Dear Jacquelyn,

Is it OK to enter a nice sit-down restaurant 15 to 30 minutes before closing, and if so, should you leave a bigger tip because they had to stay later to serve you?

Dear Reader,

If you come in when a restaurant is open, you should expect good service.

Some places are better than others about this and some servers are better about it than others.

I see nothing wrong with showing up at a restaurant 30 minutes before closing and expecting a fine meal and great service. Choosing to come at the end of the night versus the beginning should have no bearing on the service.

Many dining guests assume that closing time is actually the “last seating” time and expect the restaurant to stay open for another hour to cook, serve and let them finish the meal. If the expectation that last seating time is some fuzzy time before the posted closing, that contributes more to the confusion.

The most courteous way to handle a late-night dinner out is to call the restaurant ahead of time, find out what time they close, and what time is their latest reservation. This avoids an uncomfortable rushed dining experience.

If you do arrive near closing time, be considerate to your server.

Acknowledge the inconvenience of arriving late and inquire if the kitchen is still open. When it is time to order, be respectful. Don’t take 20 minutes to look at the menu and then order.

Even more considerate: Ask for the check quickly so that if you’re the last table they have, they can close out their checks for the night and start doing whatever side work they have. This is not the time to hang around an extra hour talking.

To sum it up, if you like to sit, talk and enjoy a late dinner out use common sense. Be considerate and as always, tip adequately.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training.

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