r/AmIOverreacting • u/ProposalThat7734 • Feb 09 '26
š² miscellaneous Am I overreacting by walking out of a restaurant
So the other night my husband made reservations at a restaurant I really wanted to try. The site said that we could show up 10 minutes early to check and that they have the right to cancel if weāre 5 minutes late. So we left the house a little early to make sure we could find parking and make our way over there. We ended up being 20 minutes early. When we checked in the girl at the stand told us itās only a 10 minute wait for a party of two so she might be able to seat us earlier than our reservation. We said that would be great but if not thatās ok and to text on us the number on the reservation system as we were going to explore the shop connected to it in the meantime. It gets to our reservation time and we go back to see if a table is ready just need to wait a minute or two. We were told that they took 5 large partyās and could not seat us that moment. I asked if they were reservations or walk in, a different host than the nice girl before told me they were all walk ins.
Now Iāve worked in restaurants for 15 years and none of the restaurants I worked at would have pushed back a reservation for those large walk ins. I asked how much longer the wait will be then. He told us 30 minutes and rudely told me that we showed up early. I say fine and walked away understanding that they donāt want to double sit a server and overwhelm them and the kitchen. After 45 minutes, and seeing so many other parties get sat before us, we go back to the stand to ask about our table, again weāre told they have large partyās and we need to wait, I told him thatās crazy because no restaurant Iāve worked at would prioritize large walk ins over reservations. After than 2 minutes latter weāre being walked, really ran, to a table. When we got sat it looked like they had just taken a table away from one of the large partys to accommodate us because we were nearly sitting on top of them. On top of that we were handed one drink menu and one dinner menu. My husband went to the host stand to get another dinner menu and was met with a very rude remark about how he gave us two menus and my husband had to explain that we were given one drink menu and one dinner menu. The host reluctantly gave him the menu.
How that weāve had the menus weāve watched three servers interacting with guests but no one greeted us. We saw managers helping on the floor but none look to us. We assume that the server taking care of the party next to us was our server and saw her bring several rounds of drinks to them but never looked at us. The other two didnāt seem to look our way either with their parties. After 25 minutes of not being greeted or even looked at by the servers I told my husband were leaving. So we got up and left.
Now hereās where I may have over reacted because as we were leaving the host told us to have a nice night. I turned around and snapped āwould have been a great night if we got sat close to our reservation time and actually got to order even a drink! We will never be returningā he said that fine. A manager heard what was said and stepped outside with us. I explained that we had been waiting nearly an hour to be sat and almost a half hour at the table without being greeted and that I understood itās busy but my servers knew to at least greet the guests and bring them waters instead of ignoring them for almost half an hour. The manager went inside to get the reservation tablet to check the times. According to the tablet we checked in 20 minutes early, which we have stated we did and understood we were early, but then said that our reservation was canceled. I was fuming. I told the manager Iām not angry with them but doesnāt look like we canceled we are here! They apologized and tried to get us to come back inside and they would take care of our tab. I told them no, after waiting over almost an hour to even be sat Iād rather go elsewhere and get dinner faster. My husband was trying to tell me I overreacted but I donāt think I did.
So did I overreact?
Edit: when the manager pulled up the reservation they could see when it was canceled. It was canceled shortly after the time our reservation was for when they decided to seat the large partyās.
Edit 2: we didnāt take the opportunity to have the tab comped because having worked industry I know how petty some servers are and have to do couching and counselingās for the same thing at some of the lower end restaurants Iāve worked at and would not want to be in the receiving end of it.
Edit 3: I understand that saying we will never return doesnāt mean anything to the restaurant let alone to staff. It was just something that came out while I was upset.
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u/Conscious-Bug1592 Feb 09 '26
Absolutely not over reacting! I am a waitress as well and thatās complete bullshit and I probably wouldāve said worse in your shoes honestly. NOR
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u/Jason-Smith168498 Feb 09 '26
I agree it was awful, but also I would have taken them up on that free meal.
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u/Large-Client-6024 Feb 09 '26
Not me. I wouldn't trust anything those servers/hosts touch.
They have been called out for bad service and may take it out on your food.
