Mystifying, as restaurants are hurting now, and this will only get worse. Maybe like movie theaters who profit more on popcorn than movies, restaurants stay afloat by selling our data.

I’m tired of the shite spam invading my family texts. I don’t want that stuff in my life. Love my phone; hate this no-privacy world. Call me a hypocrite.

Anonymous wrote:My pet peeve is people who think that someone asking for something is the same as someone "demanding" something. You can simply say "I prefer not to provide it, but I'm happy to wait here for a table".

They do demand. We were denied seating at a restaurant because the so-called hostess said if we didn't provide our number then it was restaurant policy not to seat us. We happily went somewhere else and never went back.

Some places do demand it.

My pet peeve is people who think that someone asking for something is the same as someone "demanding" something. You can simply say "I prefer not to provide it, but I'm happy to wait here for a table".

Anonymous wrote:If tables are open it may be a server or kitchen issue. Or, holding for reservations.

I've had this happen when I wanted to go in and sit at the BAR for a drink!

Anonymous wrote:Just tell them 555-1212. Add any zip.

That works in some cases - just give them a phoney number.

But if there really is a waitlist at a restaurant then they have no way to contact you. You are forced to give over your real number or else you won't get seated.

If tables are open it may be a server or kitchen issue. Or, holding for reservations.

Just tell them 555-1212. Add any zip.

Nothing worse than people at a fine restaurant staring at their phones during the meal. Or worse, making and taking calls. A really good restaurant would have a no-phone policy.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe dining out is not for you.

I assume you disagree and don't mind providing your phone number to anyone who asks? Why not post it here?

After all, most DCUMers are decent, honorable people just like restaurant host employees. No one here would do anything nefarious with it.

Hard nope from me on having to give phone number. I also hate QR code menus.

I would have just walked right out. Or say I don't have a phone.

I probably would not have given them my number either since I was going to wait at the host to stand, and there were empty tables. I’m sure they’re just used to ask for the information.

Maybe dining out is not for you.

Was the third party Resy? A ton of restaurants use it now. I don't mind giving my phone number, but it is kind of weird.

Is anyone else getting fed up with demanding customers' phone numbers before they will even seat you?

DH and I went to a restaurant recently while we were on a day-trip. We approached the host station and asked for a table for 2. There were multiple empty tables. There were no other people waiting. The first thing out of the employee's mouth was, "OK. What is your phone number?"

The last time we were in a walk-up situation like this I did provide my phone number, reluctantly. And with good reason. Within moments, I got a text with a link (provided by some third party app) and it demanded I first agree to their conditions before I could open the link with the wait list updates. WTF??

I simply do not understand why giving my cell phone is needed to put my name on a wait list, read a QR code menu, etc. They tell you it's for promotions or other b.s. Well, I'm not interested in their promotions. I am also not interested in getting into a legal agreement (by clicking link) with a company I have no knowledge of.

The old systems of using pagers or just calling out your name seemed to work pretty well. But of course, no one has access to your phone that way.

For this reason, from now on I am going to simply say "No." to cell phone number and tell them I will wait at the host station and they can call my name. I will then tell them I need to read a physical menu and cannot use the QR code, another means of getting into your phone.

I know I am probably a luddite outlier but am wondering if maybe there are a few others out there who have this pet peeve?