Things You Should Never Say to a Hostess at a Restaurant

Here are some things you should never say to a hostess when trying to get a table to eat. There are many factors on determining how long your wait might be and how they seat parties. Remember you have chosen to accept the wait. You have chosen to dine at that particular restaurant knowing that it is a very busy establishment. The hostess has a very difficult job trying to seat everyone and greet new customers. Before the next time you get angry with a hostess remember these factors.

Wait time is unacceptable
Countless restaurants will have a waiting list due to high volume of people trying to dine there. Do not tell the hostess that the wait time is unacceptable or ridiculous. This will not help your party get a table any faster. The wait is there because the dining room is full not to make your life miserable. It is not their fault that so many people enjoy the place and it is not there fault that they are on a wait.

I see open tables
Some places will go on a wait even if there are numerous tables open in plain view. Do not tell the hostess that you see open tables everywhere. The reason behind going on a wait is simple because the restaurant may be under staffed. When the managers notice that the staff is overwhelmed and they may go on a wait so that they can catch up. They keep the customer in mind and want them to experience great service.

I was here before them
I can guarantee you that you were there after them. Maybe they went to walk outside or use the restrooms. Some people might call in on the way there and can be put on the waiting list. They are not giving their friends priority seating. Managers highly monitor a wait list so that can ensure everyone is seated correctly.

How much longer
Constantly annoying the hostess is not a good idea. They have put your name on the list so you will not be forgotten. Going to the desk every ten minutes is not going to get the list moving any faster. Let them do their job and wait patiently.

You said 30 minutes
Some times you are given a quoted time. That does not mean you will be seated in that time. Life happens, some party decides to stay long and have after dinner drinks. Getting frustrated because you are not seated at the quoted time will not help the situation out at all. They are trying there best to seat everyone that has been waiting. Making a scene will not help, it will just make you look like an impatient maniac.

Can I have that table
We have all done this before. As the hostess takes us to our table we ask for a different one. There is a reason why the hostess took you to that table. Restaurants use a rotation system so that the servers do not get overwhelmed by the number of tables they have. They also use this system so that all servers have the equal opportunity to make money. When you ask for a different table you are throwing the whole system out of place. That is the reason why you might get slow service.