Phillyist: Monday Manners: Do You Have to Let It Linger?

guest

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:57:36 -0500

I don't know where you learned your manners, but it is not rude for a patron to (gasp) linger over an enjoyable meal when dining out. It is the job of the wait staff and the restaurant manager to ensure that the establishment is running smoothly, and not the obligation of the restaurant's diners to police the place for potentially hungry clients who are waiting for a table and then gulp their meals accordingly to the schedules of those standing around them glaring. It is unreasonable to expect someone to gobble their food because you are cranky, tired and impatient. Furthermore, it was the pinnacle of unprofessional behavior for the waitress to tell you "off the record" to essentially wander over and harass random diners while their were finishing their meal. The breach of manners here was yours. I also noticed you seem to be puzzled by extensive wait times in restaurants. I haven't read this blog long enough to know whether that's a running theme or something that you just seemed to be bothered by while you were in DC, but wait times in those parts (and yes, here in Philly too) aren't that uncommon. Unless you're from a town where there are more cows than people (which hey, I'm not knocking -- cows are, on the whole, far less annoying) then you will have to wait to be seated when dining out on a summer weekend in a major city. Your wait time of sixty-five minutes was actually pretty average. I strongly suggest checking out Five Guys Famous Burgers the next time you want to eat out. It's fast food (which seems to be paced more towards your level of patience) but the burgers are the best in town.

guest

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:14:32 -0500

These ladies were not eating out, they were dining and had the right not to be rushed. The only rudeness I read about in the article is that the hostess and yourself referring to staring at these ladies to get them to leave (and I bet it was more glare than pitious glance.) That to me is the height of rudeness and arrogance. It took you just over an hour to get a table? WAH. These ladies actually kept a table for two hours? WAH! Maybe you should have gotten this new thing called a "reservation". As for the staff - who cares if they don't flip their table? I am there to enjoy the meal at my leisure...not to worry about how many tables they have in an evening. Having been a waiter, I believe you should concentrate on the table you have, not the next table! What's next for Monday Manners? The lady in front of you in the supermarket line with the audacity to use coupons?

morrissey

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:18:18 -0500

everyone should understand the concept of paying rent. if you are at a table or seated at the bar and are there for a time longer than necessary you need to pay rent. you tip more for the time you took up. there is no formula for this, but next time you are out and you are hanging around for 2 hours pay some rent.

Fry

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:51:19 -0500

In the 'biz these customers are called "campers" and they are among the worst.

the_thirsty_dog

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:50:43 -0500

jesus, all I wanted was some damn water. talk about not having manners....