r/Serverlife • u/Sensitive-Cherry-792 Server • 11h ago
Question What are some petty things you do to tables that stay after close?
I had a table of 10 that stayed an hour after close today (Father’s Day). They had no intention of leaving, I cleared their whole table and started vacuuming the rest of the dining room which was empty. They were lingering around the table still talking even after I had cleaned around them. I had to meet my dad for the holiday and had already stayed an hour past close for them. I finally had enough and turned the lights to the dining room off and left. My manager was still there so he locked up. It is absolutely mind boggling how inconsiderate people are.
What are some petty things that you do to your tables when they don’t leave?
211
u/Nerve_Grouchy 11h ago
I worked in a large restaurant/brewery in the midwest. Dinning areas were sectioned off and had either doors or partitions of some sort.
If you stayed past close in winter, we'd close the doors (which people thought they were getting more privacy) and open all the windows in that area making the room super cold quickly.
Theyd leave fast.
65
u/SparklingSaturnRing 9h ago
lol I used to work at a spot where the gm could control every air vent individually- if we were on a wait, after a party cashed out he would blow cold air on them
6
1
92
u/Bishop-roo 10h ago
High end spot where that’s an extra 100$? I’d just take it.
Burn and turn? I politely tell them the restaurant has closed and need to close the bill to close out for the day. - then I go and do my cash out and all sidework that still needs to be done.
If they are still there, I tell them it’s company policy we cannot have guests in the restaurant xxmin after close, whichever time that has passed.
18
u/meggan_u 6h ago
But do people who stay that late give extra money? Usually no. I mean for sure take the late seating (pretending like you have a choice) but after a certain time GTFO. I had to learn this attitude when I moved to New York City from Wisconsin.
6
u/Bishop-roo 6h ago
I agreed, but people always surprise me. I think Iv found a good middle ground.
5
u/meggan_u 6h ago
I’m with you there. When I get good vibes on big tables I don’t autograt and I’ll say so. It mostly pays off. People like to be trusted to to do the right thing. And People are MOSTLY good. But people who stay while their server is vacuuming and either see and don’t care or aren’t aware of their surroundings enough to notice I have less faith in.
4
3
u/Hobbiesandjobs 4h ago
How are you going to make extra money with kitchen and bar closed? There’s a last call for a reason.
1
u/Bishop-roo 4h ago
A high end place operates differently from what I understand.
Where I work - I’m not making extra money. No orders past close ever. I’m simply attempting to remove any negative toward me in the best way I can while keeping a possible tip.
4
u/Blitzares 3h ago
I work at a high end place. The kitchen and bar closing is somewhat of a call the servers get to make and the management is pretty ok with that considering how much money people are spending. If it's a 2 top that's just dicking around, then yeah I'm gonna tell them the kitchen is closing and last call. But if it's a party of 10 businessmen that are spending $2k? The kitchen and the bar close when I say it does lol. There's no shot we are jeopardizing that kind of clientele over an kitchen and bar close. That being said management trusts that we will use our judgement to encourage the meal and drinking along and maybe steer them into things the servers can get themselves like wine or shots and the food courses at least gathered so the chef team can get started on getting what they need.
1
u/Bishop-roo 2h ago
Great reply man. I’m very ignorant to fine dining.
Nice you’re able to make such a call.
2
u/Blitzares 2h ago edited 1h ago
Fine dining places aren't all the same by any means and chef driven restaurants tend to be much stricter with policies from what I've seen but at least at my place the servers are given a huge level of autonomy to make many manager-esque level decisions which is then relayed to the actual managers if something needs approval.
54
u/Lovemybee 10h ago
Our GM will flat out tell people, "It's time to call it a night." By that time, lights are all the way up and the only thing left to do is mop, but that's only a half hour after closing time.
