'See, that wasn't so hard!': Restaurant patron proceeds to count every single table after being told by the hostess that the place is fully booked, then demands to be seated

Author image for Eleonora Bader
Eleonora Bader
Dec 16, 2023 6:00 PM EST

Working in the service industry will put you within arm's reach of some of the most irrational people on the face of the planet, and after the initial grinding your teeth and crossing your eyes phase, you get used to dealing with them.

A hostess told her story on u/entitledpeople, where she relayed a frustrating story with an even more frustrating outcome. She had an encounter with one of those Karens you always dread who are about to walk in the door and change the entire menu… You know the type, the ones who aren't satisfied with anything. You could bring them five hundred dollars worth of free food on a golden platter and they would still find something wrong with it.

This Karen thought the hostess was exaggerating when she said the restaurant was fully booked, but the hostess wasn't. They were indeed, fully booked. People had reservations, others were on the waiting list… But this Karen believed she was entitled to a seat anyway. So she set herself to the tedious task of counting every single table in the restaurant to make sure the hostess was being fair with her. Of course, she happened upon a few tables that were 'reserved', but she didn't care about that. She wanted a seat, pronto.

The ending is deeply annoying and enrages every single customer service bone in my body, but I won't spoil it for you. Scroll down to read the entire story, and then check out this freshly hired factory worker who complied with one of the senior employees… resulting in disaster.

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  • 01
    Entitled restaurant patron M This story could go in hospitality stories, but it's truly a gem to share here!
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 02
    Years ago I worked as a maître d'/hostess at an upscale restaurant in NYC. During restaurant week (where restaurants provide discounted prix- fixe menus) I had an encounter with a classic entitled Karen.
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 03
    She called the restaurant at 6pm on a Friday night during RW asking for a 7pm reservation. If you've ever worked during RW or have gone out to dine for this deal you know to make the reservation weeks in advance. I politely tell her we're fully booked until
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 04
    9:15pm, but she can come in and try her luck in the first come-first serve lounge area or see if a reservation opens up earlier. She shows up with her party, I tell her the same thing again, nothing open earlier yet. The restaurant is packed with people on the waitlist, the lounge
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 05
    is full, the bar is full. Karen decides to walk through the restaurant and count every open table. She comes back to the host stand and begins screaming at me.
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 06
    "That table is open, that table is open, and that table is open! You can seat me now!" Me: I'm sorry, but those tables are reserved for people who have reservations coming within the next 10 minutes.
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 07
    "This is ! You don't know how terrible! to do your job! You're You shouldn't work here since you're awful at it, and smile when I talk to you!"
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 08
    At this point she is causing a scene and blocking people from checking in. My of a manager decides to give her one of the tables (the worst table on the second floor crammed into a corner, at least). "See that wasn't hard! You should be fired!"
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 09
    I wanted to k my boss, because guess what ended up happening? I had to make people with reservations wait 30+ minutes for their tables as I tried to reshuffle them around after losing a table. My boss said, it's easier just to give her what she wants instead of making in a scene in front of guests.
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 10
    I'm now an event director and I refuse to award bad behavior. I have many more similar stories, including celeb encounters! NYC dining at its finest lol
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 11
    pearly1979 21 hr. ago Your boss is one of the reasons people act the way they do now, cos people used to give into them so much. Glad the tide is turning, just not soon enough. 228 Reply Share
    via u/pearly1979
  • 12
    QuietCelery7850 21 hr. ago I have many more similar stories, including celeb encounters! NYC dining at its finest lol Yes, please 431 Reply Share
    via u/QuietCelery7850
  • 13
    CACCIA_12388 OP 19 hr. ago The customer IS NOT always right. This sentiment of them always being right is slowly but surely disappearing. I've had recent bosses that get back in customers' faces and ban them when they act out. They're the good ones. ↑ 33 Reply Share
    via u/CACCIA_12388
  • 14
    SnarkySheep 18 hr. ago << smile when I talk to you>> I guarantee that had you been smiling at that moment, Karen would have accused you of laughing at her and being disrespectful... 25 Reply Share
    via u/SnarkySheep
  • 15
    Gribitz37 19 hr. ago That's why this behavior continues. People know if they scream and make a scene, they'll get their way. Managers need to grow a spine and refuse to engage with these people. Cut them off and throw them out. Reply Share 24
    via u/Gribitz37
  • 16
    JustNKayce 17 hr. ago "I refuse to award bad behavior." Thank you!!! 16 Reply Share
    via u/JustNKayce
  • 17
    ancient_mariner63 15 hr. ago She probably didn't tip her server either. Reply Share 6
    via u/ancient_mariner63
  • 18
    LetsGetsThisPartyOn 7 hr. ago No way would I give her a table. I would show her the door! Bye Felicia 1 Reply Share
    via u/LetsGetsThisPartyOn
  • 19
    SeparateDisaster2068 15 hr. ago I think I probably would have quit on the spot as soon as that manager decided to accommodate her bad behaviour 2 Reply Share
    via u/SeparateDisaster2068
  • 20
    "See, that wasn't so hard. You should be fired!"
    via Canva

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customer service boss restaurant tables manager server restaurant service customers demanding restaurant busy night reservations patron food karen entitled people
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