How LATE is too LATE?

cheerfulgreek · #1 05-29-2008, 06:57 PM

I'm just curious to see what other people would do in a situation like this one.

Well, I went to Bakers Square this past weekend. It was late and they were getting ready to close. I was with a friend and we got there a little after 10:30pm. They closed at 11:00pm so I felt since they were still open, we should be served. The person I was with didn't want to go in because it was too close to closing time.

I guess some people think it's wrong to eat at a restaurant if it's close to closing. I think it's perfectly o.k. They're open right? I could see if it was like 5 minutes before closing, but a whole half hour?

Do you go in as long as they're open, or do you have a set time before they close?

cheerfulgreek · #2 05-29-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Depends on the restaurant.

30 minutes is enough time to eat because most restaurants have a window of time where they lock the doors but don't kick people out who are eating.

Exactly. So I felt that even if we were in there after they closed, it's not like they would kick us out or anything, ya know. As long as the doors aren't locked, I don't see the problem.

jon1856 · #3 05-29-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I'm just curious to see what other people would do in a situation like this one.

Well, I went to Bakers Square this past weekend. It was late and they were getting ready to close. I was with a friend and we got there a little after 10:30pm. They closed at 11:00pm so I felt since they were still open, we should be served. The person I was with didn't want to go in because it was too close to closing time.

I guess some people think it's wrong to eat at a restaurant if it's close to closing. I think it's perfectly o.k. They're open right? I could see if it was like 5 minutes before closing, but a whole half hour?

Do you go in as long as they're open, or do you have a set time before they close?

I am not familiar with this restaurant so I do not know what type it is.
I was taught that many restaurants have two closing times:
Last sitting and service.
And when the grill is shut down and lights go out.

A few weeks ago, my GR and I walked into a new place near by thinking that we would try it out. Well, it was open and there where people there eating. BUT grill was shut down and the chef had left the building

#4 05-29-2008, 07:12 PM

Watch the movie "Waiting".

You'll never have to ask this question ever again.

TexasWSP · #5 05-29-2008, 07:13 PM

If it's nice or upscale in the slightest bit....no, I wouldn't go in close to closing time.

Something simple and easy, normal chain restaurants......don't really care.

TexasWSP · #6 05-29-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

Watch the movie "Waiting".

You'll never have to ask this question ever again.

I was actually at a restaurant with a few friends and one of them sent an order back because it was cold. We got it back and it was completely obvious that it had been "tampered" with...we'll just leave it at that. My buddy went back to the kitchen, threw the plate at the chef, and hit him in the face.

Not kidding. It was a surreal experience.

jon1856 · #7 05-29-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

If it's nice or upscale in the slightest bit....no, I wouldn't go in close to closing time.

Something simple and easy, normal chain restaurants......don't really care.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

And be a good tipper, anyway, but ESPECIALLY if you're coming in late.

Both of the above are correct and very true.
Perhaps the best best thing to do if you have a question:
Very politely and with respect just ask if they are still open for service/dinning.

PeppyGPhiB · #8 05-29-2008, 07:22 PM

jon1856 · #9 05-29-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

I was actually at a restaurant with a few friends and one of them sent an order back because it was cold. We got it back and it was completely obvious that it had been "tampered" with...we'll just leave it at that. My buddy went back to the kitchen, threw the plate at the chef, and hit him in the face.

Not kidding. It was a surreal experience.

Brother, BON, I had just about the opposite happen a year or so ago.
Was having lunch with a group of my GF's family. And one of her cousins was being overly picky with what he ordered and was served. Sent it back three times. First time it made some sense. After that, it truly did not. At least not for the reasons he was giving.
The rest of us felt like throwing him into the kitchen.....

TexasWSP · #10 05-29-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon1856

Brother, BON, I had just about the opposite happen a year or so ago.
Was having lunch with a group of my GF's family. And one of her cousins was being overly picky with what he ordered and was served. Sent it back three times. First time it made some sense. After that, it truly did not. At least not for the reasons he was giving.
The rest of us felt like throwing him into the kitchen.....

Yeah, nothing worse than ultra picky eaters that do that. It's embarrassing just sitting at the table with them. Now.....if something is really wrong with food quality, like the dish being cold...I don't have a problem politely sending it back.

Kevlar281 · #11 05-29-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

Watch the movie "Waiting".

You'll never have to ask this question ever again.

Haha so true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bla0VDChdyM

About a minute in for those of you haven't seen it.

AKA_Monet · #12 05-29-2008, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I'm just curious to see what other people would do in a situation like this one.

Well, I went to Bakers Square this past weekend. It was late and they were getting ready to close. I was with a friend and we got there a little after 10:30pm. They closed at 11:00pm so I felt since they were still open, we should be served. The person I was with didn't want to go in because it was too close to closing time.

I guess some people think it's wrong to eat at a restaurant if it's close to closing. I think it's perfectly o.k. They're open right? I could see if it was like 5 minutes before closing, but a whole half hour?

Do you go in as long as they're open, or do you have a set time before they close?

Well when do you take your public health courses? After that experience, you'd probably will not even EAT at restaurants anymore... LOL

jon1856 · #13 05-29-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

Yeah, nothing worse than ultra picky eaters that do that. It's embarrassing just sitting at the table with them. Now.....if something is really wrong with food quality, like the dish being cold...I don't have a problem politely sending it back.

So true, so true.

smiley21 · #14 05-29-2008, 09:03 PM

This makes me think of what happened to my sister (biological) and her friends last week. There were 8 of them and they walked into an ice cream shop at 9:15 p.m. and the place closes at 10:00 p.m. The guy behind the counter (described by my sister as "a nerdy kid with braces") looked at them as said, "Do you guys have to eat ice cream? I am trying to finish my dinner."

They just stare at him dumbfounded and eventually lose their taste for ice cream. They all go a few doors down to Starbucks instead. Before they left, my sister told him off. Haha. That is my sister.

On their way out of the ice cream place, my sister catches a glimpse of another employee standing in the back eating!!! To make matters worse, when they left Starbucks, they saw some customers eating ice cream. So the kid did not mind serving a smaller group. He just did not want it to disturb his dinner. One of my sister's friends supposedly called the manager this week. I am not sure about what happened with that. I would be so ticked if that happened to me.

KSUViolet06 · #15 05-29-2008, 09:05 PM

I'm a slow eater, so I won't go into a sit-down place to eat if they close at 11 and it's 10:30.