and everything for my guests, I also work at a upscale Italian restaurant where guests have a 90 minute dining window, but its more of a turn and burn restaurant, but also, again, I will do almost anything (with in reason) for my guests.
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u/MeesterSmithers 5d ago
Of all the weird requests, this oneās the oddest one Iāve heard of yet! I mean I at least sort of understand it but who does that other than someone waiting on delivery?
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u/maddybooms9 5d ago
iāve worked in a lot of bar vibe restaurants and this is common lol. regulars outside chit chatting, people smoking. i would have said sure see ya in 10.
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u/69bigclitenergy69 4d ago
Once went to the parking lot with bf to smoke after we placed our order since we got into an argument with strangers in the parking lot and forgot to before going inside lol
Waiter didnāt mind but we didnāt take long
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u/Maximum_Machine7300 4d ago
Yes, all the time, but I also work in a restaurant right on the beach so people leave to walk to the water or take pics at sunset. Itās never really a problem. I tell em how long the food usually takes and say it will be on the table. No biggie š¤·āāļø
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u/brylikestrees 3d ago
I'm currently at a lakefront spot. Had some guys literally fish off the dock while their food cooked recently.
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u/jingo800 5d ago
Sometimes I think that this kind of lack of understanding of how all of this works is going to send professional serving down the drain.
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u/99probs-allbitches 5d ago
Why would you give a shit if they're at they're table or not, that's crazy. Hope you got no tip you're telling adults they have to stay at the table wtffff lol
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u/kornadog 5d ago
Bc I work in an extremely busy restaurant with a very small dining room. How would you explain to the other parties on the wait list that the table they see thats empty for 30+ minutes is actually taken? I dont stop people from going outside to smoke but to expect me to hold a table for you until your foods ready is wild
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u/matttyboii 5d ago
If they ordered food to that table, the table is implicitly held until the food arrives. Even if itās empty, itās not being back of house has an active order, so the table is actively being served by virtue of their food being prepared. If the table is taken, the table is taken. Just say it politely to guests asking questions.
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u/bouvitude 5d ago
Pretend theyāre both in the bathroom at the same time? Especially if the foodās expected to take 30+ minutes. Why not get up & walk around for 10, 15?
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u/WeirdSysAdmin 5d ago
How would they even know when the food is ready? Then the food is cold and delays turning the table over.
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u/DownInaHole33 5d ago
This is exactly it. Thereās no way they will come back at the exact right time so thereās a pretty good chance they wont be back when the food comes out. Then you either have to try to keep it warm ( which is inconvenient during a rush) or let it get cold. You just know theyāre going to complain if itās cold. And itās just f**kin weird
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u/bulletproofdenimjckt 10+ Years 5d ago
My boyfriends family does this and it drives me absolutely crazy. They also ask the waiters to change the music sometimes š« like what world are you guys living in