I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

I got my first bad review today.  

And I didn’t even do or say anything inappropriate.  

An Open Table review called me rude.  

Well not me specifically, but me the male host.  

Backstory.

They arrived at 4:45 for their 5:00 reservation.

We didn’t have a table for them.  

They take seats at the bar to wait.  

Around 5:05 we approached them and offered a high top in the bar, or said they were welcome to wait for a regular table.  

They chose to wait.  

At 5:30 a woman approaches and lets me know that it is absolutely ridiculous that they have not been seated yet. 

At 5:30, I have one table available in the entire restaurant.  The high top they were originally offered.  

She scolds me, tells me it’s ridiculous again, and then says they’ll stay at the bar.  

As she sits down, the table that we have reserved for them, becomes clear.  

I approach and  tell them their regular table will be ready in about three minutes and we can get them seated.  I apologize and explain that we don’t rush people along and they are welcome to stay as long as they want.

It’s at this time, they explain they have 7:00 theater tickets.  

We had no way of knowing this.  

They are seated at the regular table.   

Have three courses.

We buy their dessert and they are out in 75 minutes.  

Then today, they exclaim that I am rude and they are never coming back, leaving out the offer of another table, and the free dessert.  

After three years of this, I can take it, but I wasn’t even snarky with them.  In fact, in the past three weeks, I’ve been able to reclaim my hospitality gene and not assume everyone is going to stab me in the heart with how horrible I am.  

Today hurt a bit.