Lingering After You Finish Dining
 

So I work in a restaurant and have a lot of server/waitstaff friends. One posted this link:

25 Most Disrespectful Things You Can Do To Your Server

The only one I disagreed with is:

The way I see it, as long as there aren't a lot of other people waiting on tables, if I'm paying for my meal I get to eat it at the pace I want and leave when I'm ready. Especially as I am a good tipper.

Thoughts?

I agree only because I hate sitting around a restaurant after eating.

Let me try again. What kind of work haven't you done + this must be a Flyertalk do :D:D

All kidding aside it depends. I do like to hang around especially if it's some one I haven't seen in a while. But if place is busy & people waiting imo time to go.

Stay as long as you're aware of three things:

1. If you are preventing other diners from sitting, maybe you need to go somewhere else to continue your conversation.

2. If you are preventing the restaurant from closing, maybe it's time to go home to bed.

3. If you are preventing the server from finishing his/her shift, give them the folder with the paid bill/tip and continue to enjoy the companionship of your friends - provided you don't violate & 1 and #2.

I think that's a really good set of rules ^

I don't linger, but it's fine to. It's not respectful but not disrespectful either. I'd say the same for most items on the list.

A restaurant that closes at 10pm should be prepared to seat the last customer at 10pm. If that's a problem, post two times: "Kitchen closes 9:30pm; restaurant closes 10pm."

This is one of my favorite restaurants; note their hours.

Lingering a bit is OK; in Europe, it's a different culture and bringing the bill whilst one is eating is very disrespectful and customer-unfriendly.

But lingering THREE HOURS? If others are waiting?

I'm being egocentric, disrespectful and hoggish.

I'm depriving the restaurateur of income.

I'm depriving the server of income - usually a person earning sub-minimum eage and reliant on tips. (Fortunately, in Europe servers are seen as professionals engaged in a career and as in Australia and others, paid a decent wage whether tables are turning over or not).

If I arrive not long before closing or stay past, I am imposing on other people's lives; if I'm so sure mine is more worthwhile, see number one.

If I'm going to linger and there's no one waiting, that's different - though asking the manager or ? if it's OK is courteous.

The one I'm seeing with increasing frequency today is the officeless micro-entrepreneur who takes a table, may or may not buy a beverage, spread out papers and gear, meet with others, make lengthy phone calls, sponge free electric power and WiFi and generally parasitize a business hours on end.

Generally the purpose of a restaurant visit is to enjoy the
food and satisfy a need.

Once the enjoyment and needs have been fulfilled it is no
longer necessary to occupy a table for other purposes.

Yes, some of us like to sit and "settle" for a bit after eating
but 3-hours is way over the top "settling" time.

My rule is that I pay the bill when I am ready to leave.... I would never pay the bill and stay more than 15 minutes after the check is paid. To me, that is not fair to the staff.... especially if they are working on tips... I am taking a table out of circulation.

articles that suggest that every kind of restaurant, everywhere in the world, are all EXACTLY the same, are ridiculous

and unfortunately this kind of article seems to be becoming more common

doesnt just apply to restaurants, applies to everything - the stated assertion or clear implication that everything is exactly the same everywhere and that there is zero variation, because something is being 'proven' by a narrative with a certain context that is not explained, because they dont want to be limited by any context

In Vienna coffee shops it is understood that you have the right to a table for the day if you buy a cup of coffee. I doubt that would go down so well in a busy MacDonalds.

As Kagehitokiri suggests, a bit of awareness of different cultural norms could be helpful here.

Three hours after finishing would be excessive nearly anywhere if there are other patrons waiting. Where would that be ok?

even different kinds of restaurants in the SAME US city, let alone NYC vs small town

VickiSoCal, you cant say that no restaurant owner anywhere would not choose to do that

also, what if all waiting are parties larger than 1-2 people for example, with the 'occupying' party being 1-2 people, the 'table' not being movable, and larger party not wanting to be split

restaurant owners/managers sometimes offer things to those they want to move/leave

I usually leave within 10 or 15 minutes of paying. In America though it's a different culture, where you are rushed through your meal and then presented with the bill while you are still eating. I find it incredibly rude and it makes for a very unsatisfactory evening. It's hardly lingering but it's enjoying a good dinner out.

This.