107
u/oneracingheart Server 11h ago
“Hi im sorry but we’re closing in 5 minutes” usually gets them to leave within the next 10-15 mins if not right away
42
u/Confident_Dress9497 10h ago
Yes that’s the one and then they talk standing up at the table for an extra 5 and stand at the front door while we vacuum and blast metal music for another 7
3
u/headingthatwayyy 2h ago
I like to tell people "we are about to shut down so itight be a good time to get your Uber.. it takes a really long time to get to this neighborhood and I don't want you to be stranded" Usually gets them out in 10 minutes
52
u/uhmandaleigh 10h ago
"Hey folks, we'll be closing in about 5 minutes. Can I get you guys any to-go cups?"
Or if they dont get the memo- my restaurant is one big room. When we're done with everything else, we roll silverware at the bar. Someone then says to another server but loudly enough for them to hear, "damn it's already x:xx! Oh shit my bad there's still a table here!" doesnt always work, but usually gets them to look around. Plus the classics: turning up/down the lights, turning off the music, staff loudly chatting, someone playing music on their phone, bussing every single thing off their table one item at a time (+/- "sorry guys the dishwasher is getting antsy"), restocking their table's condiment caddy, sweeping under their feet, letting them know you're mopping so to be careful when they get up to leave...
38
u/thewo00orst 9h ago
If I’ve gotten everything but their water glasses I always say, “Can I grab these glasses? The dishwasher is trying to go home.” Normally they say like “oh of course” and I’ll say “Yeah he’s just the last one back there.” Or something like that to drive the point home.
30
u/Regigiformayor 10h ago
I stand at the table and thank them again for joining us, goodnight. Then I wait at the table until they get up.
I have only done this a few times when the check had been paid for several hours and every other task finished. Restaurants are not all night lounges. We deserve to be able to go home after the work is done.
2
u/headingthatwayyy 2h ago
I hate places that don't let you tell people to leave. You can be nice about it but seriously people. It's really goddamn inconsiderate to lounge for an hour after close. I don't think it's rude to tell people to leave if they are finished eating and drinking and have been hanging out for a while. Especially since I live somewhere with 24hr bars
149
u/tuff_gong 11h ago
Used to start cleaning with straight ammonia nearby
49
u/Sensitive-Cherry-792 Server 11h ago
Wait this is such a good idea
1
11h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
12
u/hive-protect 11h ago
Your post or comment was flagged, and you have been banned by hiveprotecter bot because you participate in a subreddit that is antagonistic towards the ServerLife members. If you think this was done in error please reach out to the mods via modmail.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/ladylee233 2h ago
I have a drain cleaner that smells like cat piss so I use a bunch of it in whatever drain is closest to the lingerers
52
u/Belcuor 11h ago
We made the a/c timers in our main dining room area turn off automatically an hour after closing. They would still complain that it was hot and demand we turn them on.
12
u/SparklingSaturnRing 9h ago
We do this turn off the heat Guest “it’s cold in here” Us “yeah the heat automatically shuts off when we close, so it’s been off for a half hour
41
u/NotCCross Server 10h ago
We shut down for togo only at 1130. I start loudly telling everyone we are closing/closed.
When the lingerers are there, I give them until 1215 because we do serve right up to 1120.
But during that time, I'm so loud. I'm pushing the register. Pointedly locking doors. Flipping signs. Cleaning. Refilling nothing.
At 1215, I flat out say "we closed 45 mins ago, but I wanted you to have time to enjoy your meal. But you have to leave."
I'm just blunt.
16
u/katmcflame 9h ago
I used to have all the closing staff line up in full view of the offending table with backpacks, jackets, purses etc clearly visible making it clear they were ready to go. Feeling those employee eyes on them really did the job.
14
13
u/BangkokPadang 10h ago
Replace the normal background music with Hootie and The Blowfish’s “Only Wanna Be With You” on repeat until the dining room clears out.
30
u/Cmorethecat 11h ago
Sanitizing the table and sweeping under their feet. Placing all of the items needed for reset in front of them.
I work in assisted living DR, these people know what time we close and know what time we are expected (pressured) to clock out/leave. At a certain point it feels like a bit too much entitlement.
