Just came back from dinner a place that we haven't been before. Called for early reservations (5:30PM) and were told that there was no problem -- in fact, the place had lots of availability until 8:00PM. And when we arrived there where 8 people in a room that could hold maybe 120? The person doing the seating grabbed 2 menus and escorted us to the absolute worst table in the room. Sort of in the walkway between the entry and the bar. Now, on the other side of the room, there were 11 empty 2 person tables around the window area. So after a mild fit, we get one of the window tables. Now we're here for 2 hrs and the 2 person tables get one more couple.
So, does this only happen to me? I can't begin to count the number of times that I been offered the worst table in a restaurant even though there were plenty of others available.
Or it might be that the waiting staff in a thinly populated restaurant like to keep their few occupied tables bunched up and close to the kitchen to minimise their work I am sure that was the reason why it happened to me once.
We went into a restaurant for breakfast years ago with a bachelor friend of ours who didn't care for kids. Although there were plenty of tables, the waitress sat us near a crying infant. My friend looked at the waitress and said "Am I being punished for something I did?" She moved us.
I'm not the outspoken type but if I get a table I don't like I ask to be moved.
You state "I must confess, having dined at some of the best places in Italy, I have no desire to eat at Le Cirque for the food. If I'm in New York, it's a good Jewish deli or a steak house like the Palm or Peter Lugar's for me, but I've always wondered how it would be at "21" or Le Cirque."
I can say that I spent 10 days dining around Italy years ago. Although I haven't dined in many New York City restaurants I had a fabulous experience at 21. I called for reservations and when we walked in they asked our name and whisked us right in. The service was impeccable. I remember my wife and I had two half bottles of wine - a classified Bordeaux and a Mondavi dessert wine. Since the whole meal cost around $250 that must have been a long time ago.
It happened to my party at Gary Rhodes' restaurant (City Rhodes) in London. We were seated at a table in the middle of the room but also quite near a swinging door, and although at first we didn't notice, it soon became clear it was going to be a problem. Each time the door opened we were bathed in blazing light from the kitchen and near deafened by the cacophony from inside.
We asked to be re-seated at another table further away, of which there were plenty.
I've found asking for another table usually works if I don't like the location of the one I'm offered.
Frequently the restuarant layout is territorial and they try to equalize the customers among the waitstaff. I won't through a fit. If they can't comply with a reasonable request of relocation in a empty restaurant, there are better places to spend my money.
The last time I was in a restauarant with only one other table in use, not only did we get the best table (too bad it was dark and we couldn't really appreciate the view he was giving us), but we had about six people waiting on us constantly including the proprietor.
In article , snipped-for-privacy@SPAMFREEturboware.com says...
While, under certain circumstances, I can see why a restaurant would wish to concentrate their clientele into easily served groupings, I have encountered all too many instances where they played "favoritism," with their seatings, in hopes that someone else might fill the premier spots, and hoped that the others would not notice, or complain.
Years ago, for an anniversary dinner, I made reservations at one of the more respected and awarded restaurants in Hawai i. I had called six months out and was told that all reservations were filled for that month - folks, this is NOT the French Laundry. I then contacted my concierge from one of my Platinum cards, that keeps a table at certain restaurants for just this sort of situation. I made my bookings and requested 7:00-8:00PM and a "romantic" table. I was later contacted by the concierge, and told that such a table could only be had at 8:45PM within the two week period that I had specified. I took it, and again reiterated the "romantic" table. We were now just less than six months out. We stayed at the hotel where the restaurant was located and confirmed our reservation with the "luxury tower's" concierge for 8:45 and once more asked for a "romantic table." When we arrived, we were seated in the interior of the restaurant, on a level below three young children and their nanny, who were actually about 4' above us on an elevated portion of the restaurant. The interior of the establishment was about 65% full, but all of the window tables (about 20), some for two, many much larger, were ALL empty. I inquired of our hostess, if we could be seated at the window, overlooking the Pacific, and was told, "No, those tables are all reserved." I asked further about the "reservations," and was told that all window tables were " reserved" for Japanese businessmen, who might show up, and that no non- Japanese could be seated there. As the night unfolded, I have to say that the children above us were most well behaved, but the window tables were unused until almost 10:30, when two couples, who were not Japanese were finally seated there. In the year since that incident, we have stayed at that hotel, and I've had several "table-talkers" placed on my pillow with the turn-down service, touting this restaurant, and telling me that all I had to do was press ** on my phone for exclusive reservations. Needless to say, I have yet to avail myself of their offer. My wife is more relenting than I, and wants to give them "one more chance" on our next trip, but I'm so sure.
I've seen similar seating arrangements in New York, San Francisco, Southern California, where certain, pre-defined clientele were to receive special seating, either at prime tables, or in spots where they can be "seen."
Matter-of-fact, after being unable to secure reservations (only one week out) at the French Laundry, we asked the concierge for a lunch recommendation. She held up her hand for us to wait, and placed a call. While on the phone, she looked us up and down. Fortunately, I had shined shoes! She asked if we would like a table at the FL and told the person on the other end of the line, "yes, they are well-dressed." Though we could not take our business associates for dinner there, my wife and I had a wonderful 4 hour lunch, that will stay in our memory for years to come. In some instances, even "shined shoes" won't get you a good table, as I am the only person alive, who takes a dark suit to Hawai I, even when I am on vacation!
