I enjoy lurking at bitterwaitress.net forums and one of the complaints that comes up alot amongst the servers is how many customers who walk in and choose to sit at the one dirty table instead of at any one of 5 clean tables. (Of course these are usually places with no host/hostess, but occasionally customers will blow past a hostess and do this too.)

It apparently happens so frequently, that they report that if the place is dead empty and a customer walks in, they can bet $100 the customer will choose the dirty table - and win!

This totally blows me away. I would never sit at a dirty table when a clean one was available (unless the hostess puts me there - I'm hopelessly obedient). In fact, I remember many times dining with friends, family, and coworkers we'd walk up to a table find it dirty and then select a clean one. So I'm curious what others' experiences are. When you have the opportunity to choose your own table, do you pick the dirty one? Why?

i would for a better location... like by a window, or farther away from the door, or booth vs table

Emphatically, NO. I will not be seated at a dirty table either. I'm not crazy about a lot of the so-called "clean tables" either.

I totally agree with this.... I am not beyond sitting down to "reserve" the space... and wait for the staff to clean the table.

To me, where I sit in a restaurant is important. If I am reading, I will want to be near a window or overhead lighting, so I might pass up a clean table.

Not a chance. Even if the dirty table is the only open one in the joint, I will wait to sit until it's been cleaned & prepped. Or I'll simply wait for another table.

Walking in an sitting down at a dirty table is simply classless. When I was in "the business," staff would simply ignore the offender and let them wallow in the mess. "Oh, you are waiting for service? I thought you had been there and were relaxing."

It is amazing--but shouldn't be--how many people go out of their way to make life difficult for others.

I'll never sit at a dirty table instead of a clean table. If, however, there are only dirty tables available, I'll snag on every time. I ain't proud.

They're absolutely right to complain about that. How truly pathetic.

Ask why she would even think to bring you to a dirty table. See what she has to say. Is it only hostesses who do this in your experience or hosts too?

+ 1

Many times their clean table isn't that clean anyway.
Still end up cleaning it myself.

I would be ashamed to not clean up the table before a diner has a chance to sit there, and I would jump out of a high-rise in shame if I were to sit a customer at a dirty table.

(in Alma, NE, I would survive the jump from our tallest building, but you get the idea)

I know where we ate at the restaurant but, sometimes if they forget to do cleanable the table. I know they are already cleaning the table before we sit there. I remember when I have a lunch or dinners, too. I would not to be recommend where the Hostes should clear it off the table.

wow, thats a little cranky.

I think its a little classless to ignore a paying customer..who will likely be tipping you ... because he/she wanted to sit under good lighting.

I fail to see the "making life difficult" part of this? The table is going to be cleaned anyway..right? Unless the restaurant was in the habit of leaving tables unbussed for long periods of time... I don't see how any offense is caused.

Have to admit... do not appreciate being called classless.

I can certainly say that I have NEVER had any waitstaff not clean the table immediately.... and have never been ignored.

I do not see how sitting down to get out of the way is making life difficult. Oftentimes I even ask if I can sit there... and am told certainly.

just imagine you are going out to dinner with you partner, you are expecting a cosy and comfortable dinner with him/her, and when you get inside the restaurant all you get is a dirty table...thats such a big turn off!!!

Okay, I've never been a server, but I'm empathetic so here is what I think their view of it is. (Re the classless remark, and I'm perfectly happy to be corrected if I'm wrong)

Serviing is really a hectic job so just because you don't see alot of other customers in the place doesn't mean the servers are playing pinochle. They are busy doing "sidework". They are busy with what other customers are there. They're busy cleaning tables and just haven't gotten to your preferred one yet. Whatever. So when somebody comes in and picks the one dirty table to sit at it seems implied that the server needs to instantly drop whatever he's doing and go clean it.