Expensive Restaurant; B. O. Problem
Oct 30, 2005 | 11:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SAN
Posts: 2,426
Expensive Restaurant; B. O. Problem
Last night we are eating at an expensive ($300/2 people - only 1 drink each), well-known restaurant, when, about 1/2 way through our omekase, a man is seated at the adjacent table. He appears reasonably well-groomed, is part of a gregarious table of 5, and seems to be a regular (we are not). Within a few minutes, it becomes obvious that he don't smell too good. Nobody else notices, but we are closest (other than his own group and the wait staff).
We basically just sat there and took it (actually, my wife moved the candle to the other side of the table). Any experiences like this? Any recourse? Creative answers appreciated.
We basically just sat there and took it (actually, my wife moved the candle to the other side of the table). Any experiences like this? Any recourse? Creative answers appreciated.
Oct 30, 2005 | 1:58 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,944
"Omakase"? (Sorry, old habits die hard.) 
The traditional response is to ignore the matter, for the comfort of everyone else. I would THINK of dropping a note off to the offender telling him he was ruining everyone else's meal. But I wouldn't do it. It is not that I would care about his feelings, since he probably doesn't have any
, but in the long run, silence is best. Avoids the aginbite of inwit, y'know.
The traditional response is to ignore the matter, for the comfort of everyone else. I would THINK of dropping a note off to the offender telling him he was ruining everyone else's meal. But I wouldn't do it. It is not that I would care about his feelings, since he probably doesn't have any
, but in the long run, silence is best. Avoids the aginbite of inwit, y'know.
Last edited by SkeptiCallie; Oct 30, 2005 at 2:01 pm
Nov 1, 2005 | 6:49 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,716
I would think that the simple answer is to not just sit there and take it. You should have politely asked your waiter if he/she could move you to another table. No sense wasting 300 bucks on something you won't enjoy. I'm sure that the people who were sitting with this man knew he stank too. I wouldn't bother with warning him.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:13 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA; Kerry Ireland
Programs: AA EXP 1mm; DL Plt; Marriott Gold; Hyatt something or other; Hilton Gold
Posts: 761
Grin and bear it?! DISAGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE! (Vehemently)
Taste and smell are so intertwined that such a situation demands attention. How hard would it be to discretely take the offending party aside and notify them of the odor? The individual may not be able to smell it and might even appreciate what nobody is telling them for risk of offense.
No reason to escalate to Defcon 5 and aggressively demand the patron be removed - if above suggestion is too uncomfortable, simply ask to be reseated.
Taste and smell are so intertwined that such a situation demands attention. How hard would it be to discretely take the offending party aside and notify them of the odor? The individual may not be able to smell it and might even appreciate what nobody is telling them for risk of offense.
No reason to escalate to Defcon 5 and aggressively demand the patron be removed - if above suggestion is too uncomfortable, simply ask to be reseated.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:52 am
#6
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 35,613
I really can't imagine that someone already seated in a restaurant can do anything to reduce his odor. He needs to bathe; perhaps his clothes need cleaned, he needs deoderant - none of these are possible. The client asking to be reseated seems the only realistic option.
Nov 2, 2005 | 2:32 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,944
I reconsider my first answer. Although I still don't recommend confronting the offending diner:
Why has the restaurant seated you so close?
At three hundred dollars a table, the OP is entitled to better. (I am assuming that there was space in the restaurant to keep people farther apart.) So, in a case like this, ask to be moved. And consider not going back to that restaurant if they did seat two tables adjacent to each other and leave a lot of space in the rest of the restaurant. If that was the case, that was amateurish on the part of the restaurant. 
Why has the restaurant seated you so close?
At three hundred dollars a table, the OP is entitled to better. (I am assuming that there was space in the restaurant to keep people farther apart.) So, in a case like this, ask to be moved. And consider not going back to that restaurant if they did seat two tables adjacent to each other and leave a lot of space in the rest of the restaurant. If that was the case, that was amateurish on the part of the restaurant.
Nov 2, 2005 | 3:23 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Pre-9/11 America
Posts: 5,115
Certainly nothing wrong or unreasonable with asking to be reseated in this case...good restaurants regularly accommodate fusspots, and all sorts of precious little requests, so something as fundamental to good dining as this really shouldn't be problem. A situation as you mentioned would likely to be handled adeptly and discreetly by an experienced staff.
Last edited by ButIsItArt; Nov 2, 2005 at 3:28 pm
Nov 3, 2005 | 7:52 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
Originally Posted by thegeneral
I would think that the simple answer is to not just sit there and take it. You should have politely asked your waiter if he/she could move you to another table. No sense wasting 300 bucks on something you won't enjoy. I'm sure that the people who were sitting with this man knew he stank too. I wouldn't bother with warning him.
Nov 3, 2005 | 6:07 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Originally Posted by schwarm
Last night we are eating at an expensive ($300/2 people - only 1 drink each), well-known restaurant, when, about 1/2 way through our omekase, a man is seated at the adjacent table. He appears reasonably well-groomed, is part of a gregarious table of 5, and seems to be a regular (we are not). Within a few minutes, it becomes obvious that he don't smell too good. Nobody else notices, but we are closest (other than his own group and the wait staff).
We basically just sat there and took it (actually, my wife moved the candle to the other side of the table). Any experiences like this? Any recourse? Creative answers appreciated.
We basically just sat there and took it (actually, my wife moved the candle to the other side of the table). Any experiences like this? Any recourse? Creative answers appreciated.
I was at the Chez Paul that day and I took the liberty of photographing the offender for you. Here it is:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...3Doff%26sa%3DN (Shrimp Cocktail link) or
http://wwwth.mppmu.mpg.de/members/hahn/bb/catch.jpg
Is that you in the background with your wife and daughters?
Seriously, I would have discreetly asked the server to move us. I wouldn't mention it to Smelly Guy - as others have said, I'm certain that he knew and DIDN'T CARE. Otherwise, he would have showered and/or put on clean clothes prior to dinner.
Last edited by FWAAA; Nov 3, 2005 at 6:12 pm
Nov 3, 2005 | 6:39 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Pre-9/11 America
Posts: 5,115
Originally Posted by FWAAA
I wouldn't mention it to Smelly Guy - as others have said, I'm certain that he knew and DIDN'T CARE.
Last edited by ButIsItArt; Nov 3, 2005 at 6:48 pm
Nov 4, 2005 | 12:50 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,716
Discretion is the key word here. It might be a good idea to go to the bathroom and on the way back stop one of the wait staff or see a maitre d'. No need to be worked up or emotional. They are there to make your experience better. In the case where they can't reseat you, then you should let them know how your experience was ruined. If it's a good place, they'll take care of you. Taking the direct route is much more difficult.
Nov 6, 2005 | 6:58 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT/CNX
Programs: UA dirt... and btw, THE innovator of the phrase 'gate lice'. Yeah, that's right.
Posts: 2,874
Originally Posted by candaceg
I definitely don't think that approaching the BO diner is the way to go. Asking to be reseated would be the least painful way of dealing with it.
Having the 'malodorous one' moved is asking for trouble.
Complaining is pointless too, if you ask me. What do you want the restaurant to do? Tell the guy to go home a take shower then come back? Shove bear claws under his armpits? The only thing they can do is ask for him to move which is a very uncomfortable situation for all parties concerned. This, I'm sure, is an uncommon ocurrence.... something a floor manager is not trained for.
Tkae the easy way out and simply ask to be moved. Simple.