In my humble estimation, this policy does far more harm, than any possible PR good. Because of this type of treatment, I will still not recommend, nor will I host meals (often for up to 12) at the Windsor Court Grille Room in New Orleans, regardless of the DiRONAs, or WS Grand Awards that they might win. The same can be said for Bali by the Sea, in Hawai i. They can all just wait for their celebrities , or whomever else they would rather cater to to.
Strange stuff happens at restaurants all the time.
One time I walked into a chain Mexican restaurant with my brother. Both of us appropriately attired, me in office casual - on the way home from the office, so on. We walked up to the 'podium' and waited while the apparent manager and server were heads down, poring over something obviously of intense interest. They really didn't notice us, we didn't say anything, since they were busy. About
30 seconds later, a couple walks in behind us, apparently noisier, because the server and manager both snapped to attention, looked at them, and offered to seat them - with us standing in between the couple and the server.
I spoke up with "Um?" and the manager and staffer looked at us, standing directly in front of them with the other couple a few steps behind us, and they asked us "were you here first?" with an element of surprise. We said "yes". So the server seated the other couple *first* and came back, and offered us a seat - in a nearly empty restaurant, they took us out to the attrium where it was (a) cold and (b) a large noisy children's birthday party was taking place next to the table we were offered. Oddly enough, the couple that had arrived after us had been seated in a much nicer part of the restaurant.
I gently asked our server, "is this the only table available?" and he looked taken aback, told me "I thought you guys would like the festive atmosphere". I shook my head and said "I can take a hint" and we left. We had a more relaxing meal at a burger joint a block away, the total cost might have been less than the gratuity I would have left.
If I'd had a chance to do something to offend the server, I'd wonder what it was. But I hadn't. I'd just walked in. Just low-class, untrained help at a poorly-run franchise restaurant that ran off a customer ready to part with his money. Not just that time, but several more times over the next couple of years.
It was no great surprise to later see that establishment was shuttered.
Experiences like this have made me appreciate - and gratuitously compensate - for truly good service.
A few years ago a friend suggest that we meet for an early dinner at an Italian restaurant that had quite an underground following. We arrived at 6:00 to a small restaurant behind a bowling alley in a small "strip" shopping center. Upon entering (with wives) we were greeted by a very hostile 70ish woman who asked if we had a reservation to which we replied "No". She informed us that we could not be seated without a reservation but since the place was totally empty we asked if any were available and she handed us a card and said we needed to call for a reservation. Undaunted, I pulled out my cell phone and called the number which rang the phone in front of us on the podium. The lady answered it even though she was only three feet away from me and talked to me via the phone as if I weren't even there. I enquired about a reservation for four at 6:00 (openly laughing at the absurdity) and she, while looking at the booking list, said "yes, as long as you can be here immeadiatly"! I gave her my name, hung up the phone, looked her dead in the eye and said "Lee party of four" at which time she silently led us to a table. Only a handful of tables were full that night and to this day I still haven't figured that one out!!
Sounds like a Monty Python routine. Kudos for creativity on your part.
Reminds me of a gathering of fighter pilots we had years ago in Universal City TX (just outside the front gate of Randolph AFB). This was in the days of dry counties and "brown-bagging".
We were unfamiliar with the customs but after a cocktail hour at the motel, we decided to do dinner at a "supper club" down the street. We packed some suitable brown bags and headed down the block.
Maitre'd met us and asked if we wanted to dine in the "restaurant or the club room"?
We inquired regarding the difference and were told we could have alcoholic drinks in the club room. The choice was clear.
We said, "club room" and maitre'd asked if we were members. We admitted we were not.
No problem, simply fill out a membership card. All of us? No, just one--the rest of you are his guests. Any charge? No, free!
Card completed we asked to be seated in the club room.
Sorry, gentlemen must wear jackets in the club room! Why did we waste our time joining?
No problem. Maitre'd turned to a wall closet behind his podium and opened a door revealing a selection of two dozen of the ugliest polyester plaid sport coats ever assembled.
Suitably attired and now members, we had a great (if somewhat blurry) evening. A good time was had by all. Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled"
Reminds me of an incident at Commander's Palace, NO,LA/US. My wife was hosting a large group (12) from her hospital in Denver, and during a meeting, they all said they wanted to dine at Commander's that night. Well, even though it was a very busy season, I pulled every string that I had and finally got us a table for 13 (12+me). Unfortunately, her CFO (from Boulder) did not bring a coat. I told him that he would be forced to wear one of the "spare coats" kept for such occasions, and that it would be UGLY! Fortunately, he was of slight build, and one of the ladies in the group had a spare blazer, so with all of his cuff showing below the arms of the blazer, we packed off. The Maitre'd did look askance at his ragwool socks and Birkenstocks, and at the cuffs, but did seat us. From that point on, the night was everything that anybody had expected. That is why I always bring a jacket, even when on vacation in Hawai'i.
I do not believe that that was the gentleman's name. This was a Catholic healthcare meeting in NO, and he was the CFO of St Anthony's in Denver at the time. I asked my wife, but she is struggling with his name. Ward Churchill did not ring a bell with her. If she can come up with the name, I'll share it with you, but for the moment, Mr Churchill is safe!
OK, Ed, you got me on that one!!!! When I saw the name, I first thought, "hm- m, must be a winemaker that I've never heard of, or a restaurant critic." Then I dug deep into my failing memory bank for the CFO's name, and even resorted to asking my wife. It was not until this morning, that a light went off in the dark closet of my mind. Maybe it shows that one thinks more clearly after a few cups of coffee, than after a few glasses of wine. Sorry that I was so slow, and that the joke took a day for me to catch on.
Thanks for the laugh, even if it was delayed a bit, Hunt
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