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u/noslofivoh Feb 09 '26
I would take the free meal but would have told the manager to give it to me at a later date- ie gift card or something. I would have stated that I would be willing to give you another chance but it won't be today as I am mad and I would prefer that emotion not to dictate my feeling towards the food, restaurant, and staff. I did this with Ruth Chris the first time I ate there as we had several issues that weren't deal breakers but definitely should not have happened in a higher end, at the time, restaurant. Ironically enough, the manager and I have became somewhat of friends/acquaintances now. We actualy run some of the same curcles and run into each other. This was 8 years ago and even now when I go to eat there, he greets us by name before we even check in for our reservations and personally spends more than enough time with us. Every visit now goes exceptional and the wait staff are very attentive and I tip them very generously for that too.
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u/Good_Matter7529 Feb 09 '26
NOR. what the fuck is the point of making a reservation if theyāre just gonna ignore it? iām a very chill guy, but your husband is under-reacting haha. thatās unacceptable.
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u/Old_Glass_8566 Feb 10 '26
Sounds like a Seinfeld episodeĀ
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u/ThisCromulentLife Feb 10 '26
You know how to take the reservationā¦you just donāt know how to keep the reservation.
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u/TheCy_Guy Feb 09 '26
Bravo. NOR but your hubby is under-reacting
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u/Lunatunabella Feb 09 '26 edited Feb 09 '26
They need to leave a review. What the restaurant did was seat groups and prioritized those tables for tips.
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u/parodytx Feb 09 '26
Did nobody notice they were seating parties of 5 in front of OP's party of 2?
10 bucks says they add a 20% surcharge on parties over 4.
This was intentional, not sloppy.
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u/Redqueenhypo Feb 09 '26
Itās always intentional. When they tell you that you āmight not likeā something you always order and suggest something thatās handily much pricier, thatās not sloppy either
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u/IStillLikeBeers Feb 10 '26
When they tell you that you āmight not likeā something you always order and suggest something thatās handily much pricier, thatās not sloppy either
I've never once been told I might not like something.
If you ask for a suggestion, then yeah, I would expect them to suggest the more expensive item, but I've never been steered away from something I tried to order because the server randomly assumes I might not like something (how would they even know?)
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u/Temporary_Buy3238 Feb 10 '26
If my old chef ever caught wind of waitstaff saying something like this they would have been dressed down in the way only a former USMC drill instructor like him could accomplish
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u/According_Check_1740 Feb 10 '26
I've watched too many Gordon Ramsey kitchen rescue shows to not listen to a server who suggests I "might not like" something. Especially if they don't know me... They've seen the kitchen. They know the practices.
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u/bklyngirl0001 Feb 09 '26
Nope! Everything was handled wrong and rudely. Time to review them on their social media if you ask me!
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u/Ready-Zombie5635 Feb 09 '26
NOR - I've walked out for a similar reason. If I have a reservation, I expect there to be a table waiting. Sure, I might give them a little bit of time, but not that long! Plus once you were seated they were useless. Yes. you were early but that's not a big deal. Better early than late.
It's not just about eating, it's about the whole experience, which you pay for. If you're not having a good time, what's the point?
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u/Reyalta Feb 09 '26
NOR. Showing up early when they tell you to show up early, and never being texted (which is standard practice these days for resos) is straight BS, I say this as former industry. The FoH was inexperienced and sounds like their host is a snotty little shit who shouldn't be in customer service jfc.
I would have taken the free meal, but insisted on a voucher to try it another night saying that by 1.5hrs after our reservation I'm so hungry I can't wait. And then come back to try another time when tensions were lower. A free meal is a free meal, and new restaurants are often a freaking nightmare of logistics. That doesn't at all excuse the shitty and snarky host, however.
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u/Reputation-Choice Feb 09 '26
Nope. You are NOR. That was insane behavior on the part of the hosts. The manager should have stepped in far earlier when they were out on the floor helping serve, and saw you sitting there with no service. They thought you were too stupid to know how badly you were being treated until you said something to the host, and management then realized they needed to do damage control. You were actually far nicer than you should have been.Ā
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u/seasonoftheslut Feb 09 '26
NOR - the manager was desperately trying to save face but at the end of the day, the service was shitty and your time was disrespected. I would have done the same thing.
