The only place where I've been part of a group asked to leave (ok, technically we weren't asked TO leave, simply WHEN would we be leaving...same difference really) was the new CA Pizza Kitchen.

As if I even needed a reason to not return.

The Height Of Rudeness, imo.

sorry for the late news, but today, April 29, is Free ice cream cone day at Ben and Jerry's. It doesn't benefit anyone but yourself.

What should happen is you leave without a tip and never return, and tell your friends how you were treated. That should open up plenty of table space.

Where was it??!! Do Tell! That happened to some friends of mine some years ago at a nice restaurant in Nashville. But then again, each of them at the time were in their 20s, had about a bottle of wine per person, and were known to be rude, loud and obnoxious after a couple drinks. Perhaps this is not the same situation as your friends.

We had a TON of people at Ombi last night for DOFL, and we managed to accommodate every single person, even with an enormous back table double booked. Being hot and trendy does not excuse alienating customers...some places seem to forget that.

The ONLY situation in which being asked to vacate your seat is acceptable is if you were informed previously that your table was reserved for a specific time, and you agreed to the terms.

For example, New Year's Eve -- everybody wants 7:30 or 8:00, so we tell people we can seat them at 5:30, but that another party has their table reserved and they must be up by 7. Or if it's for charity, and the lingering party is taking food out of the little orphans' mouths.

P.S. -- to Pink: Unless your server is drunk or is specifically rude to you, don't stiff. Don't stiff. It's just bad form. You don't know the circumstances. She/He could have a jackass GM or hostess telling her to relay the message. The server always bears the brunt of a customer's disappointment, quite often when the circumstances are beyond his or her control.

P.S. -- to Pink: Unless your server is drunk or is specifically rude to you, don't stiff. Don't stiff.

And asking someone to leave isn't rude?

Sorry, but the Gnome took the words out of my mouth. Asking me to leave after I've paid for dinner (and drinks!) and am not finished constitutes "specifically rude." On the other hand, if a server lets me stay a long time and enjoy my meal when the place is crowded, I tip extra.

Last night at Germantown Cafe, the way they kept it moving was they broke up large parties - if you had a group of more than six (it looked like to me), they'd divide you up into groups of four to keep the turns faster...our group of ten got divided into a four and two threes. They told you there were going to do it when you called to reserve. We did have one person in our party who bitched about it, but only because we forgot to tell him that's how they were doing it.

The DoFL representative who was "hosting" did sort of urge one table of six to wrap it up, but the whole point of DoFL was to get asses in seats and spending so that Nashville Cares could make more money - with GTC giving 105%, the people didn't seem to mind.

Once at Mirror, I got asked to have my dessert at the bar and I simply said "no." That's really all you have to do. What are they going to do, pick you up and drag you out?

For me, I have no qualms about leaving zero tip if the server does something rude enough. And said situation definitely falls into that category.

Listen, in my opinion, the tip is directly related to the quality of the service I receive. And if the service stinks, the tip's gonna stink. No one is entitled to a tip.

Though I have spent many years waiting tables, I think in situations like these not leaving a tip is one of the more effective things you can do.

If the server is smart, they'll deliver bad news to you in a way that throws management under the bus and shows genuine embarrassment/disgust at what they are being forced to ask you to do. If it goes down this way, I would probably tip and then speak with someone on my way out or write/call the next day.

If the server seems to get some amount of pleasure in being the bearer of bad news (which more often than not is the case) I'd more than likely "stiff" them.

In either case, unhappy servers make unhappy managers which make an unhappy/disfunctional restaurant. If enough servers complain about what happens when they are forced to carry out measures like this, management at some point will be forced to listen.

It's tough love, in a way, but if not tipping causes a change in the policy -- or is the kick in the *ss that causes a server to go find another job where their services are appreciated -- then everyone is happier and makes more money in the end.

Certainly I'm biased, but I am of the opinion that a server IS, in most cases (unless they are rude), entitled to at least some tip. We make $2.15 an hour. It's not up to the customer to decide changes in restaurant policy, or whether or not a server should stay there. I also highly doubt that "tough love" is foremost on most people's minds when they are writing a big goose egg on the tip line.

It's revenge, babe. Pure and simple.

I'm just saying I think that people more often than not vent their frustrations with anything -- overcooked food, bad drink, lack of sex, etc. -- by screwing the server.

I got stiffed once because of a "rocks charge" -- when you order something on the rocks, you get more booze. Hence, more money. I tried to explain this to him politely -- and again, I have no control over how the booze is priced -- but he was still pissed and I paid the price.

All's I'm sayin' is, don't (always) shoot the messenger.

i rarely if ever stiff a server. it has to be so blatant and in my face AND personal. and honestly, i can't recall when that's happened to me...

i never shoot the messenger. i would just either deal with mangement or never return. being a waitor is a really really tough job. the public as a whole is not attractive.

i'm of the school where although i like great service, all i really want is great food... that comes first for me. that'll get me back. i'm not looking for a new friend.

carrington, i'd be interested to know more details of that above incident. not so much where it happened, but what the full circumstances were. if their dinner order was taken - i find it hard to believe they were then asked to leave the table before they were served... were they supposed to eat standing up holding their plates? it doesn't jive...

molly says it best. less than $3 an hour. it's all about tips. 15% is the absolute minimum a diner should leave behind. if i think they're exceptional at their job it goes up from there. i also think that is the norm for most folks, but i could be wrong. plus nearly everyone i know tips on the tax and that adds a bit. (my nyc jewish mother who has plenty of disposible income NEVER tips on the tax... but that's a whole nother story... oy.)