How long is it okay to stay after finishing a meal at a restaurant?

[imported_Stew]

If I'm out on a date with a girl, or catching up with a friend, I like to stay at least 20-30min after I'm done eating just to talk.

The longest I've stayed is probably about an hour, maybe even an hour and a half.

I'm never sure though, whether the restaurant staff want us to leave, or don't care how long we stay. Normally, if it's not busy and it's not near closing time I stay as long as I like.

What about you guys?

 

[JohnCU]

as long as it's not busy i stay as long as i want (or closing like you said). if people are waiting though i'll try to leave 5-10 minutes after finishing

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I find it's more comfortable at home. I see no need to sit in a restaurant to talk. We leave when we're done eating.

 

[Leros]

If its not busy, I'll stay. If the waitstaff keeps serving us drinks after the bill comes I'll leave a big tip.

 

[herrjimbo]

If it;s G.W. Steakhouse, stay as long as the coffee keeps comin.

 

[compuwiz1]

When the waitress comes up every couple minutes asking if she can get you anything else, you've worn out your welcome. Get out before she brings the big boys out from the back.

 

[Tsaico]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
When the waitress comes up every couple minutes asking if she can get you anything else, you've worn out your welcome. Get out before she brings the big boys out from the back.

I agree with this one. I generally try for 15 min after I finish my last served item. So if I keep ordering drinks, then the counter gets reset, busy or not.

 

[OulOat]

Depends on what type of restaurant. At traditional Asian restaurants, you can stay as long as you want and they will keep servicing you.

 

[Bignate603]

If there's nobody waiting for the table stay as long as you want. Who knows, maybe you'll want some dessert later.

 

[MichaelD]

Being that you are a paying customer you have every right to stay as long as you damn please. This is assuming you've actually had a full dinner and not just two Cokes.

Just an example. You take your date to Outback. You have a Blooming Onion for an appetizer. Then two steaks. Then some coffee and dessert. You've bought that table for the next two hours AFAIAC. If the waiter give you shit, ask for the manager and BITCH him or her out. They'll comp your meal. They cannot force you to leave as long as you are a paying customer.

I fucking hate it when that shit happens. Not bragging (really) but I've been at Outback in San Antonio TX and they said "UM...we need this table.". I had about $500 cash in my pocket and a credit card that could've bought 10x that bill. And my tab was about $150. I just kept ordering one coffee and nursing it for an hour just to make a point.

You are in business to serve paying customers. I am a paying customer. Let me finish my fucking conversation you idiots.

I'm not bitter towards Outback...I :heart" Outback. I would've done the same at any restaurant.

Oh shit...I"m so pissed right now. Thanks, OP...you've got my digestion all messed up now.

 

[BoomerD]

As others have said, if the place is busy, especially if they have people waiting, Once I'm done, I'm outta there. If I want to linger over drinks, I'll move to the bar if there's room. No reason being a dick about it and keeping other people from eating just so I can sit there and shoot the shit.

However, if the place ISN'T busy...I may stay there until they try to vacuum me up... or tell me to GTFO.

 

[ViviTheMage]

leave a bigger tip, you can stay as long as you want...and if it's not busy!

 

[LS21]

in france they pretty much sit for literally hours. doesnt work i nthis country though

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: OulOat
Depends on what type of restaurant. At traditional Asian restaurants, you can stay as long as you want and they will keep servicing you.

I don't know why that made me laugh. Asians servicing you? Great concept! :laugh:

 

[StinkyPinky]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Being that you are a paying customer you have every right to stay as long as you damn please. This is assuming you've actually had a full dinner and not just two Cokes.

Just an example. You take your date to Outback. You have a Blooming Onion for an appetizer. Then two steaks. Then some coffee and dessert. You've bought that table for the next two hours AFAIAC. If the waiter give you shit, ask for the manager and BITCH him or her out. They'll comp your meal. They cannot force you to leave as long as you are a paying customer.