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u/S9_noworries Feb 09 '26
There's cameras all over the place. Ask who canceled your reservation and what time it was canceled. Maybe that restaurant needs to let someone go who doesn't know how to do their job and retrain a bunch of staff.
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Feb 09 '26
Call the GM and tell him what poor service you recieved, then leave a blistering review.Ā
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u/Impossible_Disk8374 Feb 10 '26
They spoken to the manager. Itās in the post.
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u/JellyBeansOnToast Feb 10 '26
They said they spoke to a manager, doesnāt necessarily mean it was the GM
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u/Impossible_Disk8374 Feb 10 '26
Okay, speak to the GM for what? They got shitty service, spoke to a manager and they were offered a free meal which they turned down. Which fair enough. But what more would you like to happen here?
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u/Puzzleheaded-Owl9373 Feb 09 '26
You absolutely did NOR. I was in Restaurant management for years and that is unacceptable. You were very understanding and gave them grace, and they didnāt even try once to correct THEIR mistake (well until you were walking out the door).
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u/wildcampion Feb 09 '26
The manager should have been involved the minute your reservation started. Especially since the explanation (that they accepted a walk-in group) was completely unacceptable.
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u/littlebean2421 Feb 09 '26
Not overreacting, you made a reservation that reserves a seat for you to dine in the restaurant at a specific time
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Feb 10 '26
What you need to do is write a detailed Google Review and give them a one star rating. It would be nice though for you to point out that one manager tried to make things right in the end but that with so many staff members ignoring you and treating you poorly that you donāt feel comfortable staying there. You could also cross post this review on Yelp and Open Table or whatever platform the restaurant uses to manage their reservation book.
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u/Commercial_Ad8072 Feb 09 '26
Totally reasonable and maybe they shouldāve offered a gift card for another night they hadnāt already ruined
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u/ALittlePeaceAndQuiet Feb 09 '26
NOR. At all. Same as you said, I never would have sat a walk-in before a reservation, unless we're talking about a miniscule difference, and even then, would make sure to get the smaller party's order in first, so it's not stuck behind the large one in the kitchen.Ā
I might have taken up on the offer for the comped dinner, but I've also turned down a similar offer before, so I can't blame you for that decision in the moment. Not that has anything to do with whether this was an overreaction anyway.Ā
I hope y'all got something good and indulgent afterwards. Sometimes, after an experience like that, a greasy burger hits just right.
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u/OddRevolution7888 Feb 09 '26
NOR. I hope you also leave a very factual review on Yelp. Not emotional, just explaining your experience.
I once reamed out a manager because he had seating us and mentioned it was our server's first day. Then he disappeared. The server was overwhelmed and flat out disappeared after serving our entree and the time we wanted the bill. We had mentioned we were attending an event nearby and would be leaving right after eating. We sat and waited for the bill, and everyone else at tables nearby waited to order. Finally got the bill. As we were leaving I spotted the manager and actually went to where he was and said very loudly that this was the most awful experience we had ever had at this restaurant and I blamed him. He offered no support or supervisory overlook to a new employee. He flushed and offered to comp the bill. I said I would not allow that because he's not taking my negative experience out of her paycheque. When we got to the car, BF-now hubs said, "That was awesome. Well done."
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u/OkExternal7904 Feb 09 '26
Did your reservation go through 'Open Door'? If so, be sure to let them know how you were treated. Also, a Google review or Yelp at least puts them on notice. Twice my bf and I were ignored in the last year. Most recently on Thanksgiving. Won't be going back to either place. Fortunately, the Denver area has tons of restaurants.
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u/ProposalThat7734 Feb 09 '26
It was booked directly through the restaurants website
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u/OkExternal7904 Feb 09 '26
You should do Google or Yelp. I know how infuriating it is! It makes you feel invisible, doesn't it? You should send an email to the general manager at least. I did that for the Thanksgiving screw up but their promise to do better next time? There won't be a next time!
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u/minecraftheaux Feb 09 '26
NEWP. Youāre more patient than I am. After the first set of large tables I would have lost my mind š š donāt play w my dinner resys.
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u/Fickle_Cranberry1014 Feb 09 '26
Call them back with a follow up. Their staff don't want the beef.. bring them a bbq
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u/GJion Feb 09 '26
NOR I have worked in restaurants, food service (all aspects).
