Originally Posted by srfrgirl4
now I agree you shouldn't feel rushed...but on the the other hand it's completely unfair to the waiter if you and your guests hog up a prime table for the night. usually they are onyl given 3 table stations, and if you hog one, you're cutting their tip by at least a third...have a heart, go back to your friend's house for conversation
I agree, I've seen people sit for three hours talking after ordering just appetizers. It is a business and they need to turn the tables over to make a profit. In an empty restaurant, sit for as long as you wish; otherwise eat at a comfortable pace and leave when you're finished. There's never an excuse to be rushed, likewise there's never an excuse to bogart a table and deprive the restaurant and waitstaff of their income.