Why do restaurants have this policy?

So I go to this small sushi place, but I don't like sushi so I brought some food from Costco. 4 of the people im with are ordering besides me. But there are 5 chairs so I can sit. So they all order, and they see my food, and she says sorry, no outside food allowed.

This I understand, they would rather you buy food from their place then go out and bring food in. I don't really think I would care if I owned the restaurant but whatever that makes a little sense.

Then I said ok, well I'm not going to eat it, I'll just put it away in my girlfriends purse. Then she says. No you cannot have outside food, even if you don't eat it. So fine whatever I'll take it out. It's starting to get more dumb, I can't even have outside food if I won't eat it and it's put away?! What the...

Then everyone takes their order, and she looks at me, and I say that's ok, I'm fine. Then she says. I'm sorry but you have to order if you want to stay in the restaurant. What the frick.... There are already 5 chairs at the table. 4 of my friends are ordering and going to eat, and I can't even just come in and just hang out or chat with my friends while they eat? I have to freakin order something?! It's not like some other random person will be taking that seat anyways.... What the heck is this rule. I've never been to a restaurant like this...

Why do places have this policy, I really hate this place now, it's so dumb that they wouldn't even let me stay even though the majority of people are ordering. I'm not doing anything by being there.... Anyways, my friend just ordered something cheap for me and he ate it. so I got to stay. But wow, what a stupid policy I think.

If I owned a restaurant, I wouldn't care if people brought food as long as it was small, even a drink, I don't care, as long as they didn't just come in and not get anything from my store. But not allowing people to stay if they don't buy anything? That's ridiculous. What if I wasn't ready to order, or didn't feel like it, but later I wanted something? huh. Lost business. Forget you stupid sushi place.

Why do places do this?! What do you think, is that fair?

everything seemed legit till the you have to order to stay part....yea id be pretty annoyed myself

outside food is a liability, forcing patronage to stay is internal policy.surrealnumber5

I can understand no outside food and I could understand if nobody at your table was ordering anything and just wanted to hang out/you just came in alone and wouldn't order anything, but if I was in that situation I would just tell the waiter that I have a laundry list of food allergies and even just cross contamination can cause me to get violently ill. If all else failed, I'd ask to speak to a manager or the owner and tell them that. It might be a lie, but what can they really say to that. Ask for a beverage only and tell them you would like to stay with your friends and enjoy your evening together and not end up being taken out of there in an ambulance because anaphylaxis got you.XilePrincess

I asked if I could order water haha.

She said I could get a drink, but I already had one from costco. But whatever, it was really annoying, especially that my friend had to orders something for me to stay, but I just ate my food outside and came back.

You should've just bought water or said you were going to share with your friends.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]outside food is a liability, forcing patronage to stay is internal policy.gotdangit

[QUOTE="XilePrincess"]I can understand no outside food and I could understand if nobody at your table was ordering anything and just wanted to hang out/you just came in alone and wouldn't order anything, but if I was in that situation I would just tell the waiter that I have a laundry list of food allergies and even just cross contamination can cause me to get violently ill. If all else failed, I'd ask to speak to a manager or the owner and tell them that. It might be a lie, but what can they really say to that. Ask for a beverage only and tell them you would like to stay with your friends and enjoy your evening together and not end up being taken out of there in an ambulance because anaphylaxis got you.gotdangit

I asked if I could order water haha.

She said I could get a drink, but I already had one from costco. But whatever, it was really annoying, especially that my friend had to orders something for me to stay, but I just ate my food outside and came back.

[QUOTE="gotdangit"]

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]outside food is a liability, forcing patronage to stay is internal policy.surrealnumber5

I understand how if I brought food in and choked or had an allergy I can try to sue them, but I don't understand how it could be their fault at all. I mean, I brought it in... And especially when I said I wan't even going to eat it...

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]outside food is a liability, forcing patronage to stay is internal policy.gotdangit

Bringing your own food to a place to eat... how damn rude.

"Oh, your food is crap so I brought my own, I'm just sitting here making noise and taking up a seat at your dining establishment."

[QUOTE="gotdangit"]

[QUOTE="XilePrincess"]I can understand no outside food and I could understand if nobody at your table was ordering anything and just wanted to hang out/you just came in alone and wouldn't order anything, but if I was in that situation I would just tell the waiter that I have a laundry list of food allergies and even just cross contamination can cause me to get violently ill. If all else failed, I'd ask to speak to a manager or the owner and tell them that. It might be a lie, but what can they really say to that. Ask for a beverage only and tell them you would like to stay with your friends and enjoy your evening together and not end up being taken out of there in an ambulance because anaphylaxis got you.Fightingfan

I asked if I could order water haha.

She said I could get a drink, but I already had one from costco. But whatever, it was really annoying, especially that my friend had to orders something for me to stay, but I just ate my food outside and came back.

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"][QUOTE="gotdangit"] How?

gotdangit

I understand how if I brought food in and choked or had an allergy I can try to sue them, but I don't understand how it could be their fault at all. I mean, I brought it in... And especially when I said I wan't even going to eat it...

Bringing your own food to a place to eat... how damn rude.

"Oh, your food is crap so I brought my own, I'm just sitting here making noise and taking up a seat at your dining establishment."

Wasdie

[QUOTE="gotdangit"]

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]outside food is a liability, forcing patronage to stay is internal policy.XilePrincess

Yep, I think that's totally stupid.

Bringing your own food to a place to eat... how damn rude.

"Oh, your food is crap so I brought my own, I'm just sitting here making noise and taking up a seat at your dining establishment."

