I'm a college student, and many times I go to the local 24 hour family restaurant (like a Denny's or IHOP) to study late at night. I can drink coffee,eat, study, listen to music, ect (things you can't do at the library).
However, I notice that the server will always put the loudest, drunkest, most obnoxious people right next to my table. I don't say anything because I know it's a restaurant and not a library, but should I request to be moved to a different table? Or would it be wrong to ask the people to be a little quieter?
2007-03-23 06:23:04 · 10 answers · asked by I_color_outside_the_lines 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
You cant complain about the company you keep if you're studying in a public place. It would be impolite to say something to the other people. Just ask your host for a quiet table in the back somewhere when you enter the resteraunt.
2007-03-23 07:14:20 · answer #1 · answered by xooxcable 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think it's fine as long as you are continually ordering food or drinks throughout the evening and it's a slow. If it's crowded, you're not continually ordering off the menu and you're taking up a table - it's not okay. The server is working for tips. Think of the money they are loosing if you're sitting at a table for hours and only drinking coffee which gets free refills...Now, think of say a group of two or more people eating a full meal at that same table and multiply it times a two or three hour turnover. $ verses $$
I'd go ahead and request that the host/hostess put you at a closed station (an area of the restaurant where there isn't a server working). Then, tell the closest server that you will order coffee and such but that they don't need to pay close attention to you. You'll flag them down if you need something. Finally, be a generous tipper.
Hope this helps.
2007-03-23 14:33:12 · answer #2 · answered by born2run 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
1.) It's late at night. That might be when you choose to study, but it also the time when the drunks eat.
2.) If it's a busy restaurant then you can't really complain about who gets seated next to you.
3.) If it's busy and you are parked at a table for longer than it normally takes to eat a meal then you're hogging a table. Doing this causes both the server and the restaurant to make less money.
4.) If it's not busy and you're seated with the drunks then perhaps that's because they have closed parts of the seating area.
2007-03-23 15:28:52 · answer #3 · answered by Peter D 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's a 24 hour restaurant....so it's no less appropriate than going out to dine roaring drunk!! Treat your server well....tip her nicely. If you are staying for 2 or 3 hours double the tip you would usually give!! If you frequent the place a lot....try to get the same waitress and get to know the servers so they will take good care of you!! If they feel that you are a good customer and friendly and tip well....they will make sure to provide an good environment for you.
2007-03-23 17:01:37 · answer #4 · answered by diapercakesbybecca 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. It is perfectly fine. You can ask to be moved to a different table. It is all night, so it's not like you are taking up the space other customers would be using. Just ask nicely to get another table. The server will soon get tired of having to move you every time they let someone sit there and having to clean twenty thousand tables, and they will just let you be and seat the drunks elsewhere.
2007-03-23 15:31:18 · answer #5 · answered by Haveitlookedat 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the restaurant is not crowded it's fine to spend time studying. If there are others waiting to be seated, it's rude. Ask the waitress for a quiet area, tell her you'd like to study. Since you're there for a long time, make sure to give an appropriate tip. If you are there several hours, you should be tipping way over the norm. If you do this a few times, you'll probably get the quiet area a lot easier.
2007-03-23 13:39:56 · answer #6 · answered by J M 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's a restaurant, not a library. There is give and take. You can eat while you study but you have no right to silence. You may also be screwing up the wait staff. They may have to wait for you leave before they can clean or take their break.
Where I went to college we would use the hallways. There were couches there. You could eat and study and certain hallways afforded surprising privacy.
2007-03-23 13:32:46 · answer #7 · answered by morrowynd 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I suspect this has more to do with the usually large number of loud, drunk, obnoxious people in Denny's in the middle of the night, rather than anything to do with you. After all, comparably, you would be the ideal customer (as long as you tip in proportion to the amount of time you've spent).
2007-03-23 13:31:24 · answer #8 · answered by stmichaeldet 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when you go in ask if you can be put in a quiet corner somewhere, let them know you are planning on studying, i am sure most people would understand and be sympathetic, also make sure you are tipping the server well, if you come in frequently they will start to remember you and wont mind you coming in and requesting a special table.
2007-03-23 13:33:01 · answer #9 · answered by domsmom701 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
lots of people do that , it seems acceptabe to me as long as you order stuff and tip well.
2007-03-23 14:06:24 · answer #10 · answered by Angela C 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