'I was very stunned at how entitled they felt': Diners insist on ordering 2 minutes before restaurant closes because they know "one of the owners"

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Oct 31, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

If you can avoid it, please don't be the customers who show up to an establishment mere seconds before closing time. 

There are few words that waiters hate to hear more than, "Oh good, we made it just before closing time!" The waitstaff are expecting people to be out of the building by the time the end of their shift rolls around. That way, they can properly close the restaurant: there's a lot of cleaning, restocking, or counting money that has to happen before all of the staffers can head home for the night. Some customers seem to think that staffers just shut the lights off and head home after closing, when in reality, it can take many hours to clean up and prepare the restaurant for the next day's opening shift. 

These customers did a few things that irritated their server, but u/perplexedwriting still took these people's order, even though it seriously bugged the kitchen staff. You can check out their story below, as well as comments from people who assured this server that they did nothing wrong. 

Up next, read about some employees who were thrilled to quit their jobs on the spot, like one person who did just that and then "went to work for [the company's] competition." 

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  • 01
    SORRY CLOSED -PLEASE COME BACKAGAN-
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Couple came in at 8:58. We close at 9. Couple got seated with me and I kindly let them know that our staff is closing and I will need their order soon. They asked for a few minutes to look over the menu and I told them sure. In the
    via u/perplexedwriting
  • 03
    meantime, they ordered oysters and bar drinks. I took their order and immediately put it in, had to deal with the kitchen staff's b and moans. When they were halfway done, they asked for another drink. By this time, it is 9:35, the bartenders had been clocked out and everyone around
    via u/perplexedwriting
  • 04
    me is cleaning their sections. I ran it by my manager and she told me to decline their request and so I did. The wife looked over to her husband and said, "Well, we'll just have to tell Matt." Matt
    via u/perplexedwriting
  • 05
    is one of the owners. I simply say okay. I was very stunned at how entitled they felt. I was shocked at how they made it seem like a threat to me. I always said my last tables were my best tables but this one was absolute garbage.
    via u/perplexedwriting
  • 06
    HighOnGoofballs "Matt doesn't like paying eight people to stay on the clock for a two-top"
    via u/HighOnGoofballs
  • 07
    rainaftersnowpl... Tell Matt what, that you refused to serve them alc ol past closing and without a bartender to make it? Lmao they 100% do not know the owner.
    via u/rainaftersnowplease
  • 08
    Ok-Drawing-1543 They're POSS and honestly I doubt they are actually friends with the owner. People who are rarely make threats like that.
    via u/Ok-Drawing-1543
  • 09
    outlawedbutfree Had a bar manager one time who got hit with the "we know the owner" line. He responded, "cool, so do I. Now get out." Loved him for that one.
    via u/outlawedbutfree
  • 10
    asj0107 I hear that too, I had a guy once claim to know the owner while sitting next to her!
    via u/asj0107
  • 11
    SadNana09 I despise name-droppers. These are usually people who know the owner in passing but not in a "we hang out together" kind of way. They are the ones who think that just because the owner stopped by their table once to see how things were, they are best buds. When in reality, the owner wouldn't recognize them if they were on fire.
    via u/SadNana09
  • 12
    Diamonds_in_t... Anyone who comes in that late is already disrespectful, and usually don't tip well. Never again.
    via u/Diamonds_in_the_dirt
  • 13
    good_day90 This is why every restaurant needs a "last-call" time before actual closing time. Then there's no "oh but we'll order quickly"--there's a hard line in the sand.
    via u/good_day90
  • 14
    perupotato The place I just left has customers like this. It's no wonder he's in debt and whenever it closes, it will permanently close for a fourth time. Nothing but an absent over glorified landlord with crybaby customers that he mistakes as loyalty
    via u/perupotato

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waiters waiter customers Kitchen Confidential chef food service chefs kitchen food eating diner dining
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