A few more requests

It's after dark and you and your friend(s)/spouse/family have been out having a good time. Now you're hungry and all you want to do next is get something to eat. You find yourselves at a restaurant that you really like, and you notice the sign on/by the door that says that they close in 10 minutes. You say to yourselves, "Whew! We just barely made it," as you rush in the doors to be seated.

STOP RIGHT THERE!!! Don't do it!! My advice would be that if it is 15 minutes or less before a restaurant closes...don't go in! Yes, technically they are still open, but you really make a whole lot of people wait around while you eat. Not only does the server have to stay, but so does the kitchen staff, the managers, the hosts, the bussers, etc. Please, please, please...don't go into a restaurant just before closing. The employees have been working long, hard hours and they are anxious to finish their work and go home. Find a yummy fast food place that's open late, go to a gas station and get some treats, go to a grocery store and buy some quick snacks, find something at home...anything!! Also, don't stand there and tell the employees that you're so sorry to come in right before closing! If you were really sorry...wouldn't you just go find somewhere else to eat? Or even better...overhearing people say that when they worked at a restaurant, they hated it when people came in right before closing. So why are you here doing the same thing?!?! The ultimate in frustration.

For those of you that have children, this is for you. Please let the hosts know if you have a child in a high chair or in a car seat. So often, only one person comes up to the front to check in and they don't mention the baby (or we don't see it). Then we end up taking the party to a table that can't have a high chair or baby sling at it because of heavy traffic in that isle or because of fire code. I know the baby may not eat anything...but we still need a place to put it! To avoid confusion, frustration, and delays...please always let the hosts know that you need a high chair or a baby carrier/sling.

Before you arrive at the restaurant and check in, make sure you know how many are going to be in your party. It is very frustrating to seat a party of...let's say 4, only to have them come back 15 minutes or so later and say they have more people joining them. They have already been seated, the server has already helped them and taken their order, and then they have to be moved to a different table. That server is no longer in charge of them, they have to transfer the ticket to the new server, have to re-clean the table to be used again, and then the server waits for another party to come in and fill the vacancy. It's just a hassle that could be avoided if you don't invite people to join you after you've already been seated, and/or make sure of who all are coming before you get your table.

Pass it on!! Thank You!