Two months ago people were showing up insisting they’d made reservations for the patio. The opposite is true now.

On Sunday three groups came to the host stand to be seated. All three times I explained their reservation was for the patio and that I’d mark them as arrived and if they walked around back, the staff would be expecting them. And all three times I was told that they didn’t reserve outside. They definitely did not reserve outside.

I had variations of the same conversation three times.

I asked them to go to the patio.

I’m told they didn’t want to be outside.

I explain we are full inside.

I’m told it’s cold.

I say I’m sorry.

I’m told that never, ever, ever did they book outside.

I pull up the reservation and show they indeed make it. On line. With no help from me.

The insist they didn’t.

I turn the I pad around and show them.

At this point the conversation would begin to vary.

The first group said they’d tough it out. I wish they hadn’t. First they came back in three times to see if a table had opened up. And since they were uncomfortable they decided to be jerks to the staff. They moved their table next to the fire. They took wood from a decorative display and put it on the fire. They then were jerks about the service etc.

The second table decided to go elsewhere. Admitted their mistake apologized for the situation.

The last table decided they’d push back.

They insisted they didn’t make the reservation for the patio. When I showed them they did they said our website didn’t mention the difference. I explain the reservation is not made through our website but instead is through an app. They insist they weren’t given a choice. I tell them that’s not possible. Finally they say we’ll we had no idea we were booking a patio table.

I took a breath and said.

This is not true. When you hit submit to the reservation a pop up appears and says, “ you are about to book an outdoor table. We are not able to guarantee the reservation if the weather is inclement. It continues that we may not be able to move you inside, we may have to cancel. You have to acknowledge that you’ve read this message before you continue.

Well I don’t remember that.

Hmmm.

They let me know how much we suck. For not having indoor tables. For not having heaters. For not seating them somewhere. This continues as the door is closing behind them.

I’m sorry that it gets cold the first week of September in Maine. It really is not my fault. I promise, I’d like nothing more than for the winter to be forbidden till December and for it to exit March the 2nd on the dot. Instead it lasts for 9 months and we are tougher for it.

Suck it up and put on a jacket. A light jacket because 63 is not cold.