Ok, so for those of you that do a dine-in like we do, how do you handle the folks that set up a reservation for say 15+, then surprise you when they come in hauling their own balloons and deserts?
I’m all over the fence on this issue. We strive to be that “family friendly” place, we’re a full menu place from pizza to burgers, salads, pastas & steaks. But it gripes me a bit to have them be bringing in their own birthday,baby shower, whatever occasion, cake…usually taking up a “table in the back” to set it on so it’s not in their way, and then we get stuck with cleaning up the mess, or worse providing all the plates and fresh forks for free. I don’t even take into account the number of cake slices we don’t serve from our own menu when they bring theirs in.
Who else lets folks bring in outside cakes etc? If not, how do you handle it if they show up with them unannounced?
I’m all over the fence on this issue. We strive to be that “family friendly” place, we’re a full menu place from pizza to burgers, salads, pastas & steaks. But it gripes me a bit to have them be bringing in their own birthday,baby shower, whatever occasion, cake…usually taking up a “table in the back” to set it on so it’s not in their way, and then we get stuck with cleaning up the mess, or worse providing all the plates and fresh forks for free. I don’t even take into account the number of cake slices we don’t serve from our own menu when they bring theirs in.
Who else lets folks bring in outside cakes etc? If not, how do you handle it if they show up with them unannounced?
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