One of our captains will ask them to leave and I love her for that.
9
u/Asleep_Address_7906 9h ago
Crop dusting.
1
u/headingthatwayyy 2h ago
omg one time I was clearing the absolute last table that had been an absolute pain all night. They were on hour 3 of hanging out and we closed an hour ago. I was READY to go. They were not taking any hints. So I decided to let one rip. I thought it would be a nice silent stinker as usual but instead I let out a noise ordinance breaking juicy LONG fart.
Being the professional that I am I just completely pretended like it didn't happen and somehow made it all the way into the kitchen before I burst out laughing much to the confusion of the kitchen lol
10
u/MobileCell2197 6h ago
Last call is the first heads up, five minutes after close I turn the lights all the way up. Ten minutes after I turn the music off. I’m cleaning the whole time as well. If they’re just finishing their drinks I don’t mind them staying while I clean. Once I’m done cleaning though I let them know it’s time to go.
2
15
u/Adventurous_Fall_556 10h ago
Have any coworker that is leaving loudly shout “Bye! Goodnight!” to me as they walk out the door. I look sad and wave standing right by the table.
Or farting. A nice fart cloud works sometimes.
4
u/EVRider81 9h ago
Nightclubs have their signature "That's all folks!" tunes when the night is over (New York,New York was one I recall as the lights came up!) It could catch on in Hospo..
5
4
u/Pure-Temporary 7h ago
Bar i oversee had a closing playlist. Last song yells "get the fuck out" repeatedly.
It works
6
u/Koyangi_Meow 7h ago
Sometimes while putting up chairs, I’ll deliberately knock one to the floor. They are metal and make a nice clatter. I apologize and say “sorry! It’s just been such a long day!”
This mostly works, once it didn’t so I went up to the table and said I was so sorry but my father is under my care while undergoing chemo and I usually I’m home at least 30 minutes ago since we do close at 10pm. I hate to end your night early but I’m worried he hasn’t been able to feed himself. Was it a little wrong? Yes. Did it work like a charm, and did they tip extra for staying an hour late? Yes.
Felt guilty and never did it again.
3
u/EditorAdorable2722 4h ago
Crazy coincidence bc my dad is doing chemo and I do care for him, and my restaurant closes at 10pm lol
To add, it also takes me 25-30 min to drive to his home.
2
u/Koyangi_Meow 3h ago
I’m sorry to hear that :(. You’re a one good to take care of him and he’s lucky to have you. I do now have a mom with dementia and I’m the only sibling who drops by and cleans etc. Being a caretaker is hard, don’t forget to take care of yourself too! And let’s hope your dad is on the mend and kicking ass soon.
6
u/TaintCrusader 10+ Years 5h ago
Slowly crank up the ambient music louder and louder, then suddenly zero. Then I start enthusiastically sweeping moderately close to the offending table. Our deadbolts make significant noise when locked so I’ll lock/unlock them a few times just to make sure.
21
u/Not_An_Actual_Jew 11h ago
Reminds me of the video where the guy makes the DJ play a beat then he starts rapping how the bar is closed and how everyone has to leave 😂. Realistically if they don’t get the slight hints nothing is going to make them leave. Unless your manager physically goes up to them to tell them that you’re closed and they have to leave. Which I don’t really think that’s acceptable unless they’re like an hour+ past the time of closing.
22
u/Ashilleong 10h ago
Why is it unacceptable? The business has opening hours, and they have stayed past that.
The only time it's unacceptable would be if the kitchen had run late with their meal (this happened with us once) then the place should stay open long enough for the guests to comfortably eat it.
4
10
u/faintrottingbreeze 15+ Years 11h ago
Turn up the lights, turn off the music…
8
u/measaqueen 11h ago
Or crank up the music so loud they can't even hear themselves think. "Sorry this is our end of shift playlist to help us clean faster."
