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What's your cutoff for how close to closing you'll go into a restaurant?

post #1 of 29
4/9/10 at 8:32pm
Thread Starter 
I generally say an hour but maybe I'm pussyfooting about it. This does not apply to bars.
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post #2 of 29
4/9/10 at 9:21pm
half an hr
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post #3 of 29
4/9/10 at 10:44pm
I would normally ask the person working the door if its still alright to come in if its 30 minutes or less to closing time
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post #4 of 29
4/9/10 at 10:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by acidboy View Post
I would normally ask the person working the door if its still alright to come in if its 30 minutes or less to closing time

Why? Anybody caught actually telling you no before the posted closing time would get bitched at, if not lose their job.
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post #5 of 29
4/9/10 at 10:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kwilkinson View Post
Why? Anybody caught actually telling you no before the posted closing time would get bitched at, if not lose their job.

Why? Because I'm generally nice to the working masses, bitch!

Actually- it doesn't work that way all the time here... from my experience here I get no problem 95% of the time, but there were instances when they'd tell me the kitchen's already closed.
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post #6 of 29
4/9/10 at 11:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by acidboy View Post
Actually- it doesn't work that way all the time here... from my experience here I get no problem 95% of the time, but there were instances when they'd tell me the kitchen's already closed.

This is what I don't get about how some restaurants operate. If the kitchen is closed, then close the damn restaurant. Don't let anyone else in, turn that little open sign to closed. Make it exceedingly obvious that the resto is closed. But if the posted hours tell me that the restaurant is open until 11, then by God if I come in at 10:55, I expect to not be turned away. Does that make me an asshole? Maybe. Will I get bad service? More than likely. Are the cooks going to be pissed b/c they all wanted to fuck off early that night? Yeah. I just don't mind.
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post #7 of 29
4/9/10 at 11:22pm
It depends on the Chef. Many restaurants aren't giving overtime anymore, and I doubt that most Chefs will leave the computer to just cook for anybody. I've seen line cooks telling the waiters to go fuck themselves when they ask if they can fire another table. I've also seen managers forcing the cooks to make dishes for late arrivals. Lotta bitching goes on in kitchen locker rooms when it comes to the subjects of customers, and management.
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post #8 of 29
4/9/10 at 11:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kwilkinson View Post
This is what I don't get about how some restaurants operate. If the kitchen is closed, then close the damn restaurant. Don't let anyone else in, turn that little open sign to closed. Make it exceedingly obvious that the resto is closed. But if the posted hours tell me that the restaurant is open until 11, then by God if I come in at 10:55, I expect to not be turned away. Does that make me an asshole? Maybe. Will I get bad service? More than likely. Are the cooks going to be pissed b/c they all wanted to fuck off early that night? Yeah. I just don't mind.
don't get me wrong, I am a stickler for professionalism and all that- but I also have a big fear of finding an angry server's snot mixed with the dressing... boy, those television tabloid/secret camera shows really made me paranoid!
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post #9 of 29
4/9/10 at 11:28pm
If they close at ten, I can go until ten. I don't do it on purpose, but if my travel arrangements were later than planned, for example, then I'll go in whenever. I'm not going to go to a restaurant I'd rather eat at LESS than go to somewhere I want near closing. I'll always make sure to tip well if I do this though, provided they don't give me horrible service.
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post #10 of 29
4/10/10 at 1:20am
About half an hour before closing... Having worked in the kitchen of a restaurant, I know the feeling of a party coming in at ten till close... EZ
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post #11 of 29
4/10/10 at 2:25pm
Nothing is worse than getting ready to walk out the door and go home, and suddenly customers come through the door. It fucking sucks, but if the restaurant is open until 10 then customers should be seated until then. If the staff is pissed tough shit, it's the restaurant business. Personally, I try to get there an hour before closing because I know how much it sucks having to stay for a late table. If I get there a few mins before closing I get straight to the point and dont dilly dally.
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post #12 of 29
4/11/10 at 1:12am
Did twenty at Five Guys tonight. Wasn't intentional though; I thought they closed at 11PM, not 10PM.
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post #13 of 29
4/11/10 at 1:17am
I have no rule, just ask the person at the door if they're still serving.
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post #14 of 29
4/11/10 at 1:19pm
30 minutes.
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post #15 of 29
4/11/10 at 1:44pm
Depends on what is going on in the restaurant. If there are only 5 people at two tables eating in the restaurant and I am going to be the only person left at closing time, I'll pass.

If the room is half full and everyone is at different stages of the meal, I'll stay.

If the food is simple and only one course 30 to 15 minutes.

Pet peeve; restaurants that start vacuuming and cleaning 30 minutes before closing while you are eating so they can get out the door when they close.

Been to a couple places that close at 10 but close new orders and the kitchen at 9.
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