topic Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant in Community Chat

Situation with Customer in Restaurant

beach-mom — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:25:40 GMT

DH and I went to an informal family restaurant tonight. The restaurant was about 1/3 full. We were sitting and talking while we waited for our food.

A lady came in by herself and sat a few tables away. After she ordered she propped her phone up and proceeded to watch a show or movie, with the volume turned up. The people at the next table turned and looked, but she paid no attention. We could hear words, but couldn't tell what she was watching.

Her server had to bend down closely to hear her requests. She got her food and continued to watch.

We could hear each other and our server, so it was almost like someone was dining with her, but talking loudly.

There were a lot of looks, but no one said anything. And of course the servers in that area didn't either.

She left before we did.

I have eaten in restaurants by myself many times. I have never watched anything on my phone without turning it to mute and using CC.

Would you have said anything? I was secretly a little annoyed, but I think we did the right thing tonight by not saying anything.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

spumoni99 — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:30:03 GMT

She shoud have used her headphones that is just rude. You were right not to say anything she may have made a scene. If she has no manners in that regard who knows how she would react.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Susan Louise — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:32:07 GMT

The only thing I have to say...

As the years pass, there is less and less consideration for others.

Some days I honestly don't think it even exists anymore.

What used to be common...expected, it doesn't exist in so many situations.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Kachina624 — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:34:12 GMT

I would have done just what you did. Just pretend she's with the a companion with a loud voice. Be glad she wasn't a rock music fan. It can be lonely eating alone in a restaurant

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Tallgal — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:35:21 GMT

The restaurant manager should have handled this situation. Very disruptive to the other customers dining in the restaurant. I would not confront anyone as we are living in a strange world. I was at the library yesterday, there was a man using his speaker phone. The library employee told this man that it was against library policy to use the speaker phone.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Meowingkitty — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:37:10 GMT

I was in the waiting room of my dermatologist earlier this year and this woman was watching a horror movie with the sound turned up. All we could hear was screams and dialogue. People were looking and seemed annoyed but nobody did a thing.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Melvin-QVC — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:39:43 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:47:19 GMT

The manager should have stepped in. Since the restaurant was only 1/3 full, if I was really bothered by the woman's inconsiderate behavior I might have asked to move to a different table further away.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Goodie2shoes — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:55:58 GMT

I agree with others that the restaurant manager should have said something. It was very inconsiderate of the customer

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Oznell — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:07:26 GMT

I believe you did the right thing, @beach-mom , which I would expect, knowing your sense of discretion.

I agree that a good manager could have handled it, tactfully and unobtrusively in all likelihood. Have noticed that managers seem more and more, not to be able to take matters in hand. Lack of confidence, or training perhaps, in handling stickier situations.

It feels a bit sad that she did this. There's a long, honorable tradition of lone diners, eating in splendor in public! Savoring food, subtle people-watching, perusing a favorite book-- all can be done quietly and without disturbing one's neighbors.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Carmie — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:08:53 GMT

I would have just ignored it. I never had anyone do this in a restaurant, but I have seen families with small children who were given electronic devices like an iPad who were playing games or watching something that was loud.

I suppose that is better than the kids who play tag and run around screaming. That I have seen a few times.

We don't eat out much. Only while on vacation, or with friends or on a special occasion. I prefer to eat at home.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

CoffeeNut — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:10:08 GMT

If they are that inconsiderate, then the person is probably going to ignore those who complain.

I stopped going to movie theatres a few years ago. Dark theatre and people would be checking their cell phones or texting all through out the movie. Huge distraction with a brighly lit phone screen.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

sabatini — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:23:42 GMT

I'd like to think that I would've approached the manager and asked him or her to step in, but I wouldn't have.

I'd have done it myself because I'm impulsive and often make rash decisions in these types of situations.

I just have to do it!

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Desertdi — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:26:46 GMT

I have worked in OFFICES all my life. I have seen and heard a lot worse...

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Lucky Charm — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:27:05 GMT

I would've let the server know that I didn't want to listen to her phone and would like to be seated somewhere else especially since the restaurant wasn't full. But even if it was, I would ask to be moved.

I would do the same if there was a loud table near by.

I mean if it's a sports bar and ten tvs are lit up or there's a band playing, that's one thing. And honestly, I wouldn't be there....

But I want to enjoy some peace and quiet and be able to talk to whoever is sitting around my table and that's how I enjoy a meal.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

SilleeMee — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:31:47 GMT

Don'r get me started on neighbors playing loud music in their cars, so loud I can hear a block away.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

AuntG — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:56:18 GMT

My first thought was that she might be hard of hearing. I think your viewing it as her having a conversation with a loud talker was the right approach. Let her be.

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Spurt — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 02:22:03 GMT

@beach-mom wrote:
DH and I went to an informal family restaurant tonight. The restaurant was about 1/3 full. We were sitting and talking while we waited for our food.

A lady came in by herself and sat a few tables away. After she ordered she propped her phone up and proceeded to watch a show or movie, with the volume turned up. The people at the next table turned and looked, but she paid no attention. We could hear words, but couldn't tell what she was watching.

Her server had to bend down closely to hear her requests. She got her food and continued to watch.

We could hear each other and our server, so it was almost like someone was dining with her, but talking loudly.

There were a lot of looks, but no one said anything. And of course the servers in that area didn't either.

She left before we did.

I have eaten in restaurants by myself many times. I have never watched anything on my phone without turning it to mute and using CC.

Would you have said anything? I was secretly a little annoyed, but I think we did the right thing tonight by not saying anything.

@beach-mom

Ive experienced worse, the restaurant we were dining at was crowded, the tables not that far apart and at one table near us a 10 yr old was playing a video game some kind of war game, so we had to eat our meal like we were sitting in a war zone!!! It was difficult for those at our table to even have a conversation. The parents were oblivious.....no consideration for other patrons!!

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Spurt — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 02:20:45 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
I believe you did the right thing, @beach-mom , which I would expect, knowing your sense of discretion.

I agree that a good manager could have handled it, tactfully and unobtrusively in all likelihood. Have noticed that managers seem more and more, not to be able to take matters in hand. Lack of confidence, or training perhaps, in handling stickier situations.

It feels a bit sad that she did this. There's a long, honorable tradition of lone diners, eating in splendor in public! Savoring food, subtle people-watching, perusing a favorite book-- all can be done quietly and without disturbing one's neighbors.

@Oznell

Ive gone shopping by myself on occasion and then eaten alone, and I will bring a book or magazine to entertain myself without disturbing others....

Re: Situation with Customer in Restaurant

Daisy Sunflower — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 02:40:50 GMT

I think some servers/managers don't say anything in situations like this because they don't know how the customer might react.

Better to keep the peace.