This happens on Mother’s Day years and years ago. I have two large tables; one holds fifteen and the other holds twelve.
The twelve-top is seated. I take their drink order and go in the back to get it. They decide they like the fifteen-top table in my section better, get up, and move there. A hostess comes up with the fifteen-top that was meant to sit at that table. She’s confused and comes to find me. I approach the table.
Me: “I’m sorry but we’re going to need your party to move back to your original table. This is set for fifteen people and you have twelve.”
Customer #1: “Yeah, we were way too squished there. We like this better.”
I point to the party of fifteen waiting.
Me: “This table is set for them. They have fifteen. You will need to move back.”
A woman from the fifteen-top approaches.
Customer #2: “This is our table. We have fifteen! You heard her; move back to your table.”
Customer #1: “No. It’s Mother’s Day and I want my mother to have the best table.”
Customer #2: “Oh, and my mother doesn’t deserve to have a nice table?”
They start to argue loudly. The manager shows up and tells the twelve-top they need to move. They refuse and start to call him names, like children.
Customer #1: “You need to shut the f*** up and do as you’re told!”
The manager gives her a look like, “Oh, really?”
Manager: “That’s it. You need to leave.”
The table erupts as they start yelling, but nobody gets up. The manager takes me aside.
Manager: “Do not serve them. Let them sit. If they don’t leave, we’ll call the police.”
The fifteen-top finds another home. The hostess sits the empty twelve-top with another group, so I put my energy into them. [Customer #1] waves at me as I pass by but I don’t stop.
Customer #1: “God d*** it, she’s ignoring us!”
The manager goes by again.
Manager: “You have five minutes to leave or I’m calling the police.”
The fight between them was ugly and everyone was watching. [Customer #1] and another man with her got in the manager’s face, but he kept his cool. Finally, they gave up and exited the restaurant.
As they left, I couldn’t help but notice the little old woman with them, probably [Customer #1]’s mother. She was all dressed up with her hair done up, and she was probably starving. She hadn’t spoken a word during the chaos, and her entire day was ruined because of her daughter’s selfish actions. I just don’t understand people sometimes.