How long to wait before getting up & leaving a restaurant? Now with 10²% more pauxl!

[nageov3t]

I recently posted about horrible service at a restaurant which I had eaten at many times before (with better service) & the owner had the post removed immediately, without so much as an apology to me. I eat out fairly often. It inspired me to create a website for local restaurant reviews.

you created google?

but really... I've relied on google local in multiple cities and multiple countries and it's absolutely never let me down.

 

[Imp]

Never.

Worst I ever had was waiting for our dessert at St. Hubert's in Montreal. The guy went on break or something, we were done dinner, but the dessert was part of the combo/meal package. Think we waited a good half hour. I still tipped well....

 

[DJK Frank 16]

I'm very impatient, so I always use my wife as judge, if she is getting impatient and thinks that is has taken way too long, I know it's time to hit the road.

 

[sourceninja]

I recently posted about horrible service at a restaurant which I had eaten at many times before (with better service) & the owner had the post removed immediately, without so much as an apology to me. I eat out fairly often. It inspired me to create a website for local restaurant reviews.

If anyone ever did that to me it would also inspire me to get the word out as much as possible in the area. Probably plastering the roadways with signs and Facebook, twitter campaigns to make sure that restaurant gets as much bad press as possible.

However, because the owner actually helped me in my case, I encouraged everyone I knew in person and digitally to eat at that restaurant.

 

[DrPizza]

If anyone ever did that to me it would also inspire me to get the word out as much as possible in the area. Probably plastering the roadways with signs and Facebook, twitter campaigns to make sure that restaurant gets as much bad press as possible.

However, because the owner actually helped me in my case, I encouraged everyone I knew in person and digitally to eat at that restaurant.

It was at a bar/restaurant. Much of it was server error - our salads arrived roughly 60 seconds before our meals (however much time it took for her to walk back to the kitchen and retrieve our meals.) That left me pondering whether to allow my food to cool so I could finish my salad, else save the salad for dessert. Our appetizers didn't come until several minutes after our meals were served "oh, they're almost ready" = "wooops, I forgot them." Had to ask for drink refills. I can forgive the restaurant for that - that's the fault of the server.

But, there was a band scheduled to play 2 hours later. Not a big band, with tons of stuff to set up, more like a decent garage type of band - their setup had to fit in an approximately 10'x15' area... the area we were occupying. The *owner* assisted and directed them clearing out that area; there were a couple video games against the wall that were being dragged past us while we were eating, the door was propped open (many of the other customers were in snowmobile suits - they had ridden snowmobiles to get to the restaurantl, i.e. it's cold outside) so they could move stuff. This was when we were about 3/4ers finished. They couldn't wait the 5 more minutes until that section of the room was empty.

My wife ordered chili. Ever see chili or other ground meat types of food that have been reheated and kept hot for 6 hours a night, 7 nights in a row? It was very clear that this stuff had been. It was disgusting. Cleverly hiding it beneath a layer of cheese didn't help. My son, who loves burgers, got a cheeseburger. Or rather, half of one. Our dogs got the other half at home.

 

[CraigRT]

I really never cared. Any time I go out to eat, I'm with friends so we could be waiting a while and I wouldn't notice because we talk alot.

But if we want to get service, we ask for it. And I've always gotten service by simply raising my hands.

This is generally how I feel, but if I were alone for some reason at a restaurant, I'd probably do 10-15. I am fairly patient.

 

[zinfamous]

haha. I've left the same restaurant twice, after being ignored for just over 5 minutes.

...and we were the only people in there at the time. so, not an issue of "poor server, too busy wahhhh!"

 

[Possessed Freak]

Only walked out for a lack of service once. Went out for lunch to a place that catered to the lunch hour crowd (sports bar/restaurant). I was chatting with co-workers and realized 15 minutes went by with NO service. I had to leave, grab some fast food, and get back to the office.

 

[bruceb]

I like to be seated right away, unless there is a long line. Then you expect a small wait time. After being seated, I should see a waitress within 5 mins or so at most.

 

[Lifted]

I've walked out after eating because the waitress wouldn't bring me the bill. Asked her 2 or 3 times, waited in total about 30 minutes. Finally the gf said "wtf are we waiting here for?" and we left.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I would wait ~5 minutes after I notified someone that I wanted service. Maybe longer because finding another place to eat and going through the whole getting seated and waiting to be served process would probably take more time than just waiting for someone to finally drag their ass over to my table even if it took 10-15 more minutes.

 

[Dessert Tears]

no shirt, no shoes ↔ no service?

 

[zerocool84]

after a few minutes, grab someones attention and let them know no one has been by.
get service.
profit.

and like I said, you guys would still tip like 50%. If I have to get their attention, they're getting no tip.

 

[HAL9000]

Over here you just have to call someone over, it's not uncommon...

 

[Chaotic42]

5-10 minutes. Maybe more if they're very busy or it's an excellent restaurant. There are plenty of great places around for me to eat at, so I can afford to be picky.

 

[shortylickens]

If the place is really busy I can tolerate slow service. But if they are obviously goofing off then I dont wait more than 10 minutes after I've been seated. And at Hooters I expect boobs in my face within 15 seconds.

Also, while the above pic is fucking hilarious, only a moron waits 30 minutes. Seriously, at 15 I'd get up and find a manager, if I waited that long, which I wouldnt.

 

[shortylickens]

I've walked out after eating because the waitress wouldn't bring me the bill. Asked her 2 or 3 times, waited in total about 30 minutes. Finally the gf said "wtf are we waiting here for?" and we left.

In most states thats a crime. You should at least dump some cash on the table (no tip).

 

[Check]

Usually I'm too busy talking with whoever I'm out with and the waiter/waitress catches us off guard. At any rate, if I was looking for quick service I would just get fast food, (or Chinese, fuckers are prompt) when I go out to eat I'm looking for good food and drink.

 

[Lithium381]

I really never cared. Any time I go out to eat, I'm with friends so we could be waiting a while and I wouldn't notice because we talk alot.

But if we want to get service, we ask for it. And I've always gotten service by simply raising my hands.

same here, not teribly wirried about 10 min if i'm with friends

 

[zokudu]

I'm a softie and would probably wait more than 15 just to not cause a fuss.

 

[TallBill]

We've walked out a few times from various restaurants. Probably 10 minutes with no service while watching waiters wander around aimlessly. 15-20 if drink order came out and then no service.

One thing we've learned is to NEVER sit at a table served by the bartender. You always get shitty/no service this way, and the hostess always tries to sit you there. We always make sure we sit down nowhere near the bar.

At the place I work, I often have the entire bar and all tables and do a fuckin damn good job at covering it all as best I can. This is the reason why I get certain shifts.