Gourmet Gripes
Though it was hard to choose from the many grievances I've
received this past week - apparently there are quite a few unhappy diners in NYC - this beef's particularly close to my heart:
I can't stand when a restaurant's host lies about how long the wait is. I don't know how many times a week I have to go through this. The worst was when I went to Norma's and they quoted me thirty minutes. I must've asked ten times and they ended up seating us almost two hours later. I would've left, but I was starving and couldn't bear the thought of going to another restaurant and having to wait all over again. But for god's sake, just call a spade a spade. If it's going to be thirty minutes, tell me thirty minutes! If you don't know, just say that. At least, that way I could just suck it up or eat somewhere else! -- Alison
Send me your latest dining gripe!
Until we eat again,
Restaurant Girl
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I have to say I also love it when the opposite happens, and has happened to me several times at Blue Ribbon Brooklyn. a 90 minute wait for a table for two resulted in being seated within 20 minutes.
Posted by: DK | May 23, 2007 at 01:00 PM
We actually discussed this over dinner saturday night but because the adverse happened: we (read: jaded new yorkers) were surprised that the Host at Lupa was honest “call us in 45 minutes, but it will probably be 1 1/2 hours.” As instructed we called: he apologized and he said to come in another 45 minutes. Right then the table opened up.
The wait didn’t bother us. We were able to grab a drink around the corner. The honesty and management of our expectations is what made us wait happily.
Posted by: Torsten | May 21, 2007 at 10:40 AM