Originally Posted by
guv1976
Not that I recall, although I have seen wait staff attempt to clear dishes from my (occupied) table before someone had finished eating.
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Not to hijack, but this drives me crazy. I eat much slower than my husband (or he eats faster than me) and they always want to take his empty plate - he tells them "please don't, the lady is still eating" but then the next busboy comes along...making me feel more and more anxious and as if I'm a bother.
But in the OP's case...I always leave a personal item at the table...phone, sweater, book....so they know the table is still occupied.