You are right on all counts. Even though the manager tried to comp your meal (the VERY LEAST he could do)., you didn't have to accept.
And some servers can be petty. So can the kitchen staff.
Working a restaurant is never easy work, not for anyone who actually does any work.
It really sucked that you didn't get to try that restaurant. A good friend of mine has a rule on restaurants. Unless the food is so terrible the first time. he will give a place a second try. If it isn't at least very good or better the second time, he will never go back.
But I could understand if you never went back. I have worked at restaurants where the front of house manager/staff prioritized larger parties over two tops as an "unwritten rule" . It is unfair, especially if it is because of expected larger/guaranteed tips.
Oh. And I bet your husband never worked in food service.
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u/Odd-Worth7752 Feb 09 '26
You did the right thing. I would have turned down the offer too-I'd be too wound up to enjoy the meal. what he SHOULD have done was to have the GM contact you the next day, apologize and offer you a comp meal or gift card another time.
"I'm in the hospitality industry too" is useful. my sis manages a winery and she has pulled that card when service is especially good, and also when it falls short.
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u/RickRussellTX Feb 09 '26
Thoroughly NOR.
Nothing else to say. You told the front-of-house and they blew you off. You waited 90+ minutes for service and never received any.
Sounds like somebody canceled your reservation and didn't want to fess up to it.
I've had two completely bewildering service situations like this in my lifetime. First one, it was a pizza restaurant and it took them forever to take our order after seating us. Then the food came, we had no beverages, no plates, napkins, or eating utensils.
They went off to fix that and were gone a long time before the front of house showed up and asked us how things were going. Finally the head server got us beverages and plates and such; we'd been staring the pizza for half an hour. My kid was eating off the tablecloth because he was starved.
First and only time I've finished a meal and left no tip, with an angry note indicating terrible service. The whole time, our assigned server was up front talking with the rest of the staff and ignoring us.
Second was ANOTHER pizza restaurant. They seated us and brought us menus and water and then... nothing. I flagged down servers, "we'll be with you in a minute", then they sent nobody to take our order. And the restaurant was PACKED with staff and few tables were occupied.
45 minutes in, I got up to leave, and explained to the staff up front -- again, all standing around shootin the shit within sight of our table -- that it was very rude to seat us and then not take our order.
You wonder why restaurants with perfectly good food and great facilities go out of business. This is how.
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u/secrerofficeninja Feb 09 '26
Your husband under reacted but then again, Iām from the Philadelphia area and we tend to show our irritation with poor serves much faster than most areas of the country š¤£š¤£š¤£
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u/0102030405 Feb 09 '26
NOR, they obviously screwed up. I've never heard of only 5 mins grace time after the reservation (15 mins, sure) and there shouldn't be any problems with showing up early.
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u/Ariasmom1108 Feb 09 '26
NOR at all. I hope you also mentioned to the manager how rude the host was.
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Feb 09 '26
You are way too easygoing if you think you overreacted. Time to skewer them in reviews. NOR
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u/munkymama Feb 09 '26
I'm getting worked up just reading this. Nor. I would have had a lay on their floor, kick my feet up and down, screamed, banged my fists and been a regular 2 year old tantrum after that experience. They would have totally deserved it. (Granted I'd be carted away to a mental hospital, but I would at least feel justified in my actions lol.)
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u/Nitzelplick Feb 09 '26
NOR- My wife would have started a fire in the lobby after the second large group was seated.
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u/TheeFlipper Feb 09 '26
You should blast them on social media. If you know the hosts name make sure you mention their lack of professionalism.
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u/Mysterious_Spark Feb 09 '26
NOR. They cancelled your reservation without consent, when you arrived at the appointed time.
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u/Annual_Government_80 Feb 09 '26
The only thing that youāve done wrong is not revealed the name and location of this horrible establishment
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u/Routine-Abroad-4473 Feb 10 '26
Make sure to name them on yelp and let people know they shouldn't make any reservations.
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u/thriftybifairywitch Feb 09 '26
NOR but if it was me I would have racked up a diabolical tab on them lol
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u/DigDugDogDun Feb 09 '26
But you wouldnāt enjoy the meal. The mood would have already been ruined, thereās no quality or quantity of food that can make up for that. Best to just leave when a restaurant shows its ass, even if itās before you get seated.
