[Cathy H]

Large groups in restaurants is a stupid idea; face it...when in such a group you only talk (shout) to the one across from you, while annoying every one else in the area with your noise; do the rest of us couples dining out a big favor...no more groups

[Philip Winkler]

We had a lunch with a group of about 45; food and service were excellent.

[goodtimesintv]

News flash:

This just in.....

None of these restaurants are banquet facilities.

The restaurants' kitchens and staffing are not set up to produce and deliver 20 to 45 dinners simultaneously!! They are set up to produce dinners for normal sized tables of 2, 4, 6 or 8 in a progression.

If you want banquet service, then make a reservation at a banquet facility that can schedule staff appropriately for each person ordering individually from the menu, OR from a limited menu of 2-4 entrees.

Go to a banquet facility where your yelling over each other doesn't drive away customers who come with a normal expectation to relax and converse with friends.

Sick of this nonsense!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by goodtimesintv

News flash:

This just in.....

None of these restaurants are banquet facilities.

The restaurants' kitchens and staffing are not set up to produce and deliver 20 to 45 dinners simultaneously!! They are set up to produce dinners for normal sized tables of 2, 4, 6 or 8 in a progression.

If you want banquet service, then make a reservation at a banquet facility that can schedule staff appropriately for each person ordering individually from the menu, OR from a limited menu of 2-4 entrees.

Go to a banquet facility where your yelling over each other doesn't drive away customers who come with a normal expectation to relax and converse with friends.

Sick of this nonsense!

And then there are those who complain about the service. Just taking the order from 30 people is a nightmare for the server, inevitably 5 or 6 change their order in midstream when they hear what someone else ordered. Then there are at least 8 complaints about the food, either getting the wrong order, or not getting a side, or not cooked to correct temperature. Then, the real nightmare---the bill. Some groups will want individual checks which takes time, all the while complaining about how long it takes. Then there are those that will put a pile of cash in the middle of the table, but first spend 1/2 hour reviewing each individual's share. "who had the extra 50 cents of blue cheese for their salad" and "who had the $4.25 Beefeater martini instead of the $3.75 bar brand". This usually occurs after closing time. Then, usually, the server ends up getting a mediocre tip---those who would leave 20% are offset by the cheapskates. No wonder the wait staff isn't thrilled to see a large group walk in. My suggestion---unless someone had 8 glasses of expensive wine or a double order of surf and turf, just divide it equally. If it is a regular group, it will work out in the end.

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

And then there are those who complain about the service. Just taking the order from 30 people is a nightmare for the server, inevitably 5 or 6 change their order in midstream when they hear what someone else ordered. Then there are at least 8 complaints about the food, either getting the wrong order, or not getting a side, or not cooked to correct temperature. Then, the real nightmare---the bill. Some groups will want individual checks which takes time, all the while complaining about how long it takes. Then there are those that will put a pile of cash in the middle of the table, but first spend 1/2 hour reviewing each individual's share. "who had the extra 50 cents of blue cheese for their salad" and "who had the $4.25 Beefeater martini instead of the $3.75 bar brand". This usually occurs after closing time. Then, usually, the server ends up getting a mediocre tip---those who would leave 20% are offset by the cheapskates. No wonder the wait staff isn't thrilled to see a large group walk in. My suggestion---unless someone had 8 glasses of expensive wine or a double order of surf and turf, just divide it equally. If it is a regular group, it will work out in the end.

I agree!! Won't go out with groups of more than 8.

[Jima64]

I cannot imagine trying to enjoy a nice dinner with a large group knowing how much can go wrong.

[leftyf]

A few years ago while we were RV'ing, we were wintering in Corpus Christi, Texas. The RV park we were staying had a LEO Club (Let's Eat Out). They ate out once a week and I learned real quick that if I wanted to have the worst service ever, then go with that large group. Most of the time they had about 25 people and they always had reservations but it never mattered. We learned that wherever LEO went, we went somewhere else.

[yabbadu]

Originally Posted by CFrance

We have learned that some places are good for some things, and some are not, in terms of both food and groups. We act accordingly. It saves aggravation, and we always have a good time.

Thats why our golf group does not eat at Belle Glade any longer...Too many others want your business.

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by yabbadu

Thats why our golf group does not eat at Belle Glade any longer...Too many others want your business.

Let us know who wants your business, so we can avoid giving them our business.