Reservations aren’t a suggestion. Just like your appointment at your doctors office isn’t a suggestion.

This is especially true as the restaurant nears closing time.

Tonight I sat an 8:30 reservation at 8:15. Wow. We were early.

Well I sat two of the four at 8:15. And then we waited. And waited. At 8:40 I sat the third of the fourth. And at 8:50 I sat the fourth.

None of this is really an issue. Except. Then they didn’t want to order. They wanted time. Which isn’t really that big of an issue at a regular restaurant. But at my restaurant everything is wood fired. And the chefs have to know long to keep the fire going. It’s not like they turn on the gas and keep the grill hot. The fire goes out. Cooking is over for the night. It’s approaching 9:00. You’re the only table left to order. We are not going to keep putting wood on the fire to maintain the temperature to let you wait 30 minutes to order when you were late to begin with.

This isn’t even really what the issue is tonight. I feel like I’ve share this story before.

What YOU REALLY CANT DO is have two of your friends show up at 10:15 to join you for drinks. First you are four people at a four top. There’s no room for two more people.

Fun fact. In the state of Maine I legally can’t serve alcohol to new guests after the kitchen closes. It’s never enforced. Not by a long shot but there you go. The law exists.

Also. We closed an hour plus ago. You’re finished eating. You’re now the only guests in the dining room.

Absolutely fucking not. Go somewhere else. I can tell you where to go. I’ve already discussed it with your server. She’ll be happy to share the details with you.

But indeed they did show up. And indeed we did not serve them. And indeed they sat there talking forever.

And indeed I had plans to go out for a drink in Portland tonight so indeed EVERYONE lingered tonight.

That’s all. Don’t do that. Do not show up at a restaurant for anything after the restaurant closes.