Longest Waiting Times for a seat at Restaurants
Jun 17, 2009, 4:43 am
#1
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Longest Waiting Times for a seat at Restaurants
I'm talking about consistently having to wait to get a seat somewhere. Name the restaurant, restaurant chain, and also do share the longest you've waited if you can.
Restaurant Chain: The Cheesecake Factory. Most of the time, my wife and I wait up to 30-45 mins, and we're still waiting. We've given up the majority of time waiting for a table.
Longest: Once waited an hour for a seat at an all you can eat crab shack in Maryland. Worth it since the crabs were jumbo and had plenty of meat.
Restaurant Chain: The Cheesecake Factory. Most of the time, my wife and I wait up to 30-45 mins, and we're still waiting. We've given up the majority of time waiting for a table.
Longest: Once waited an hour for a seat at an all you can eat crab shack in Maryland. Worth it since the crabs were jumbo and had plenty of meat.
Jun 17, 2009, 9:00 am
#3
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I agree on The Cheesecake Factory.... always a wait.
Another one that always surprised me.... Olive Garden. We occasionally will go to one... every 3 months or so.... and it never seems to matter what time we go... 30-45 minute wait.
Another one that always surprised me.... Olive Garden. We occasionally will go to one... every 3 months or so.... and it never seems to matter what time we go... 30-45 minute wait.
Jun 17, 2009, 10:28 am
#4
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Longest wait: Bellagio Buffet, Las Vegas, on Sunday morning. I'll never get that 90 minutes back.
If I walk into a restaurant and ask for the wait time and it's anything over 20 minutes I walk.
I went to the Cheesecake Factory in the Houston Galleria with my sister a couple of months ago - walked up to the doors at 10.58am on a Saturday, they seated us immediately (never happened before), and we had a huge mediocre meal. We were walking out the door at 11.50am, the number of people waiting for tables was astronomical.
Moral of this story: be there at opening and you might have a chance.
I've had the same basic thing happen at Grand Lux Cafe across the street.
If I walk into a restaurant and ask for the wait time and it's anything over 20 minutes I walk.
I went to the Cheesecake Factory in the Houston Galleria with my sister a couple of months ago - walked up to the doors at 10.58am on a Saturday, they seated us immediately (never happened before), and we had a huge mediocre meal. We were walking out the door at 11.50am, the number of people waiting for tables was astronomical.
Moral of this story: be there at opening and you might have a chance.
I've had the same basic thing happen at Grand Lux Cafe across the street.
Jun 17, 2009, 11:12 am
#5
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I have no idea what's normal. I have no patience whatsoever and will not stand in a lobby or outside a restaurant door behind dozens of other would-be diners. I thnk 20 minutes is the longest I've ever waited although I've driven around longer than that looking for a restaurant that didn't appear too busy. 
I guess I'm okay as long as I'm moving.
I guess I'm okay as long as I'm moving.
Jun 17, 2009, 3:03 pm
#6
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I wouldn't wait for Cheesecake factory, the food (IMO) is mediocre and overpriced. My typical max wait is about 10 minutes before I'll bolt, but normally we dine at off-times to ensure no wait (1 PM for lunch, and 8-9P for dinner)
Jun 17, 2009, 5:34 pm
#7
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I would never wait at any chain unless I had no say in the matter.
Generally, I never wait for my table because I am usually able to use opentable.com or call in a reservation.
For restaurants that do not offer reservations, the longest I've had to wait was about an hour for weekend dimsum at Koi Palace. You SF Bay'ers have heard of this restaurant, foodie or not.
Whether it is worth the wait always leads to lengthy and heated discussions.
Generally, I never wait for my table because I am usually able to use opentable.com or call in a reservation.
For restaurants that do not offer reservations, the longest I've had to wait was about an hour for weekend dimsum at Koi Palace. You SF Bay'ers have heard of this restaurant, foodie or not.
Whether it is worth the wait always leads to lengthy and heated discussions.
Jun 19, 2009, 8:50 am
#9
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We were at a ChartHouse someplace in Westchester many years ago. Somebody in the group picked that for the event, there were 8 of us. The wait was three hours, which apparently was not out of line for a Sunday evening. I never thought their food was worth it, but with a group it was not horrible.
The funny part? Somebody actually called and had a pizza delivered to them in line while they were waiting. The Dominos car pulls up and the guy starts yelling "Gary, Gary, Sausage and Meatball for Gary?"
Guess he was trying to prove a point.
The funny part? Somebody actually called and had a pizza delivered to them in line while they were waiting. The Dominos car pulls up and the guy starts yelling "Gary, Gary, Sausage and Meatball for Gary?"
Guess he was trying to prove a point.
Jun 19, 2009, 10:44 am
#10
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Bahama Breeze (I-Drive, Orlando 
) shortly after it opened. Probably waited 45 mins to an hour for that one. Now we've got one here in Cleveland, with a lovely view of the interstate. Same deal, always jam packed.
I don't like to wait (especially if I'm taking a group out) so if a restaurant isn't listed on OpenTable, I usually don't bother. It's nice to book a table online only 20 or 30 minutes ahead of time, blow past a waiting crowd and be immediately seated. Kinda like elite status for restaurants
) shortly after it opened. Probably waited 45 mins to an hour for that one. Now we've got one here in Cleveland, with a lovely view of the interstate. Same deal, always jam packed.I don't like to wait (especially if I'm taking a group out) so if a restaurant isn't listed on OpenTable, I usually don't bother. It's nice to book a table online only 20 or 30 minutes ahead of time, blow past a waiting crowd and be immediately seated. Kinda like elite status for restaurants
Last edited by paule123; Jun 19, 2009 at 11:52 am
Jun 20, 2009, 3:05 pm
#12
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Similar story. I've walked out of my local Cheese Cake Factory and overheard the hostess telling people about a 2.5 hour wait. And this was around 9:00 pm at night. This was around prom time. The Maggiano's around the corner also had about a 2 hour wait.
Jun 20, 2009, 4:54 pm
#13
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I have no idea what's normal. I have no patience whatsoever and will not stand in a lobby or outside a restaurant door behind dozens of other would-be diners. I thnk 20 minutes is the longest I've ever waited although I've driven around longer than that looking for a restaurant that didn't appear too busy. I guess I'm okay as long as I'm moving.
I guess I'm okay as long as I'm moving.
Jun 20, 2009, 6:51 pm
#14
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I've been to the one in CLE by the interstate. I used to practically live at the Hampton next door. Fortunately all I ever did there was drink, so never a wait. ^
