You and your sweetie are out for an evening of fine dining. The work day is over and you want to relax and take it easy and let someone wait on you. Kick off your shoes without actually kicking off your shoes. As the Host/Hostess leads you to the table they have selected for you, and it is not to your liking, what do you do? Do you take whatever is offered and say nothing, or do you speak up and ask for an alternate table? Is it okay to tell a restaurant hostess you would rather sit somewhere else other than where they want to place you?
This is a semi-important subject to me, and I actually have my own set of “rules”…
- The behind-the-scenes “rotation” is none of my concern. As the customer I’m there to enjoy my experience. That’s why I’m paying extra money to eat out rather than stay home. Work it out behind the scenes. That being said…
- I will always be polite in my request.
- I will always try to state my preference up front right when we walk in, whenever possible. The exception being as stated in the beginning, when I’m being led to a dissatisfactory table.
- I will never… ever… request a room or separate section that is obviously closed.
- If the place is super busy I might say something like, “I’d like a booth, if possible.” Emphasis on the “…if possible”. I have preferences but I try to be reasonable, too.
- Once I have accepted the seat, it would take a huge extraordinary circumstances for me to request to move. It’s been done, but very rare.
- If just the two of us, or with another couple I generally prefer booths. But if I’m in a larger party I hate when they try to stuff us all into a “long booth”. Eff that, that’s extremely uncomfortable, then I want a table.
- The only reason I need is I have preferences. I don’t have to justify it beyond that.
So, yes, it is perfectly acceptable to override their seating chart and request something different.