Originally Posted by kingalien (Post 10918994)

Did you have the same wait staff as the couple?

Originally Posted by ESPECIALROB (Post 10922273)

I did not ask the server - I was just too irritated, as her shouting was just too annoying, so I just moved.

Originally Posted by runnerwallah (Post 10926503)

Good on you! I myself usually don't have the cojones to insist on a different table. Yes, I'm polite to a fault. Living in the big city however, I'm forcing myself to be rude... err assertive... as needed.

As irrational as it seems, in the past I've chalked up my unexplainably rude experiences at restaurants to my age or to my race. As I've gotten older (and it is showing), the former has been less of an excuse. I've also come to realize that many times people aren't racist, they're just @ssholes.

Originally Posted by ajax

I was at a crappy corner Chinese restaurant in Frankfurt once. I think there were five tables max - four four-tops and one two-top. Three of the four-tops were taken. I was alone and sat at the remaining four-top, closest to the door.

About three minutes after I ordered, three guys came in and didn't have anywhere to sit. I offered to move to the free two-top, but they insisted I stay as they didn't want to inconvenience me. The only problem was that they had nowhere to sit. So they sat with me, taking the remaining three free seats at my table. :eek:

It was the most uncomfortable fifteen minutes I've spent in a long time. We spent about thirty seconds making awkward conversation and then proceeded to studiously ignore each other for the rest of the meal. Needless to say, I wolfed down my food and bolted ASAP.

Originally Posted by ajax

The only problem was that they had nowhere to sit. So they sat with me,
taking the remaining three free seats at my table. :eek:

It was the most uncomfortable fifteen minutes I've spent in a long time. We spent about
thirty seconds making awkward conversation and then proceeded to studiously ignore each
other for the rest of the meal. Needless to say, I wolfed down my food and bolted
ASAP.

Originally Posted by stut

I've a feeling this is a (admittedly very pragmatic) German thing.

Originally Posted by violist (Post 10927526)

It's a much of the rest of the world thing. Not everyone has the same personal boundaries
as those brought up in the Anglo-American culture (as myself, though I am far from
Anglo-American).

Originally Posted by ajax (Post 10927587)

Yes, I would say you're right. I've noticed this in many other cultures outside of Germany. We Brits/Americans tend to be rather sensitive about our personal space. It's just a cultural thing I guess.

Originally Posted by slawecki (Post 10919204)

Why did you not ask for a private place in the first place. since i hate people, i always ask to be placed as far away from the babbling fools as possible.

you can ask as to where to be seated.

Originally Posted by BamaVol (Post 10928274)

I've done it to others in Europe when there were no empty tables. I've met some very charming and interesting people that way. Of course, I'm also the kind of guy that asks to be seated at a table of 10 on a cruise ship so the Mrs & I can meet a few new friends.

Originally Posted by zitsky (Post 10941980)

I was actually tempted to pick up my food and sit somewhere else. I didn't want to be rude, just wanted to find some peace and quiet in a fairly empty restaurant.

Originally Posted by ESPECIALROB (Post 10919818)

Similar thing happened to me at a hotel restaurant, when it opened at 6:30 am for breakfast. Hostess brought me to a table a few inches away from another diner...the only other patron in the restaurant. I kindly asked to sit only a table or two away, within the server's station, and was refused! She was serious, and said I had to sit there.

Originally Posted by Non-NonRev (Post 10942589)

By any chance was this at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare? The same thing happened to me a few months ago (only difference was that it was a male host). Instead of leaving, I just waited a minute, and moved to the end of the seating section (still within the server's station). The host, having seen what I had done, shot me a dirty look, but then ignored me for the rest of my meal (which was fine with me).

Originally Posted by ajax (Post 10942540)

I don't think you would have been rude at all had you picked up and moved somewhere else. It's your prerogative to eat where you're most comfortable if possible.

Had you been huffy and made a big show (sighed heavily, etc.) whilst moving your stuff to the other side of the restaurant, you might have attracted some attention, but I don't think it's rude. And you don't seem like the kind of person to be rude in this case anyway. ;)