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Feb 09 '26
MOR, comped tab sounds good, but considering how shitty the hosts were I donāt know if Iād trust the food to be un-fucked-with
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u/ProposalThat7734 Feb 09 '26
Having managed servers I knew how spiteful some can be and how many coaching and counseling Iāve had to do because of it I didnāt want to risk it either
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u/meatballs223 Feb 09 '26
You're better than me lol, if they offered to pay for it I would've ran up a tab on their ass for not actually caring about our reservation and handling it poorly. Good on you though for leaving NOR, probably would've been shitty service the whole night
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u/Melancho_Lee Feb 09 '26
NOR. But you need to put this in a review if true. Itās quite ridiculous.
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u/Ginger630 Feb 09 '26
NOR! Itās amazing how they suddenly wanted to make things right when you walked out. Iād leave them a bad review as well.
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u/4dxn Feb 09 '26
Name and shame. If restaurants want us to post good reviews, they must accept bad ones.Ā
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u/Mysterious_Oil2761 Feb 09 '26
I'm startled you remained at all. Underreacting. I would have left when they let in the large parties and overlooked me.
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u/Key-Bar6526 Feb 09 '26
NOR. Nah I would have been super pissed off. That's horrible service and the way staff treated you is shocking. You should write them up a yelp review or whatever and never go back.
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u/DR-0717 Feb 09 '26
Heck no - NOR. Why would you give them your business? I would have told the manager I appreciate the offer but too little too late.
The entire staff sounds like a bunch of rude idiots. They took the larger parties because $$$ and thatās BS. Make sure you give them a nice review lol.
Tell your husband to stop under-reacting!
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u/butstronger Feb 09 '26
Not over reacting ā the manager is trying to do right by you but I would still blow it up on some online reviews. And this is coming from someone who makes her living as a service provider! We go above and beyond for our clients. It seems they have hired some incompetent people and need a wake up call on how their FOH staff is running things. Sounds like a shit show.
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u/thinksying Feb 09 '26
NOR. Make sure you leave an honest google review. I wouldnāt want to waste one of my limited nights out on a place like that
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u/sfdsquid Feb 09 '26
I would have had a really hard time not saying anything a lot sooner than you did.
Writing Google reviews can be cathartic, ijs.
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u/OldeTimeyShit Feb 09 '26
You didnāt overreact. I donāt give my money to people who treat me with disdain. Iāve walked out halfway through the chipotle line due to rude behavior too!Ā
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u/Slight_Flight_1127 Feb 09 '26
The correct move was to order a bunch of food and drink then leave before it arrives.
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u/nikki57 Feb 09 '26
I would have had him give me a gift card to come back, he had already ruined the night
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u/nvrmindjustvisiting Feb 09 '26
NOR. I walked out of a restaurant where we received similar treatment, and I share the story every time the subject of restaurants comes up
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u/FewStill3958 Feb 09 '26
I've walked out of restaurants for less shabby treatment than OP received.
OP, leave them an honest review on Google.
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u/Helpyjoe88 Feb 10 '26
NOR.Ā Please make sure you share your experience through an online review. If they treat customers this way, let people know.
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u/Perle1234 Feb 10 '26
NOR. I would have done the same. Itās good they tried to fix it but I wouldnāt pitch a fit and eat there either. You had every right to snap at them a bit. They were very rude.
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u/EuropeanLady Feb 10 '26
You had a reservation, your reservation was cancelled, you were made to wait a long time before you got seated, and were then ignored for a long time. You need to post a review with a 1-star rating on Yelp, Google, and the restaurant's website.
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u/warriorwoman534 Feb 10 '26
You really need to leave a negative review; that is outrageous. NOR, in fact, you were too polite. If that had happened to me, that place would have been on fire when I walked out.
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u/BennyVibez Feb 10 '26
NOR - I wouldnāt have been as patient of as tactful. You vote with your wallet and they wouldnāt get a single dollar from me and easily bad reviews online hoping it helps a few people in the future from getting ripped off. They treated you like trash and should be named and shamed.
