Who's at fault? And how can I help?

[DaJudge]

We typically do. But my kids love the salad bar at Ruby Tuesday. We have been several times hoping they will learn that we aren't bad customers and tip well and maybe give us adequate seating. They are not making the cut though.

They do have a GOOD salad bar.

I've had a different experience than ya'll though. I've never had bad service with them.

Of course, I haven't been to one in the last 6 mths either, so maybe that has something to do with it.

[Full Quiver]

We went to Ruby Tuesdays one Sunday afternoon, not during the church rush. Wen headed straight to the restroom and I waited with the kids. There was just a few peeps in the place. A young black woman and her mom (assuming) came in just behind us. a couple of minutes later another group, of 4, came in. That group was sat before my family and the black couple. I said something. I assumed they were making seating arrangements for my family but there was no reason to bypass the 2 black women. I told the hostess straight up that what she did was rude. We were shuffled to the rear of the place and set at a table for 6 just as Wendy has described I looked at the host, said no thanks, let's go kids, and walked outside. when a place seats 150 and there is not 20 people there then I should not be squeezed in at a table for 6.
Wen mentioned Demos'. Anyone that has ever been to demos', especially in Murfreesboro, knows that the place is ALWAYS packed. We are NEVER 2nd class patrons there but receive adequate space, love, and attention just like everyone else. In fact every eatery could learn some lessons from Demos. The places around will be slow as can be and they will be packed. There is a reason for this. You get more than enough food, your wallet still has money in it when you leave, you get 2 waiters/waitresses, and the food is fresh and awesome.
My parents frequent Cracker Barrel and live about 5 minutes from there. They eat there several times a week. We all went once, 10 of us, and were sat at the first round table just behind the hostess stand. I could not believe the audacity of a "server" to dare seat us there. We were about to drop about $100.00 on a meal and we have to squeeze into a round table. We had 2 high chairs and it was just ridiculous. Will not happen again I guarantee that. The next time we all went to eat as a family my brother and his wife were with us, my birthday, and we went to Logan's. I said before hand if they squeeze us in somewhere I'm not staying. They did no such thing. I mean it could have been better but I was very satisfied. We all had our own seat and elbow room.
Consider this..... what if you went alone to a restaurant and they sat you with 2-3 total strangers just to save space? I'm talking a smelly, dirty homeless looking guy, and a well just use your imagination.

[DeWayneTN]

I don't think it's an intentional slam but probably just a space issue and the thinking "they're family - we can crowd them in together." At some restaurants where we go, when they're scrambling for a table with enough space, we'll say "it's okay - you can sit us close together - we like each other."

[Shellie]

Consider this..... what if you went alone to a restaurant and they sat you with 2-3 total strangers just to save space? I'm talking a smelly, dirty homeless looking guy,

What would I do or WWJD?

[Ilovebigcats]

Consider this..... what if you went alone to a restaurant and they sat you with 2-3 total strangers just to save space? I'm talking a smelly, dirty homeless looking guy,

What would I do or WWJD?

You must have been to Bea's in Chattanooga. *shiver*

[Shellie]

Full Quiver wrote:

So are you saying that when you see a smelly, nasty person at a restaurant that you cozy up next to them in the name of Jesus?

Since I work with homeless ministry, maybe I'm a little more relaxed in this area and a little less bothered by body smells. I don't know. If it was where they wanted to place me, I would consider it a ministry opportunity.

Your question was what if they wanted to sit you by a smelly, homeless looking guy. It is your putting yourself above another human being that I take issue with.

You can jab all you want, but what you are saying by not being willing to sit with a "smelly" person speaks volumes.

Are you assuming they need the Lord?[/

No, I'm assuming that they don't need one more person treating them the same way everybody else does.

[DeWayneTN]

FullQuiver, I don't think you'll have to worry about sitting next to a smelly, homeless guy. They have standards, too, you know.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Shellie]

DeWayne,

You cracked me up!!

[Ilovebigcats]

Full Quiver wrote:

So are you saying that when you see a smelly, nasty person at a restaurant that you cozy up next to them in the name of Jesus?

Since I work with homeless ministry, maybe I'm a little more relaxed in this area and a little less bothered by body smells. I don't know. If it was where they wanted to place me, I would consider it a ministry opportunity.