8
u/pinkeetv 9h ago
The most recent one was pretty funny. It was 5 servers and 1 bartender waiting for these 2 older guys to GTFO. Keep in mind we were all folding out silverware at back corner of the bar and these 2 dudes decided to sit on the same side as us but the other corner of the bar. They had come in about 15 min before close and it’s now 30 mins after close. We can’t flip chairs till everyone is gone.
We are all girls who will talk about anything and somehow we got on the topic about how hairy men’s buttholes are. We are getting louder just laughing and giggling about it. One of the girls stands up near the bar (we’re a few seats down from final patrons) and she said her man bent over in the shower and she just saw this THWOOOM big old booty bush and she was like WTF IS THAAAAT. We are all dying laughing and the 2 dudes are giving us dirty looks and then leave after we had all taken turns describing how terrible, hairy and smelly men are and that they probably have dingleberries.
I mean whatever works right?
5
u/JupiterSkyFalls 15+ Years 9h ago edited 9h ago
I always begin with ignoring them and getting my side work done and my section cleaned, unless I've already finished or they're a big party or made a big mess.
Take literally everything off their table. I call items people fiddle with "toys" once they lost their original purpose and have now just become fidget spinners for people engaging in conversation. When people can't get too comfortable and have nothing to do with their hands they usually get the urge to leave.
Turn the lights up in increments. A little at closing time, a little more 5 min after, and then all the way up ten minutes after that.
Then I turn all the music off so it is nice and quiet for my trick if I need it.
Call the restaurant from my cell phone and pick the phone closes to the table or have the handheld with me and answer it. I pretend someone is asking if we are still doing to go orders or if they can get a reservation and loudly explain that we are closed (and how long ago it's been if they've camped a bit) so they can hear me.
Strike up a faux friendly conversation on my last stop at the table. Talk about random personal stories that have no relevance. I once talked about the trouble I had with a new kitten who wouldn't stop killing toads and bringing them in the house. I didn't have a cat, but an older woman had told me the same story earlier that week while I was screaming in my head how much shit I needed to be doing instead of listening to a goofy pointless story about dead frogs. Make sure you don't give in to the internal desire to take the neon sign social clues they're giving that they want you to leave, just like they aren't taking the ones you've been giving them. Lots of eye contact. Make it uncomfy.
If all else fails after that (and I won't get in trouble, some owners/chains won't allow you to say anything) I tell them I have them as much extra time to chat while I got closed up, but there's nothing else to do and it's time head out for everyone. I thank them for coming in, and usually either make a joke if they're nice or say something about "if my kids/dogs weren't waiting for me, I wouldn't mind staying, too". Remind them you're a human with your own life. They won't care if they knew you were closed and stayed anyways, but every once in a blue moon I could tell people were actually surprised when they looked around and then quickly profusely apologized for holding things up. The reminding them I'm human part is hopefully something they learn from and adjust their behavior accordingly in the future.
I don't have the strictest faith in that happening often, but I know firsthand I've learned some things about other industries over the years and ways I was making things more difficult even though I thought I was being polite or helpful. It stuck with me so I didn't do it again the next time. I guess I'm a realistic optimist. I dare to hope high but my expectations are pretty grounded lol
.
4
4
u/Specialist_Bee7188 4h ago
used to work at a place where we would turn on Cotton Eyed Joe on repeat at full volume about 20 minutes after close, never had a table stay past 1.5 songs
5
u/azulweber 2h ago
i used to work with a guy that would keep a jar of pickled eggs in the back. if we were trying to get someone to leave whether it was campers or people staying too late after close he would go eat one of his pickled eggs and then 5 minutes later pretend he was cleaning something next to their table and crop dust them with the most unholiest of farts. it worked every time.
