Lingering at table at busy cafe

[Anonymous]

Went to breakfast with family this morning, you order at counter and they bring food to your table/counter seat.

Line for ordering is about 30 deep at all time, people are constantly roaming restaurant looking for seats.

We had two outside 4 seat tables monopolized by one couple who just had coffees, and had FINISHED their coffees when we arrived, and were still there talking by the time we ordered, found another table, ate leisurely, and left — so clearly sat through at least two cycles of patrons.

Another 4 seat table was with a single women, with a takeout coffee cup, on her laptop (maybe in call) for the same amount of time -/ there before us and still there when I left.

I asked both of them when they would be leaving, so they KNOW people are waiting for those seats.

What is the etiquette here? I feel like when the cafe is this busy you should set up shop somewhere else after eating or finishing your drink and at most 45 min (don’t nurse coffee as excuse). This isn’t a Starbucks, they serve meals like pancakes, eggs, sandwiches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to breakfast with family this morning, you order at counter and they bring food to your table/counter seat.

Line for ordering is about 30 deep at all time, people are constantly roaming restaurant looking for seats.

We had two outside 4 seat tables monopolized by one couple who just had coffees, and had FINISHED their coffees when we arrived, and were still there talking by the time we ordered, found another table, ate leisurely, and left — so clearly sat through at least two cycles of patrons.

Another 4 seat table was with a single women, with a takeout coffee cup, on her laptop (maybe in call) for the same amount of time -/ there before us and still there when I left.

I asked both of them when they would be leaving, so they KNOW people are waiting for those seats.

What is the etiquette here? I feel like when the cafe is this busy you should set up shop somewhere else after eating or finishing your drink and at most 45 min (don’t nurse coffee as excuse). This isn’t a Starbucks, they serve meals like pancakes, eggs, sandwiches.

OP, I agree with you that this is beyond rude, but it's up to the manager or the host/hostess to handle. I would have gone straight to one of them and asked them to handle it.

[Anonymous]

Rude for you to ask people when they are leaving.

[Anonymous]

I think it was a bit rude for you to confront them about it by asking when they're leaving, but also that they earned your being a bit rude, and that's about the end of it. If they weren't done, they weren't done.

[Anonymous]

They were rude.
You were rude.
The establishment is rude for not having clear rules on camping.

The cafe like this in my town has very clearly posted rules about camping at tables during busy periods. You're allowed 45 minutes with food & drink. Now, if the cafe is not busy and no one is waiting for a table, you may stay as long as you wish.

Most people are respectful of the rules. I go there at least 3 times a week to break up my work-from-home routine and I've only ever seen the manager have to ask one person to wrap things up. However, the manager was so polite they even offered other nearby locations where the person could go and told them that they'd have a slow period at around 3 if they needed to come back.

[Anonymous]

If it’s so casual that you order at the counter, then it’s casual enough for semi-communal seating. If it was just two of us, I’d likely sit down at the table with the single woman, and for form’s sake, say “do you mind sharing? It’s so crowded today” with a big smile. I doubt she would have pushed back hard. And even if she didn’t like it, what could she do? Two of you, one of her, she’s obviously not actively eating. Restaurant will side with you.

[Anonymous]

Where is it that has a line 30 deep on a weekday for breakfast?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to breakfast with family this morning, you order at counter and they bring food to your table/counter seat.

Line for ordering is about 30 deep at all time, people are constantly roaming restaurant looking for seats.

We had two outside 4 seat tables monopolized by one couple who just had coffees, and had FINISHED their coffees when we arrived, and were still there talking by the time we ordered, found another table, ate leisurely, and left — so clearly sat through at least two cycles of patrons.

Another 4 seat table was with a single women, with a takeout coffee cup, on her laptop (maybe in call) for the same amount of time -/ there before us and still there when I left.

I asked both of them when they would be leaving, so they KNOW people are waiting for those seats.

What is the etiquette here? I feel like when the cafe is this busy you should set up shop somewhere else after eating or finishing your drink and at most 45 min (don’t nurse coffee as excuse). This isn’t a Starbucks, they serve meals like pancakes, eggs, sandwiches.

In a really busy café, the way you describe it where people are circling, I would have asked to sit at their tables, since they were only two people, and a single at a four top. But that would just be me eating by myself, not with the fam. Lots of people ask if you’re almost done with your food at these types of cafés so I don’t think it’s rude to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s so casual that you order at the counter, then it’s casual enough for semi-communal seating. If it was just two of us, I’d likely sit down at the table with the single woman, and for form’s sake, say “do you mind sharing? It’s so crowded today” with a big smile. I doubt she would have pushed back hard. And even if she didn’t like it, what could she do? Two of you, one of her, she’s obviously not actively eating. Restaurant will side with you.

Omg, and people are saying asking when they will be leaving is rude, and this is okay? But I would totally do this by my kids would be mortified.

The worst was my kids were waiting for a table to open, a couple of women swooped in and said “this is our table” even though they arrived after us to the table area. I assume they felt comfortable pushing out a teen.

I didn’t like asking, but after that table coup I felt like it was no holds barred

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is it that has a line 30 deep on a weekday for breakfast?

Seriously. We went because kids have doc appt and this was a treat for them but couldn’t believe how slammed it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is it that has a line 30 deep on a weekday for breakfast?

I am going to guess something like Tatte. Seating is always hard if you have more than 2.

[Anonymous]

It’s rude to ask when people are leaving. In a crowded casual place, it’s not rude to ask to share a table under most circumstances.

[Anonymous]

FCPS is off today so maybe unusually busy for them?
It's very rude to ask when they are leaving, as a waitress. I used to clear everything off the table but never asked the obvious question...
Tempers are the words but they have rights too!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, you were ruder than them. I think if you've made a purchase (yes, even coffee), you've bought yourself an hour at the table unless the restaurant indicates otherwise, and it seems very possible they didn't stay much longer than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, you were ruder than them. I think if you've made a purchase (yes, even coffee), you've bought yourself an hour at the table unless the restaurant indicates otherwise, and it seems very possible they didn't stay much longer than that.

Sorry I wasn’t planning to ask until someone else claimed a table before us because THEY asked. We arrived before them. They asked the table when they were leaving and claimed it as theirs despite we had been waiting before they even arrived.

An hr? Sure. These people were way over that.