Obnoxious Large Groups In Restaurants

[Chatbrat]

In an earlier topic a person mentioned that they had a bad experience when they tried to get a group of 18 seated in a Brownwood restaurant.

Would you want to be seated near a group that size. They usually are very loud and when the alcohol kicks in they become louder.

Honestly no restaurant should seat groups larger than 8, unless they have secluded areas.

[jnieman]

I know what you are saying but it is just a fact of life living here. There are so many groups and they all like to dine together. We complained once about a very large group and all of the noise. The waitress said they will be getting their food in about 5 minutes and then it will be quiet and she was right. We dine on Saturdays with our golf group of 32. We break up into parties of 8. People have complained about us before because everyone stops to say hi and we seem to congregate around the tables. We try to keep the noise down as best we can but it is hard to control that many people.

[village dreamer]

girls and guys just want to have fun. if its your party its not that noisey, if your seated at the table next to them.........sorry. and next week it will be your party....its never ending , did someone just say party???

[Villager Joyce]

Perhaps the restaurants could have a policy of not seating groups of eight or more. For example, if a group of 12 shows up, offer to sear them in two tables of six.

[mulligan]

Perhaps the restaurants could have a policy of not seating groups of eight or more. For example, if a group of 12 shows up, offer to sear them in two tables of six.

Excellent suggestion, but this would prompt a minimum 30 minute conversation about who will sit with whom.

[Villager Joyce]

Excellent suggestion, but this would prompt a minimum 30 minute conversation about who will sit with whom.

You are right. Caught me not being a forward thinker.

[sunnyatlast]

Excellent suggestion, but this would prompt a minimum 30 minute conversation about who will sit with whom.

Exactly....because the whole thing is about having to sit together with only their little 5th grade friends--the same way they rope off seats hours in advance of the bands playing nightly at the squares.

Large groups of 8 or more in the middle of already noisy restaurants clog up everything, including the kitchen when trying to put out those 20 dinners at the same time and they only have 4-6 sauté burners, for example. And then there are the customers waiting at normal sized tables for their food done together, too.

[FlamingoFlo]

I never go out with a large group however I love to see a large group together having fun, being noisy and enjoying life. That's what we are here for.
Now if they were being rude, obnoxious, or nasty, I would speak up to the wait staff.
But loud and having fun...go fo it.

[sunnyatlast]

I never go out with a large group however I love to see a large group together having fun, being noisy and enjoying life. That's what we are here for.
Now if they were being rude, obnoxious, or nasty, I would speak up to the wait staff.
But loud and having fun...go fo it.

I agree about having fun noisily. But telling the wait staff won't help if the big table customers are being rude or obnoxious, because the wait staff is the target of much rudeness and they have to put up or shut up if they need their jobs.

That's why management should have a policy about splitting up large groups during peak lunch and dinner hours.

[Bonny]

So if there is a golf group of 16, they are not allowed to sit together and enjoy a nice lunch ! I don't understand what the difference would be if it was split into 2 tables of 8. Then everyone could talk louder when talking to the other table. Then people would complain about that.
We often go out with a good size group and yes, we laugh and have a good time.
I guess to each their own.

[NYGUY]

I solve the problem as it affects me by not going out with groups larger than 8 and not sitting next to groups larger than 8!!

[rubicon]

So if there is a golf group of 16, they are not allowed to sit together and enjoy a nice lunch ! I don't understand what the difference would be if it was split into 2 tables of 8. Then everyone could talk louder when talking to the other table. Then people would complain about that.
We often go out with a good size group and yes, we laugh and have a good time.
I guess to each their own.

Bonny you are spot on. Its one of the many things people enjoy so much about this place. A group of golfers going out for breakfast lunch or dinner after a round is as common as well the golf courses here

[Villager Joyce]

So if there is a golf group of 16, they are not allowed to sit together and enjoy a nice lunch ! I don't understand what the difference would be if it was split into 2 tables of 8. Then everyone could talk louder when talking to the other table. Then people would complain about that.
We often go out with a good size group and yes, we laugh and have a good time.
I guess to each their own.

If a restaurant cannot accommodate large groups, then it seems to me there is always going to be very unhappy people that want to go in groups. If you (not you but you in the general sense) want to have a group of 16 people, perhaps someone from the group needs to go in advance to make arrangements and then show up early to make sure.

[Jimjane]

My wife and I were at Gators during the final four weekend. I think we had one of the best time watching the games with true basketball fans. The Michigan state group is great.