I fucking hate it when that shit happens. Not bragging (really) but I've been at Outback in San Antonio TX and they said "UM...we need this table.". I had about $500 cash in my pocket and a credit card that could've bought 10x that bill. And my tab was about $150. I just kept ordering one coffee and nursing it for an hour just to make a point.

You are in business to serve paying customers. I am a paying customer. Let me finish my fucking conversation you idiots.

I'm not bitter towards Outback...I :heart" Outback. I would've done the same at any restaurant.

Oh shit...I"m so pissed right now. Thanks, OP...you've got my digestion all messed up now.

It's called being polite to others that are waiting to eat. People standing in the line must think you're a real jerk sipping the same coffee for an hour.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Being that you are a paying customer you have every right to stay as long as you damn please. This is assuming you've actually had a full dinner and not just two Cokes.

Just an example. You take your date to Outback. You have a Blooming Onion for an appetizer. Then two steaks. Then some coffee and dessert. You've bought that table for the next two hours AFAIAC. If the waiter give you shit, ask for the manager and BITCH him or her out. They'll comp your meal. They cannot force you to leave as long as you are a paying customer.

I fucking hate it when that shit happens. Not bragging (really) but I've been at Outback in San Antonio TX and they said "UM...we need this table.". I had about $500 cash in my pocket and a credit card that could've bought 10x that bill. And my tab was about $150. I just kept ordering one coffee and nursing it for an hour just to make a point.

You are in business to serve paying customers. I am a paying customer. Let me finish my fucking conversation you idiots.

I'm not bitter towards Outback...I :heart" Outback. I would've done the same at any restaurant.

Oh shit...I"m so pissed right now. Thanks, OP...you've got my digestion all messed up now.

It's called being polite to others that are waiting to eat. People standing in the line must think you're a real jerk sipping the same coffee for an hour.

not to mention he is also wrong. they can and will ask you to leave. once they ask you to leave you do not have the right to stay..


but most will not say anything unless you already been there hours just sipping coffee and its busy.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1

Originally posted by: OulOat
Depends on what type of restaurant. At traditional Asian restaurants, you can stay as long as you want and they will keep servicing you.

I don't know why that made me laugh. Asians servicing you? Great concept! :laugh:

They service you long time from what I hear.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Being that you are a paying customer you have every right to stay as long as you damn please. This is assuming you've actually had a full dinner and not just two Cokes.

Just an example. You take your date to Outback. You have a Blooming Onion for an appetizer. Then two steaks. Then some coffee and dessert. You've bought that table for the next two hours AFAIAC. If the waiter give you shit, ask for the manager and BITCH him or her out. They'll comp your meal. They cannot force you to leave as long as you are a paying customer.

I fucking hate it when that shit happens. Not bragging (really) but I've been at Outback in San Antonio TX and they said "UM...we need this table.". I had about $500 cash in my pocket and a credit card that could've bought 10x that bill. And my tab was about $150. I just kept ordering one coffee and nursing it for an hour just to make a point.

You are in business to serve paying customers. I am a paying customer. Let me finish my fucking conversation you idiots.

I'm not bitter towards Outback...I :heart" Outback. I would've done the same at any restaurant.

Oh shit...I"m so pissed right now. Thanks, OP...you've got my digestion all messed up now.

You should've paid, then gone to get coffee at a coffee shop or something.

 

[Eli]

As long as you want? lol

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: Eli
As long as you want? lol

Yep, at least until the second cuming. :laugh:

 

[mugs]

If I stay well beyond when I'm done eating, I just tip the waitress whatever she probably would have made if the table had been available to other customers for that time.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Being that you are a paying customer you have every right to stay as long as you damn please. This is assuming you've actually had a full dinner and not just two Cokes.

Just an example. You take your date to Outback. You have a Blooming Onion for an appetizer. Then two steaks. Then some coffee and dessert. You've bought that table for the next two hours AFAIAC. If the waiter give you shit, ask for the manager and BITCH him or her out. They'll comp your meal. They cannot force you to leave as long as you are a paying customer.

