There is a reason why you have to wait to be seated at restaurants even though there are tables open...

[valet]

So I heard this on the radio. Do you buy this explanation? If they seat you, your just going to be waiting there. Service is not going to come faster. These restaurants are backed up, short staffed. They don't even have time to get you water. So that's why they won't seat you there, even though there are clear open tables. Do you buy this. Or is this a trash reason?

 

[O.T.I.S.]

Because there may or may not be servers for that area


Tables may or may not be cleaned..

To alert the waitresses that you have someone sitting in your section?

There may be a larger party ahead of you..


If it’s not a diner, I don’t see the big deal. You might have a large party too.. Thats information that a server/waitress and staff would like to know beforehand I would imagine.

 

[Theolodius_Black]

So I heard this on the radio. Do you buy this explanation? If they seat you, your just going to be waiting there. Service is not going to come faster. These restaurants are backed up, short staffed. They don't even have time to get you water. So that's why they will seat you there, even though there are clear open tables. Do you buy this. Or is this a trash reason?

So, if they seat you, you’re just going to be waiting there? That makes no sense. They seat you “there” because they’re backed up? So if you take your seat yourself, you get faster service?

 

[TEH]

So, if they seat you, you’re just going to be waiting there? That makes no sense. They seat you “there” because they’re backed up? So if you take your seat yourself, you get faster service?

They’re saying if they seat you there you’re going to be more mad waiting at the actual table and not getting service.

 

[-DMP-]

this is a thing.

Most restaurants assign a certain number of tables (or section) to a server

If you have 5 servers and 4 tables to a server, you’re only going to be able to seat 20 tables total. Doesn’t matter if you have 50 open.

Source: worked in a restaurant way too long.

 

[ItsPeople]

It’s pretty uncouth to seat yourself at a restaurant, bunch of heathens