We have all been to restaurants and waited a while for food, but how long is acceptable.
This week we went to a Restaurant and service was slow, but we didn’t feel it slow enough to complain and we were eating with someone who eats very slowly, so you have to take that into account.
We knew last time we had been in this restaurant that we had booked for 7.00pm and not left until 11.00pm, just due to the slow service.
This time it appeared that we just got in before the rush, we booked for 6.45pm and we were paying our bill at about 8.40pm. At the same time, the table next to us was complaining that they had waited 90 minutes for their main courses, that still hadn’t arrived and then the table next to them complained. I am not sure what they said, but the left the manager in tears.
How long should you wait for your food? I think unless there is a note on the menu about any item taking more than 20 minutes is unacceptable. What do you think?
Also, it is acceptable to have drinks arrive after food, if ordered at the same time?
What about items missing from your food? No vegetables arrive or garlic bread? How long do you expect to wait? If they arrived after I have finished the rest of the meal, I consider it is too late and I no longer require them, What do you think?
I agree, I think that drinks should definitely arrived before your food. You are quite often out as a social occasion and chatting over a drink before you eat is great ….. for about 20 minutes. If they can’t get your food out to you in that time it’s not really acceptable unless they have pre-warned you.
Wow 90 minutes, I would expect to at least be on deserts or waiting for the bill!
Unfortunately this seems to be a more regular occurrence nowadays. There has probably been a reduction in staff, of course due to covid, and unless they employ enough staff for the customers they are getting I can’t see it getting better any time soon.
I think waiting for food etc. is getting worse in Restaurants – and I don’t see it improving any time soon. What with Co-Vid and now the energy price rise, it will see less staff in hospitality at a time when they really should be trying to get back to their 2020
levels – i.e. pre Co-Vid