Wasdie

Bringing your own food to a place to eat... how damn rude.

"Oh, your food is crap so I brought my own, I'm just sitting here making noise and taking up a seat at your dining establishment."

Wasdie

^^Reminds me of this.

Why do places have this policy? What do you think, is that fair?

gotdangit

The whole weird thing about you having to order something from their menu was probably because it was a cheap sushi restaurant owned by asains.

It is kinda weird anyways to go to a restaurant and bring your own food and you should have just ordered something to drink when they started giving you a hard time.

[QUOTE="gotdangit"]

Why do places have this policy? What do you think, is that fair?

markop2003

TC how old are that you can't comprehend basic things like no outside food ??

Then you think you can just use the seat to hang with your buds??

Clearly your parents need to explain how the real world works to you.

[QUOTE="gotdangit"]

Why do places have this policy? What do you think, is that fair?

markop2003

Although like I said in my post the whole situation was weird anyways. Proper manners dictate that you don't bring food to a restaurant and if your not planning to eat with your group it's proper to order a drink at minimum.

If the person was by themselves maybe but if your with a group It seems a bit ridiculous. Unless the place is packed it's not costing the restaurant anything.

junglist101

It could be costing the place reputation and atmosphere, we have no idea what sort of sushi place this was. Black tie restaurants still exist and there are even private clubs which charge thousands in membership which won't let you in without a jacket.markop2003

The last restaurant I ate at would charge you 75 dollars a person for missing a reservation. I don't think this was that kind of place lol.

TC how old are that you can't comprehend basic things like no outside food ??

Then you think you can just use the seat to hang with your buds??

Clearly your parents need to explain how the real world works to you.

noscope-ak47

Yes I expect to be able to hang out with my friends at a restaurant where they all ordered and they already have an extra seat for me. Even if I was just going to get water.

[QUOTE="markop2003"]It could be costing the place reputation and atmosphere, we have no idea what sort of sushi place this was. Black tie restaurants still exist and there are even private clubs which charge thousands in membership which won't let you in without a jacket.junglist101

The last restaurant I ate at would charge you 75 dollars a person for missing a reservation. I don't think this was that kind of place lol.

[QUOTE="junglist101"]

[QUOTE="markop2003"]It could be costing the place reputation and atmosphere, we have no idea what sort of sushi place this was. Black tie restaurants still exist and there are even private clubs which charge thousands in membership which won't let you in without a jacket.gotdangit

The last restaurant I ate at would charge you 75 dollars a person for missing a reservation. I don't think this was that kind of place lol.

Your friends should have cancelled their orders.

And you shouldn't bring outside food.

If I go to restaurant as a group, I expect to be able to order coffee and just sit there for company if I'm not hungry.

Done it many times.

If they give you hassle, then cause a ruckus as a group, worse comes to worse teach the resutarant a lesson in manners.

I have no problem taking a plate of sushi and throwing it at the chef.

You mess with my friends, you mess with me.

And no we're not gonna be nice and order something small.

If I'm not hungry then I order a coffee.

You hassle us for that, you're gonna have a major problem.

Why didn't your friends go somewhere else that everyone would have liked?

It makes perfect sense. They dont want you occupying their seats if your not going to give them some profit. I assume it wasnt a fast food style place since you have to order and stuff. If you want to chill, go to Mcdonalds.

Surreal is correct. Institutions can be liable for anything that happens under their roof. Thank the trial lawyers for that. You may have brought in the food, but if they dont have policies against that sort of thing, they could be held liable for any possible adverse outcome.

That being said, I dont know of any restaraunt that would appreciate you bringing in outside food and attempting to dine on it. Restaraunts make their money by serving people food. They're not a public park where you can just waltz in and make a mess. They are for paying customers. If you owned a restaraunt, would you want someone to come in, sit at one of your tables taking up space, and provide no business?

Surreal is correct. sonicare

Surreal is correct. Institutions can be liable for anything that happens under their roof. Thank the trial lawyers for that. You may have brought in the food, but if they dont have policies against that sort of thing, they could be held liable for any possible adverse outcome.

That being said, I dont know of any restaraunt that would appreciate you bringing in outside food and attempting to dine on it. Restaraunts make their money by serving people food. They're not a public park where you can just waltz in and make a mess. They are for paying customers. If you owned a restaraunt, would you want someone to come in, sit at one of your tables taking up space, and provide no business?

sonicare

[QUOTE="surrealnumber5"]outside food is a liability, forcing patronage to stay is internal policy.gotdangit

Re: outside food: It's because it's something that they can't directly control; they don't know how clean another establishment is. Further, if it's a restaurant that caters to things such as intolerances and allergies, it's a lawsuit waiting to happen. It's not just about selling your own food, it's about keeping the health inspectors off of your back; once they smell blood, you'll be in for a world of sh*t.

Regarding forced patronage: If you're with a group of people who are ordering, they can't enforce that on you. Not unless they want to see your complaint in the local paper; hint, hint. Which is why that is an internal policy.

Surreal is correct.sonicare

I understand the not being able to take and eat outside food in another restaurant, but I've gone to restaurants with friends without ordering many times (food allergies) and have never been told that wasn't allowed. I don't understand that. I mean, if your entire table isn't ordering, yeah, but if everyone else but you is, I don't understand that.

I understand the not being able to take and eat outside food in another restaurant, but I've gone to restaurants with friends without ordering many times (food allergies) and have never been told that wasn't allowed. I don't understand that. I mean, if your entire table isn't ordering, yeah, but if everyone else but you is, I don't understand that.

IdioticIcarus