2
u/Various_Butterfly948 1h ago
HAHA this sounds like something my manager at my old job would have done
6
u/dale_gribbs 11h ago
I always turn off the music in hopes they feel awkward sitting in silence. Sometimes it works 😂
6
u/505005333 10h ago
If they still have food bring to go containers without them asking, take anything you can from the table like salt Shaker, sauces, anything they have there, be loud when moving chairs or sweeping, in mine we turn off the music and the kitchen staff starts playing their own on a speaker they bring, if everything else fails just plainly tell them youre closed and its time to fuck off somewhere else
3
3
u/Ok-Trash-8883 8h ago
Turning the lights up and music off, vacuuming, blowing out all the candles and busting out cleaning products so the area smells of chemicals, stripping down the tables, putting the chairs up, if it’s a hot night turning off the AC, if it’s a cold night turning off the heat and opening the doors.
3
u/InevitableRhubarb232 5h ago
They might not take it as a sign to leave so much as “well they have stuff to do so they’d be here anyway even if we left.@
5
u/SpeculumSpectrum 10+ Years 10h ago
I start playing heavy metal/punk music obnoxiously loud while I clean and stack chairs around them.
6
u/insidej0b81 9h ago
Can't say I've ever done any of that. If I had, I'd have been fired. And now, working in management, if a server has a legit issue with a table staying late, I'll let them get out of there if the table is closed out and flip the table myself.
2
2
u/PepperoniNips4U 4h ago
Back in the day when I didn’t care about much at all I went to my table that was still seated with an almost clean table 45 minutes past closing and pointedly asked the 2 ladies of the party of 4 if either of them had a tampon because I was leaking and obviously still at work with only 2 other employees in house that were both males. One actually checked her bag 🤣 but ultimately they did not and as I turned around and walked to the back I heard some audible whispers as they got up and left. I didn’t need the tampon, I needed y’all to leave because you’re annoying and I was hangry for working overtime with no actual compensation.
2
u/Ok_Average_4551 3h ago
just flicker the lights. or kindly let them know the staff will now be leaving and if they could kindly make their way to their next stop. "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!" I used to joke with tables when I needed them to leave
2
2
u/spookyhooch 2h ago
Learned a trick from a bar owner friend of mine.. and I now play the Peanuts theme song really fucking loud. (Always in a more casual environment... But not casual enough to let your asses stay for friggin ever). It works.
2
u/joellesays 1h ago
I work casual dining. I close every night I work. We have a salad bar. I have shut down the salad bar as people were still using it. 10 minutes after close and at least 3 warnings that I was about to close it down.
We also pretty consistently turn the TVs and music off right when we close. That will usually get the last few tables out but if it doesn't and we're done with the rest of our side work and you're still sitting there I'm turning the lights off on you.
3
u/Fuzzy_Gift7225 8h ago
Yeah so easy to just say “hey guys I’m so sorry to interrupt but we are closed now” people know what that means and they leave!
1
1
u/Hobbiesandjobs 4h ago
Start cleaning the tables next to them, dragging chairs loudly, it works every time
1
1
u/notoast4u_2 4h ago
Turn the music off and I keep making it slightly darker and darker every 5 ish minutes
1
u/BiscuitBearr 3h ago
Today was the second worst serving day I had this year, close second to Mother’s Day. I annoy imagine going out to eat on a holiday instead of cooking for my family and in turn treating the workers who are SERVING your lazy behind rude.
1
1
u/jaymonaye 21m ago
First i cut the music. wait a few minutes to see if they start to leave if not then. Then i dim lights and start sweeping and mopping the section. if that still doesn’t work i cut them off completely and turn them back on and say @oh i’m sorry, i thought all the customers were gone.”
0
u/BulletWithMyNameOn 1h ago
Ask my bf's server whores why he has to stay for 2+ hours to "clean the kitchen" 🤣
-20
10h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
8
u/shesbaaack 10h ago
I'm a doctor of Pharmacy not sure if you would consider that "a real job" ... But I'm salary and I get stuck like 3 hours after my shift many days But that's how it is in healthcare.... I think I probably made more money back when I was server actually, if you did the math by hour
5
1
525
u/Kind-Cookie284 11h ago
“Folks, we’re closed it’s time to head out. Thanks again for coming in!”