Frequently restaurants have a policy where incomplete parties will not be seated. This was the case at the restaurant where I dined over Valentine’s Day weekend. But sometimes, as you’ll see outlined below, it is necessary to embrace the gray and go off script.
Here was the scenario:
Busy Saturday night
5pm reservation for a Party of 5
Arrived on time
Four of us, including a 5-year-old and an 82-year-old were present.
One member of our party, who had dropped us off curbside, was still parking the car.
We were told to wait at the bar.
As the hourly worker behind the host stand, this can be super uncomfortable to deviate from the safety net of what you are supposed to say and do. And will your supervisor/manager support your decision?
But put yourself in the customer’s shoes and you’ll always make the right decision.
What decision would you have made if you were the hostess on duty?
And what do you think I did when I was told we’d need to wait at the crowded bar?