Is it rude to go into a restaurant 5 minutes before closing and expect to get served?

Answer 1

Rude? Hardly. It's a matter of management declaring to the public some vague information. When I read the hours sign I never know if the last seating is just before they close the doors or do I have to finish eating and paying before they close the doors. Management should really schedule staff to work past closing serving last minute arrivals; it's a win win for the server who expects to stay past posted hours and the customer who shouldn't have to worry about how the server feels at the end of the shift. After all, I don't go out to dinner to make my server feel good.

Answer 2

It is hard to tell. I have read your other answers here and both sides make sense. I would have assumed if a restaurant closes at midnight, they let people in until midnight and serve them. But after reading answers from restaurant workers I am guessing this isn't so. If the closing time is the actual CLOSING time, then it is rude to go in and expect service.

Answer 3

I work in a restaurant...it's not a big deal if you order to go. But if you actually sit down and eat, believe me, everyone is going to be annoyed with you. No, we don't ever expect to just walk out the door right at closing time. But, until you actually work in a restaurant, you don't understand just how many things need to be done, and what a long process closing is. Someone coming in so close to closing time and then sitting in there delays the whole process. We close at 9, and typically, we get out of there at 10. But I've had to stay as late as 11 and even midnight because of people coming in right at closing (the midnight night was because of a huge softball team that decided to come in 30 minutes before close and also completely trash the place). We can't start putting chairs up and mopping until everyone is out. The restaurant is not small either, so it takes awhile to clean all of the floors. We also can't really go to the back to start doing other closing tasks, because someone has to be up front in case the remaining customers come back to the counter needing something. People should consider this stuff, and remember that restaurant workers are people too. We have lives, many of us are hard-working college students and don't need to be stuck at work so late. Some people have children that they need to get back to. Some people might have just made plans to spend time with their family after work, but someone coming in right at closing could potentially make them have to just cancel any plans they had. Please just put yourself in their shoes. You wouldn't like it if people did this to you. I've always thought that if a doctor's office closes at 5:00, you can't get an appointment for 4:55, because they need to close down, go home, and get back to their families, so why should it be different in a restaurant?

Answer 4

Apparently you never saw the movie Waiting! Just kidding, but seriously, yes. Even though a restaurant says it will close at 11, for example, they will most likely shut down the grill and start cleaning up long before that, hoping to be gone by that time. Believe me, I used to work in a bowling alley and one of the worst parts of that job was people who demanded service after the fryer was off (the snack bar closed before the bowling alley did).

Answer 5

I waitressed for years and I hated it when someone came in right before closing time. Although the place is still open, why not just get a carry out order and enjoy it at home. The 2nd reason not to sit down that late is the food and the service might not be up to par, the greasy cold fries will end up on your plate and the waitress will tell you "sorry, the burners are already down for the night!"

Answer 6

I have worked in the restaurant business for a long time and I can tell you that it does make people mad when customers come in right before closing time. There is a long process to closing a restaurant down before you close for the day and servers have been on their feet for hours!!! Have a little compassion, go to a drive through thats open late!!!

Answer 7

well i can see from the answers these people have never worked in a restaurant before. As for me...I have. And even though the place only has 5 minutes..and lets say no one is in there...those people are tired and are probably setting up to go home!! So yes it is rude...now if you showed up like 20-30mins. before..no ..but 5 minutes...yes.. those people are tired and have been working probably all day. Have some consideration for someone else besides yourself!!!!

Answer 8

Have a little consideration for the chefs, and other staff that are employed there. I'm sure that they have had a long night and would prefer to get off there feet!
This would mean that they'd have to stay maybe another hour to serve and wait on you and their finishing time is at say 11:30 PM. This means they don't get paid overtime read: (Nickel and Dimed) and would arrive home much later than they expected.
How would you feel if you were in their shoes?

Don't do it!

Answer 9

Yes, I think so. You have to think about the staff inside the kitchen who are like "oh man, I cant wait to get out of here..just 5 more minutes and I can finally go home and die on the couch after this stupid 12 hour shift" It is rather rude to think only of yourself and your needs. I could understand if you hadnt eaten in a month perhaps but let the staff go home.

Answer 10

Absolutely!! Imagine you're the person working there - you want to go home...five minutes to go and you're probably cleaning up and whatnot. I never go so close to closing time because I am scared of retribution by the cooks.

It may not be rude and quite possibly totally acceptable to go in 5 mins. before closing time...but seriously, it is worth it? Is it necessary? Just go to Denny's or plan ahead next time.