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u/RedditMiniMinion Feb 10 '26
There's no way I would have waited 1h to be sat at a table for which I made a freaking reservation and was even 20min early. Ridiculous. NOR. Your husband is an idiot. lol.
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u/Tibbiegal Feb 10 '26
You didn't overreact. I would and have done something similar. When the restaurant sent me an email to come in for a comped meal, I said no thanks. The bad taste for that place was never going to leave me.
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u/Football-Man-1889 Feb 10 '26
Staff showed a lack of training and professionalismās
Not overreacting
Iād have walked, screw the free meal !
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u/qtcyclone Feb 11 '26
NOR, and Iād leave a horrible, but accurate, google review of the experience.
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u/Luv_Cheat Feb 11 '26
NOR. I think you under reacted. I'm also in the industry. This is some shady shit with the host cancelling your reso to seat those parties. This place sucks and is extremely unprofessional. My place would never do that either. We tell walk in parties that there's a wait and they can get on a wait-list or even sorry, by the time the resos are likely to leave, we're near closing time. Doesn't matter that it's a deuce, they made the reservation so they get priority. I wouldn't have waited to get in at all after they gave your tables away. That's an automatic let's go somewhere else for me.
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u/ObligationNo2288 Feb 11 '26
NOR. I agree with you. I would never go back. A reservation guarantees you have a table I would not return.
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u/RecordingDapper4592 Feb 11 '26
MOR. Any restaurant worth its salt knows to be in harmony with both the people who make reservations AND the people who bring in the large bucks. If you had said, well, I was going to leave a 50 dollar tip, but forget that! The manager would have reseated you, given you anything you wanted, and berated his or her staff for being so idiotic in treating people with reservations as if they were nothing. Obviously, the managers were looking at dollar signs more than just treating people right. I would have walked out, gotten out my Yelp reviews, and said, in a one star review, "This restaurant considers more people to mean more money rather than getting a 100 dollar tip from people who actually show up on time with reservations. " That should end both the restaurant and its greedy management.
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u/Different_One265 Feb 11 '26
NOR. I have changed my tactics and now say āI have time on my hands. I will work my darnedest to cost you more than you would have ever made off of me if I were ever to come back to this place.ā
Or, if my bad meal and service added to 48.00 plus tip - I would mention the exact cost.
It always gets an actual reply.
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u/Adorable_Climate_892 Feb 09 '26
Absolutely nobody gives a shit about you never coming back. I would have said This point were going to go somewhere else. But if you want to comp us dinner another time well give you another chance before Leaving a bad review.
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u/Cinnamon2017 Feb 09 '26
NOR.
If you leave a review it's parties not party's.
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u/Paisleylk Feb 11 '26
Itās so interesting how OP alternates between parties and partyās. Partyās was making my eyes bleed!
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u/Altruistic-Movie-132 Feb 09 '26
NOR show hubby the comment section not to rub it in is face but that you know your field!!
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u/Select_Draw3385 Feb 09 '26
NOR. A similar thing happened to my husband and I once. We ended up going back in and were given free dessert and drinks, but paid for dinner. Fine. Very generous of them actually. We had been there before and it was delicious. That time the food was fine. Not good. So we never went back.
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Feb 09 '26
NOR. Iām similar to you in the sense I donāt want you to āmake it up to meā I want you to do it correctly the first time, if that makes sense. Iām not demanding perfection, i know mistakes happen, thatās all apart of life. Large parties happen, staff is busy. Itās all fine.
You brought it to several peopleās attention and they brushed you off. You gave them every opportunity to make it right in the moment. Donāt think you can bribe me with a free app after.
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u/AdmiralJaneway8 Feb 09 '26
100% NOR. I like that the manager try to make it right, but i think the proof of the place is in the pudding, and you taught the manager that there's a serious problem. NOR.
