I always think I know what I’m going to write about by 8:00. Then someone comes along and throws that idea out the window.

Tonight we had a reservation for four people at 8:00.

Two of the four arrived early. They waited in the lobby for a while. They finally decided to be sat.

At 8:15 their friends are still not there.

They finally arrived as the clock inched toward 8:30.

The four of them then took forever to order. They actually ordered after the 6 top that was sat at 8:30.

The meal proceeded as normal.

At 10:00 they ordered dessert. No big deal.

At 10:30 they were finished.

They were also the only people in the restaurant.

They remained the only people in the restaurant until 11:45.

Myself, the chef and the server chatted at a table in the bar until they left.

We never rush people. We want them to enjoy themselves. But where’s the limit?

PS. We don’t do this but I know managers who would turn the heat off in the winter and air off in the summer to move people along. As well as turning off the music so it becomes uncomfortably quiet.