Your question was what if they wanted to sit you by a smelly, homeless looking guy. It is your putting yourself above another human being that I take issue with.

You can jab all you want, but what you are saying by not being willing to sit with a "smelly" person speaks volumes.

Are you assuming they need the Lord?[/

No, I'm assuming that they don't need one more person treating them the same way everybody else does.

BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! He deleted this post because he read what you said wrong. I told him.. I bet Shellie already has it in a quote and it wont do any good to delete it! LMBO!!!!!!

[Sherry]

Ruby Tuesdays in Florida is horrible with service, seating and pricing. I don't think the problem is how big your family is, I think the problem is that particular restaurant.

I agree with you about the children. I HATE to go out and eat with other people that do not make their children sit down and not make a mess. Matter of fact, I avoid it and only do it when absolutely necessary like birthday dinners or such.

I cannot STAND for a parent to walk off from a table and leave a huge, soppy, nasty mess underneath the high chair. I have been known to clean out from under someone else's kids high chair simply so they don't represent me and or make somebody else their servant.

I also cannot STAND for kids to be up out of their seats running around. Trust me...other diners do not find your child as cute as you do.

Oh yeah, don't want to forget this, tipping well does NOT cover messy, screaming, ill-behaved children either. Tip well, make your kids behave, AND clean up their mess before you go!

Okay, I'm getting dizzy...stepping off soapbox now.

Bravo!!!

[Dr. Ron]

First let me say that Wen and Danny's 6 kids are the greatest! I love them all.....epecially Caetie...what a doll she is!

Secondly, they conduct themselves very well and are very disciplined children. Fq and Wen are doing a great job!

Then there is the issue at hand.

I think the recommendation to start a web site dealing with these issues is a great idea. One could find a way to start a "coop" with other large families....get some help in sharing clothing,...lot's of stuff. We have had that before.

I don't think FQ was being serious about the "dirty, smelly, homeless person .He is quite compassionate about such people and may give you a harder impression on here than he really is.........basically a big ole teddy bear!!!

I love you man................

[Shellie]

Dr. Ron wrote in reference to FQ:

may give you a harder impression on here than he really is.........basically a big ole teddy bear!!!

Teddy bears shouldn't growl and swat when they type lest they be confused with a real bear.

[Alan]

I have a large extended family too, and when we go out, we split up into a few separate tables if we have to. We go to places like Cracker Barrel, Golden Corral and Fazolis that are more friendly to a large group. But we don't expect the restaurant to drop everything to cater to us.

It's not that we mind being split up into 2 different tables, but I do mind being put at 2 different tables with a wall between us. We went to the Olive Garden in Buford, GA, with my wifes family (a total of 9 adults 4 kids ages 1-9). They split us up into 2 tables, one with 5 adults and the other with 4 adults and 4 kids. There was a wall between the table, and there was an empty table right beside ours that would have been perfect for the other 5. We had the same servers, which came and got our drink orders at the same time. the table of 5 had their drinks and salad about 5 minutes before we got our drinks, we actually had to remind one of our servers that we hadn't got out drinks. The 5 received great service, the 4 of us with the 4 kids received probably the worst service ever.

I don't expect a restaurant to drop everything to cater to us, but I do expect them to provide decent service.

[Ilovebigcats]

The Ruby Tuesday's guy commented on my blog!

[Shellie]

Wendy,

I just read your blog and I can identify. My kids are older now so they know how to order, but I use to HATE when a server asked my small kids what they wanted to drink. What they WANTED to drink and what I ALLOWED them to drink was totally different. My girls got to about 8 or 9 and started trying to order $4 Shirley Temples. (one had spent the night with a friend and their parents had allowed the girls to have these)

On the rare occasions that I did allow them to have soda, the server would give all 7 or 8 choices including the diet. Hello, be smart. Give a 5 year old 7 choices and we're in trouble. ASK ME when a kid is that size.

I also remember a time when my fivish year old daughter was allowed to order a hot chocolate. Without me realizing it, the server sat the HOT drink WITH A STRAW, down in front of her. I caught it and tried to grab it, but fast as lightening it was to her mouth and she took a huge stink. Well, guess what.....squawlling kid, burnt tongue, spilled hot chocolate, a very mad mom and dad and a server standing there with no clue what she had just done.