Go badgers LOL

[TrudyM]

It seems to me that as they have expanded they might include large group rooms that could be booked in advance. Do none of the restaurants have party rooms. I didn't notice when I was there as not part of a group. When we have gone out in large groups from work over the years we always booked a room (I always got delegated to book it)

[missypie]

That is one of the reasons that I love living here. People are having a good time, smiling, sharing and just enjoying life. There are times that I DO want quiet, and those are the nights that we stay home. That is also nice.

[gomoho]

That is one of the reasons that I love living here. People are having a good time, smiling, sharing and just enjoying life. There are times that I DO want quiet, and those are the nights that we stay home. That is also nice.

:bigbow: now that's what I call logical, adult thinking!

[justjim]

Recently we were having lunch at Orange Blossom Country Club when 12 or 14 guys were seated nearby who just came in from (I'm guessing) their golf outing. They were very loud and "drown out" the four of us who were trying to have a casual conversation.

The restaurant was not that crowded (it was close to 2pm) and they could have been seated elsewhere. This incident made me think as I too have been part of a large group who no doubt must have disturbed others in the restaurant who were trying to enjoy their meals and have a "normal" conversation.

Unfortunately, most of the restaurants in The Villages do not have separate rooms to handle such groups. We all like to have fun but the hostess as well as the group should be more considerate of others when seating large groups who tend to all talk at once. OP, I can certainly identify with the point you are attempting to make but don't have a real good solution for the problem.

[CFrance]

Large groups are just not going to be attentive to being quiet. They are having too much fun, and I think it's unrealistic to expect them to be quiet. But the waitstaff could be a little more attentive as to where they seat smaller groups.

Sunday night four of us walked into City Fire at LSL. There was a group of almost 20 people at one long table, and the hostess chose a booth for us that was directly next to them. My friend said it was too close to the large group. She hesitated, but then gave us a booth only a little farther away, despite the fact that the rest of the place was empty. I think they divide the place up into sections, and if they have fewer servers they close off sections. But it wouldn't have taken more than ten extra steps for the waitress if we were seated in a booth in another section.

[Jaggy]

We have actually had a hostess tell us that a large group had just ordered and the wait time for food would be impacted.. so , we went to another place to eat.. not a big deal.. it's not like there aren't numerous places to chose from --- I personally love to see a large group eating.. makes me sorta jealous that I am not at the party !!!!!

[Bonny]

That was me who mentioned the bad experience, and as we are here with extended family we do have alcohol and have a great time , we all talk and all join in the conversation, we are not loud , but I'm guessing from your bitter comment that you find it hard to attract friends who want to dine with you , we normally eat after 8pm when restaurants are quiet and we will continue you to so , I suggest that you keep yourself to your 4 seats and sip your free water at 4.30pm and that will suit us fine
:clap2:

[sunnyatlast]

Didn't realise that it was fine to call somebody obnoxious and when you post a reply it was deleted ...

When the reply consists of going after the person by telling them they're so "bitter" that nobody else would want to dine with them, "so sip your free water at 4:30"…..it goes against the rules of addressing (and insulting) another poster personally. The use of "obnoxious" in the original post was not directed at a specific person.

The point of the thread in my estimation is that large groups at tables of 10+ often put other customers at the mercy of their noise that makes conversation in a normal voice almost impossible; and it ties up the kitchen with having to output all the large group's dinners at the same time while other normal-sized tables are given lower priority and have to wait as if they're inferior.

Cfrance's example at City Fire at LSL is a good one. We went there once on a busy summer weekend evening (not the height of winter season), and we wanted to be seated outside on the patio where there were at least 4 tables vacant and set.

We were told by hostesses that they could not seat us because there were several large groups inside, and the kitchen can only output so many dinners at a time. Therefore, they would not seat us and other twosomes/foursomes outside, because the kitchen could not keep up with outputting the numerous dinners simultaneously for the large groups inside.

So people who came for a normal-sized table were turned away. Not good business practice!

[dillywho]

We have a large group of ladies (previously Red Hats) that do something together at least once a month, including dining out. We don't show up unannounced, but instead book in advance and give them a headcount. This enables the restaurant to plan for it. We DO NOT conduct any of our club business at our outings. We are the only ones interested in those and public is not the place for it. Our "business meetings" are always held at someone's home on a quarterly basis. Anything in between is done via email or phone. Our outings are strictly for fun.

Whether or not we are seated at one long table or several tables together, we leave up to the restaurant. I personally like having several tables close together because you can interact with more than 4-6 people at a time. We normally have anywhere from 8 to over 20 depending on who is able to come. Our only purpose is to take a break from whatever stress any of us might be experiencing or just the same ole stuff day after day, and to form new, lasting friendships.

[golf2140]

Givre me a break. Join a group and you to will have fun !!!!

[Bonny]

Givre me a break. Join a group and you to will have fun !!!!
:clap2:

[ukgolfer]

Givre me a break. Join a group and you to will have fun !!!!

:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

We can't all be obnoxious, loud and drunk!!

[dplars]

It does not take a large group to be obnoxious. Our family was out to our favorite Mexican restaurant, we were a party of eight seated next to a party of five. The five had been drinking and one of the men had a big mouth and he did not know how to keep it shut. Constant loud obnoxious babble. Finally asked them to cool it, but that lasted only a short time. Alcohol over came good judgment. Their volume made a civil conversation at our table impossible. There is a big difference between laughing and having a good time and being obnoxious.

[Bonny]

Drinking is not always the culprit to determine loudness, although it can enhance the decibel level. LOL I know several people who are very loud and rarely drink.

[Cathy H]

it's the culture of this "blue collar" place with too many ill-mannered and inconsiderate folks who think every one is like them

[jnieman]

Once of the loudest places I've been is the mexican restaurant at Colony when it is buy one large margarita mug get a second margarita free. It's a sea of lime green margarita glasses all over the place and it is sooo loud!! It's a great place to have a good time but very loud. I do think alcohol attributes to the noise.

[sunnyatlast]

it's the culture of this "blue collar" place with too many ill-mannered and inconsiderate folks who think every one is like them

And being snotty and uppity "upper class" is cultured and sophisticated??

I'd prefer and applaud the loud, drinking blue collar group from the Midwest any day over that!

[Bonny]

And being snotty and uppity "upper class" is cultured and sophisticated??

I'd prefer and applaud the loud, drinking blue collar group from the Midwest any day over that!
Me too !! It's way more fun ! :MOJE_whot:

[CFrance]

I prefer loud and obnoxious to uppity and snotty any day, no matter where they're from!

[RickeyD]

it's the culture of this "blue collar" place with too many ill-mannered and inconsiderate folks who think every one is like them


[emoji13]

[Barefoot]

it's the culture of this "blue collar" place with too many ill-mannered and inconsiderate folks who think every one is like them
What?
Here have a coffee :mornincoffee: and chill.
You may want to reword that comment! :ohdear:

[dbussone]

Once of the loudest places I've been is the mexican restaurant at Colony when it is buy one large margarita mug get a second margarita free. It's a sea of lime green margarita glasses all over the place and it is sooo loud!! It's a great place to have a good time but very loud. I do think alcohol attributes to the noise.

The alcohol content at this restaurant is to dull the senses for the coming poor quality food. On 4/9/15, they scored a 68 and a resulting U (for unsatisfactory) on their most recent public health inspection.

[jnieman]

The alcohol content at this restaurant is to dull the senses for the coming poor quality food. On 4/9/15, they scored a 68 and a resulting U (for unsatisfactory) on their most recent public health inspection.

That's not so good for a health inspection. I wonder if the mexican restaurant in Spanish Springs did any better. I like their food quite alot better.

[gomoho]

it's the culture of this "blue collar" place with too many ill-mannered and inconsiderate folks who think every one is like them

I hope you don't hurt yourself when you fall off you high horse.:boom:

[Villager Joyce]

it's the culture of this "blue collar" place with too many ill-mannered and inconsiderate folks who think every one is like them

I'm so confused. What do you consider to be this "blue collar" place? Do you live in The Villages? Where? BTW: blue collar and ill-mannered and inconsiderate people are not one and the same.

[dbussone]

That's not so good for a health inspection. I wonder if the mexican restaurant in Spanish Springs did any better. I like their food quite alot better.

There is an excellent app for your smart phone called "What the Health FL". It lists all food service locations within a certain distance, or you can do a search. The report comes from the respective health departments in your locality.

[jnieman]

There is an excellent app for your smart phone called "What the Health FL". It lists all food service locations within a certain distance, or you can do a search. The report comes from the respective health departments in your locality.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[dbussone]

I hope you don't hurt yourself when you fall off you high horse.:boom:

Or run over by the rhinoceros behind her. One of the things I really enjoy about TV is the lack of class snobbery.

[Cisco Kid]

it's the culture of this "blue collar" place with too many ill-mannered and inconsiderate folks who think every one is like them

I resemble that remark.

[Jaguarj4]

If you want quiet, you can move to a community that thinks and acts OLD! Many of us came here because it was a very lively community! We are not here just to "Ride it out!" PARTY ON DUDES!!!!!!!!!! Live life to it's fullest!!!!!!!

[Bonny]

I'm glad no one on here was at RJ Gators last night at the outside bar. There were 16 of us out there and darnit that alcohol started taking over and I must admit, it was loud. But, oh my, the fun we had and all the laughing ! It was a wonderful time with friends !!
Just can't remember if any of us had on a blue collar. :loco: