I’m annoyed just thinking about the people I’m about to write about.

First.

We are still busy. Not August busy but way busier than post IPD business. We did 70 more people tonight than we did a year ago today. I was turning people away at the door tonight.

As you’ve heard before we take reservations at the bar. So when a gentleman walked in tonight at 5:00 without a reservation it took a minute but there was a single stool at seat 11 I could give him.

About six minutes later, two women walked in. I told them I could seat them, but I’d need their stools back at 7:00. An hour, fourty-five to have drinks and dinner. More than enough time.

I seat them at stools 13/14. Tell the bartender that their clock is ticking so he can keep things moving. Go back to the desk.

About an hour later the man comes up to ask when he needs to be up. I explain that his chair is the only one without a reservation at all tonight. He wants to know about seat 12. Next to the woman. I explain yes it has to be open at 7:00 for a three top. He sits back down.

The evening continues.

7:00 is approaching and I don’t usually get involved. The guests were told when they were seated. The bartender was told when they were seated.

I’ve already moved the reservation that’s where the two women are, replacing it with a 7:15 reservation.

At 7:00 I’m walking back to the host stand, when the women stop me to ask if they really have to leave. I tell them I’ve done what I can but yes.

They get whiney. Like five year old who wants more Halloween candy whiney.

I explain the situation and go back to the desk.

About 45 seconds the short one is in front of me.

She says, when did you start taking reservations. The last time my husband and I were here we just walked in.

I say over a year and half ago and I assure you that in the last four months your husband and you did not just walk in.

She walks back her statement.

The conversation continues.

She’s basically saying it’s unfair they have to leave.

It’s been 2:20 since they arrived at this point.

Then she proceeds to say that she’s just upset about how I told her they had to leave when I sat them.

Oh.

Now it’s my fault that your married friend is flirting with the not very attractive man at the bar and you both want to stay.

I say the following statement ten times a night.

Yes, I can get you seated but I need your table/stools back by7:00.

Ten times a night. It’s not rude. It’s not inappropriate. It me accommodating your failure to make a reservation in advance.

Also.

If you’d made the reservation online the app says to restrict your visit to two hours to allow us to welcome more guests.

No, I’m not rude.

I’ve moved more things around.

They have a 7:45 reservation on the stools now. And the people have arrived and are waiting to be seated.

The only reason I didn’t have a real situation was that a couple over heard the conversations and offered to leave.

The women ended up leaving at 9:45. With the man, who’d been feeling up the married friend for the last 90 minutes.

I might say that the reason I called him unattractive had nothing to do with physical attributes.

He was my age. With a baseball hat on backwards. Shirt unbuttoned a little to much. He was loud. He used the f bomb a lot. And was kind of creepy.

They stayed for 4.5 hours when they promised 1.45 was enough.

Which makes me think to myself, next time I will think twice before offering bar patrons a chance to eat when I need their stools back by 7:00.