There is a law of physics that states... "the higher the mass the slower it moves"

So, just tell them that it's not your fault at all. They are attempting to break the law of physics.

Ok - I made that up... but it's true anyways... 12 people cannot be in a hurry and expect to eat at a popular (or small) place in a hurry.

Which leads me to believe that you do indeed live in an alternate universe in which nuts, sickos, weirdos and the general fruitcake all reside.

I think it's time to ask Scotty to beam you up.

I'm so gratified that you are busy enough to be able to turn people like this away... Long may it continue... The FW rules!

Food Whore, I love you, but this post is just a bit snarky and I hope it's not meant that way.

Maybe I'm feeling embarrassed or confused, but sometimes I end up out with people, the more people attach themselves, and suddenly they're hungry. Yes, this is a failure to plan. But on the other hand, spotaneity is fun and I'm not going to sacrifice that for the sake of perfect execution every time I step outside.

I've indeed on a very few occasions had to find food for a crowd on short notice. Obviously the "leader" was a bit of a nitwit for not just walking in on her own. No, i would NEVER become disgruntled.

But could there be a little bit of recognition that it's a nice thing that people do come to your restaurant with the hope of eating there? I am not in retail now but i was for years, and even with the dorks and PITA browser-people and other annoying sorts who came in, I was always also glad that people were bothering to come in at all.

Last night I was faced with someone else's party (i was a guest)... that grew from an initial 7-8, to 15.. and they were trying to have it at an outside cafe because we finally have some amazing weather...

We ended up bringing them over to my place and two of us cooked for 20 altogether :) sometimes the best solution is to bail altogether.

However, I do think it is a compliment - every time - even when a clueless person or group tries to eat at your restaurant, and i hope you are taking it that way. After all, they were at your place, asking and hoping... not somewhere else.

Dear Foodwhore,

1)I love Bring It On. I would only judge you if you said you liked Little Man with the Waynes Brothers.

2)To love you is to love your snarkiness. If anything, your blog shows the rest of us times when perhaps we too were idiots thinking we owned the world and everything was owed to us. Long live the snark and thanks for keeping me laughing!

leenaeats.com/blog

Snarky? Hmmm. Any more than usual? When did humorous description become snarky?

Ah well.

Still love your great blog. Still hope the restaurant gods send you more wonderful customers who produce funny good stories and happier days.

Love the smiling more. Thanks for reminding me. I live in NJ. Time I smiled more. :D

There would be no snark, had the raging hosebag not dispensed her shitty attitude in the first place. As a former food whore myself, the one thing I have to say about this blog's whore is that she has infinite more patience than most ppl in the business. There is just so much shit one can take, night after friggin' night.
People have to stop treating service industry (all types) like they're invisible, or free punching bags.
Unless you've worked it, you have no clue.

I think you were totally in the right here. But what is it with restraunts who don't take reservations. There are alot of them in my area (DC metro) and it makes me crazy. I do business dining and will NOT take a client to a place that won't take my reservation. Why do some not?

James - I completely understand what you are saying.

I am flattered when people want to eat at our place. Completely. And I was even happy this group thought of our place, I just wasn't happy with the attitude. I don't think my words conveyed it properly.

Had they come in and said, "We know we are a big group. And we would love to sit together - but we will be happy with whatever you have on this short notice." I would have done everything possible to get them what they wanted.

...please keep the snark..PLEASE! (is it wrong if I say that if you think it's snarky it's probably about you?)...this is the place to call people out for how they behave towards you, but if you don't do that with all your claws out it's no fun any more...

(sorry James, I'm sure it's not really about you...)

FW -- I agree with the "attitude" thing; just because you're a large group (spontaneous or otherwise), you can't expect to be seated immediately (with or without reservations) when the venue is full. If the group is "spontaneous" (sorry, James), then they can treat it as an adventure and wait, sit in the bar, whatever.

If I was in the food service, I don't know that I would want to see that group back!

A smile? Not over the top at all! For a group of 12 to come in on Friday night and expected to be seated right away is preposterous, to say the least. I'd say from her behavior she expected you to be *grateful* that she and her group graced your presence and rush to seat you immediately- also preposterous. You had other customers and the fact that the restaurant was full speaks volumes about your ability to treat a customer well. Fearless Leader my arse. She probably forgot to make the reservation and is trying to cover up her mistake by being rude to you.

LOL! Ah the days of waitressing...