You are in a restaurant and someone at the next table is talking on the mobile. How do you deal with this?

Question

I'm talking a restaurant with waiter service, not fast food. Do you tell the other person to terminate the call, or bring it to the attention of the manager. I know it's rude, you know it's rude, but what about the other person who either doesn't know any better, or just plain doesn't give a s--t. How to deal with it?

To: Candi S. I don't want to have to spend time in a confrontation that should not be there in the first place. The mood of the evening has already been compromised.

To Venus 1122: I would have my mobile turned off in a restaurant and I would not make any calls.

If a person must have a cell phone with them for emergency reasons (doctor, business, etc) then the cell should be set to vibrate. The person should answer in a quiet voice, then ask to be excused to talk outside. They could also tell the caller to "please call back later, I'm having dinner right now in a public place". There are many responses available that can be done discretely without annoying others.

Answer 1

If it's the typical obnoxious, self important ******, I don't even hesitate to ask them to step away from their table to complete the call. I ask VERY politely, but with direct eye contact & I have a stern, all-business look that seems to work.

If you don't want to confront them, a request to the wait staff or manager should (in a nice place) take care of it.

It is out of hand these days!!

Answer 2

I'm sorry But I don't understand , what does it matter who or what he is talking to , as long as he is not being loud and is at another table? I only find it rude to talk on cell phone in a restaurant is when you have a dinner date with a person . So I would say worry about what your doing not other ppl. You would feel bad if you complained and this call he was receiving was an emergency? or worse the waiter could tell you to mind your own business. You know maybe you shouldn't try to control what other ppl do, I don't mean to be rude , but thats how I feel about it

Answer 3

Oh my gosh there really are more ignorant people in this world than I thought. TURN OFF YOUR @#$% CELL PHONES!!! What is so important that you cannot even have dinner out without talking on your darn phone or pay for your groceries without talking while the cashier is trying to take your money. I would ask them to take the conversation outside or in the bathroom or how about WAIT UNTIL YOU GET HOME!!! Maybe if we (the rest of us that still have working brain cells) start to tell the lobotomy patients to get off their phones, maybe some will get the message. Cell phones have become evil in certain situations!!! We have given the ignorant another tool to become even more self absorbed and totally oblivious to what is going on around them. Forget the fact that anyone else exists!!! Of course we all know better but MANNERS have become a thing of the past. Do a test to see how many people actually say "THANK YOU" when you hold the door for them!!! Such a simple thing and somehow.....people don't get it (probably because they are on their PHONES!!!) Thank for bringing it up....maybe some will get the message!

Answer 4

I ask the waiter or the manager to put a stop to it. It is very rude to talk loudly on a cell phone in a restaurant.

Answer 5

I am a mother of 4. So I am guilty of always having my cell on in a restaurante. Especially if I have left my children with a babysitter. One never knows when an emergency will come up.
I personally try to talk quietly. But I know what you mean. The ringing of cell phones in a restaurante drives me crazy. I always turn mine on to vibrate. As for others it bugs me only if they are talking exremely loud. But I just try to ignore it.

Answer 6

Well, Ronald for starters there's this thing called freedom of speech and so unless there's a sign like in a hospital where it would interfere with hospital equipment and even then people just don't care like you say and to be polite HAVE NO RESPECT FOR RULES AND THEN WE AS ADULTS TRY TO TELL OUR CHILDREN TO OBEY THEM WHEN WE AS THE ADULTS SET A BAD EXAMPLE FOR THEM AND FOR THAT THERE are those that YES SHOULD APOLOGIZE when they see that you are trying to talk and or order over their voice and yet some would do that and yet would rather curse at you then to do the right thing sooooooooo BEST THING IS TO TRY TO IGNORE THEM OR ASK TO BE PUT AT ANOTHER TABLE.

Answer 7

Ask for the manager, then ask if they have a policy of non use of cell phone in the restaurant, if they say no then ask them if they have a section for cell users if they say no, complain, if that doesn't do any good tell them to cancel your order and leave. also ask for the corporation phone number and address,

Answer 8

Throw a piece of bread at there head! No seriously I hate it when people talk on there cell phones in restaurants or in movies. I usually just look at them annoyed but I'm a big wussy.

Answer 9

Just start talking really loud about how rude it is to talk on your cell phone in a restaurant, if that doesn't get his attention, ask to be moved to another table.

Answer 10

I never say anything to the person, but my husband and I always complain to each other. My husband is a little obnoxious, she likes to complain loud enough for the person on the cell phone to hear.