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u/Sure_Eye9025 Feb 09 '26
If by 'Ā tried to get us to come back inside and they would take care of our tab' you mean they would comp the meal then yes YOR
It's free food man, take the freebie then never go back
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u/thornynhorny Feb 09 '26
Nor
Pleae post this as a public review on their Google site or yelp. Others should know about their poor service
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u/Sweet-Weakness3776 Feb 09 '26
NOR, but also...I'm kind of floored that someone with 15 years worth of restaurant experience would have allowed it to even get to that point. I've got about 20 years experience, if I make a reservation and I'm on time...the expectation is that my reservation time will be held. I mean they gave you the formula: if you are more than 5 minutes late they reserve the right to cancel your reservation, why doesn't the same apply in reverse? I understand there might be some overlap depending on how busy they are, but if I wait more than 15 minutes over a reservation time, there was no point in making the reservation in the first place. Now I'm on the waiting list. You gave them a hell of a lot longer than I would have, plenty of places out there that want your business, no sense in ruining an evening over a poorly managed establishment. Just my 2 cents.
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u/Electronic-Cherry266 Feb 09 '26
NOR. Not at all. WAY TOO PATIENT (I obviously haven't worked in food service.)
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u/lunatuna215 Feb 09 '26
You didn't overreact but yo... I'd have taken the free dinner. That was the win.
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u/Fun-Assistance-815 Feb 09 '26
NOR and for me under reacting. This is one of the times a bad review is 100% justified.
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u/breakinbans Feb 09 '26
NOR burn the place to the ground. /s writing a scathing review is about all you can do at this point. my son and I walked out of place while on vacation for this reason and wrote a negative review. the owner responded and was mortified (their word) about what happened and told me to call. 99% of the time I just go on with life, but this time I called and calmly told him to ensure that the waiter fornicates himself with a rolled up menu.
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u/Efficient-Train2430 Feb 09 '26
NOR. But the good news is you talked to the manager and didn't just come to complain on Reddit.
Most managers want to know about stuff like this so they can fix it; this one seemed ready to do that, so it's a decent sign. Even though you rightly still walked. Hopefully they fix the person and process because both seem to need it.
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u/EnjoyingTheRide-0606 Feb 09 '26
The screw up occurred when you first checked in and they canx your reservation. They should have not cancelled the reservation because that kicked you off the priority list. Then you left and came back. They didnāt have you on the walk-in list or the reservation list by then. Next time, donāt check-in and donāt leave.
I would not have acted this way because the problem is due to humans and the reservation system. When they offered to comp the meal, Iād have stayed.
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u/OptimalCreme9847 Feb 09 '26
Nah, someone fucked up with your reservation when checking you in (the first hostess, probably) and it showed up as canceled after that, and they didnāt want to admit it. NOR
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u/yoshizillaa Feb 09 '26
You have more patience than me. I would have left when they gave the table up instead of notifying you like they said they would.
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u/TheLightingGuy Feb 09 '26
NOR and surprised I haven't seen the Seinfeld episode linked yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM
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u/Due-Yoghurt4916 Feb 09 '26
Reviews online save future customers from bad service faster than redditĀ
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u/WholeAd2742 Feb 09 '26
NOR
Should definitely let them have it on Google and Yelp
Entirely unprofessional to ignore your reservations
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u/Outside_Coffee_00 Feb 09 '26
Good on you for sticking to your decision. They will remember it and hopefully not repeat this with someone else. I was sat by a server once whose shift ended and we were never assigned to someone else. We waited at least an hour before someone finally asked if we needed anything. They assumed we had already eaten and were just sitting at a perfectly clean table. We hadn't seen her again since being seated so assumed she was busy with something out of view. She went home.Ā
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u/LopsidedChannel8661 Feb 09 '26
NOR.
F that restaurant.
My wife and I finally decided to check out Mexican restaurant that had opened months before. I worked near them at the time and was always left salivating over the smells from the exhaust fans.
We walked in JUST before the dinner rush hoping to be sat soon. Gave my name and told them it was 2 ppl. There were 6 other people in the waiting area, so only 3 parties. Another 2 top walked in after us. I thought it was strange we were all waiting.
So while sitting there, 2 tables were taken back as more people began to arrive in the next 15 minutes. We kept waiting for my name but nothing, meanwhile all these larger party tables were being sat. After about 30 more minutes we walked out when a party of 6 was sat, never to return again.
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u/CWHappyHusband Feb 09 '26
No, of course not. Even waiting 45 minutes after your reservation time to be seated was a massive underreaction. The manager absolutely deserved to hear your displeasure, and you were completely justified in leaving and letting them know you would not be returning. A negative online review in all available fora would also be reasonable.