Server Stunned by Diner’s Response After Telling Them the Restaurant Is Closing

A server was left speechless at a customer’s response to being told the restaurant was about to close.

The server and original poster (OP), Reddit user ChaosDestruction100, shared their story on r/TalesFromYourServer, explaining that the pizza restaurant they work at is open until 11 p.m. on weekends.

Around 10:15 p.m., a man entered and asked if they were still open. After the staff confirmed that they were but that they were closing in 45 minutes, he brought in multiple generations of his family, including an elderly woman in a wheelchair.

The group ordered their food and sat down, finishing their meals by 10:30 p.m., but instead of leaving, they continued talking at their table while staff waited to clean up.

At 10:55 p.m., with the restaurant nearly ready to close, the shift manager asked the OP to let the group know they would need to start wrapping up.

The OP wrote, “So I go out there. ‘Excuse me, but we’re about to close.’ One of them shoots me a dirty look and says, ‘Yeah, I know.’ ‘Alright. Take care.’

“I don’t think much of this exchange, but as they’re all finally putting their s*** away, the young guy approaches me. He looks at the manager and says, “You? You’re okay.”

“And to me? ‘Hey, man. My grandma’s in a wheelchair, she eats slow! You don’t have to be a d*** about it!’

“And then he storms off before I, or my manager, can get a word in.”

Redditors were quick to share their thoughts, with many criticizing the OP’s attitude and querying what the group had done wrong.

“Um, you were open until 11. It appears they left at 11. What’s the issue?” asked one user, while another wrote, “If they come in at 10:15 and you’re open til 11, why get upset? Go work for a place that closes earlier.”

“If this is what gets him mad, he’s not gonna last long in the industry,” one Redditor quipped.

Other commenters pointed out that many restaurants often use a method called prebussing to keep tables clear while guests are still present. This helps restaurant staff clean efficiently without pressuring guests to leave.

Restaurants Pushing Back Against Difficult Customers

Restaurant workers frequently deal with customers who linger past closing time, delaying cleanup and extending shifts. Some establishments have taken action in response to customers who disrupt staff or create difficult working conditions.

At East Park Tavern in Charlevoix, Michigan, the general manager decided to close early during a busy festival week after witnessing a server break down in tears.

A sign was posted at the entrance stating: “Due to the mistreatment of our servers, our kitchen is closed.” The manager’s decision was met with widespread support, as many in the service industry understood the exhaustion caused by demanding customers.

A similar instance reported by Newsweek described a restaurant shutting its doors early after staff endured an especially difficult shift. The owner said employees were “being treated like machines instead of people”, emphasizing the need for respect in the industry.

Newsweek has contacted ChaosDestruction100 for comment via Reddit.

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