I fucking hate it when that shit happens. Not bragging (really) but I've been at Outback in San Antonio TX and they said "UM...we need this table.". I had about $500 cash in my pocket and a credit card that could've bought 10x that bill. And my tab was about $150. I just kept ordering one coffee and nursing it for an hour just to make a point.

You are in business to serve paying customers. I am a paying customer. Let me finish my fucking conversation you idiots.

I'm not bitter towards Outback...I :heart" Outback. I would've done the same at any restaurant.

Oh shit...I"m so pissed right now. Thanks, OP...you've got my digestion all messed up now.

You're just trolling with this post, right? It's hard to tell sometimes. Who takes a date to Outback?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Being that you are a paying customer you have every right to stay as long as you damn please. This is assuming you've actually had a full dinner and not just two Cokes.

Just an example. You take your date to Outback. You have a Blooming Onion for an appetizer. Then two steaks. Then some coffee and dessert. You've bought that table for the next two hours AFAIAC. If the waiter give you shit, ask for the manager and BITCH him or her out. They'll comp your meal. They cannot force you to leave as long as you are a paying customer.

I fucking hate it when that shit happens. Not bragging (really) but I've been at Outback in San Antonio TX and they said "UM...we need this table.". I had about $500 cash in my pocket and a credit card that could've bought 10x that bill. And my tab was about $150. I just kept ordering one coffee and nursing it for an hour just to make a point.

You are in business to serve paying customers. I am a paying customer. Let me finish my fucking conversation you idiots.

I'm not bitter towards Outback...I :heart" Outback. I would've done the same at any restaurant.

Oh shit...I"m so pissed right now. Thanks, OP...you've got my digestion all messed up now.

You're just trolling with this post, right? It's hard to tell sometimes. Who takes a date to Outback?

No, actually. Not trolling. I've no need to troll...my posts are always inflammatory just the way they are. Considering I've lived in many major cities in the USA, the restaurant name may differ, but my point remains the same. I'm a paying customer (full meal in a restaurant, not just coffee) and I'll stay as long as I damn please.

And if not, I will vote with my wallet and my phone/email and call the regional manager and clearly explain to him/her what their staff did wrong when they asked me to leave.

I don't care that there are people waiting. Know why? BECAUSE I WAITED TOO. That's why. I watied; now you wait. If you're paying your money, you're entitled to "it." If I'm paying my money, I'm entitled "to it."

And that's the way it works, people.

And if you disagree, I don't come to your establishment with my wallet anymore. Money talks. Oh yeah, I tell all my coworkers how badly you treated me...and maybe embellish a little bit. And then they don't come any more either.

Get it now, people? :roll:

Don't bite the goddamn hand that feeds you.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: OulOat
At traditional Asian restaurants, you can stay as long as you want and they will keep servicing you.

:Q

Do they just always have a waitress posted under the table, or do you have to ask for it each time?

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Not bragging (really)

...
a credit card that could've bought 10x that bill. And my tab was about $150.

No, you're really NOT bragging. $1500 is a REALLY low credit limit.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: OulOat
At traditional Asian restaurants, you can stay as long as you want and they will keep servicing you.

:Q

Do they just always have a waitress posted under the table, or do you have to ask for it each time?

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Not bragging (really)

...
a credit card that could've bought 10x that bill. And my tab was about $150.

No, you're really NOT bragging. $1500 is a REALLY low credit limit.

You really don't get it. B/C your reading comprehension sucks balls. I was talking about being able to cover a $5K bill...which is also low. Which is why I said not bragging. B/C it is a really low limit.

Sometimes it doesn't matter how much your CC is worth if the "machine is down" and you have to pay in cash.

In all the years on this board, the fact that it's mostly inhabitied by the under-25 crowd has not changed. And that just sucks. Not bragging. (*finger*)