How do you handle this???

[beasmiester]

I'm at a loss. Am I wrong, is it just me? I guess it is the way I was raised or maybe values of my generation, lost on people of today.
Owners of restaurants and cafes, how do you handle folks bringing food from other businesses into your store and eating it at your tables? Even if they order food and drinks from you, is it proper? How would you react?

 

[SneakyPete]

I think you're wondering about a family bringing food from other places (for example: two McDonald's cheeseburgers for children) and ordering food and drinks from your establishment? Although it's not "nice" -- I'd let it go. As long as they are customers in the sense that they have paid for food/drinks at your place, they're your customers.

When I've been asked to heat a bottle up for a baby, I've done it. When asked for water for a puppy dog, I've done it. When you're in the service industry, you provide service...and sometimes that means going above and beyond. I get the frustration, but I wouldn't, personally, get all worked up and I'd make sure to interact with the customer to find out why they didn't order their ENTIRE meal there -- is your menu missing something they wanted? Maybe they are unaware that you offer a similar item or are willing to make it for them. Every interaction with a customer is an opportunity to gather information, good or bad. If you approach it any other way, it's a shot to the foot, because when you have a negative interaction with a customer, you cannot win -- even if you "win."

 

[Zebraspots]

Unless they have a baby or massive food allergy there is no call to bring food to a restaurant.

 

[Em]

I guess you could ban people from bringing in outside food, but if they are also buying from you, you are losing customers.

 

[UofL]

I think your business is perceived as less restaurant more store, gathering place,etc. Which is good and bad. So people assume they can do it. I think you could put signs on doors and elsewhere. 'no outside' food or beverage signs. Could it be a health department reg? If you think about it, if perceived as a store people shouldn't bring in food and drink because they might damage your merchandise. Maybe you could charge them twice for it sorry. I always try to buy a new tshirt from you when we visit. Like having a glass of wine outside . Good luck. Ellen

 

[SouthernBelle]

I'm going to start by saying that I have no idea what restaurant you own so please don't take my comments personally. You also may not need to take your customers behavior personally. It is just business after all. Many people just don't emapathise with the other side of things and they probably didn't think it would offend that much.

Food allergy is a big one. I know many people that do not eat at several restaurants due to their allergies and not all restaurants go out of their way to know what all the common food allergies are and offer 'safe' food to those affeted

Also, you could consider pregnancy cravings- or any type of cravings. Maybe a lady wants the same thing constantly but the rest of her family doesn't. So she has to bring her craving along or vice versa. Same could go for peopl on a short vacation and they have their hearts set on eating at different places.

If the food is for their kids:

The kids just don't like your food. I can see where some people don't want to give up eating what they like because their kids don't like it. We simply will not return to a place we have tried several times and the kids do not like the way anything tastes. It's all or none with us.

The prices you charge for kids may be a little too steep for what is provided.They may be able to feeed the kids better and cheaper somewhere else. I know there are places my kids could eat all of what is provided on their kids plate and it would NEVER be worth the price.

You never know what drives people some times. I would personally assume necessity- like an allergy

 

[BeachbumAggie]

I know when I was a kid and my folks wanted Chinese food, they always ran thru and picked me up fast food as I was very anti-anything new as a kid. As an adult, I have at times been on very strict diets and when I travel I do sometimes bring pieces of my meal with me-high protein/fiber pita or baked tortilla chips or low carb tortillas or even diet bread/buns which helped me be able to eat out but stick better to my diet. It gets very old for my hubby to not be able to eat out when I'm dieting and it's nice for me to have a break and dine out as well. We always buy our food and drinks and I generally try to be discreet except for our regular spots where we know the staff by name and they've never had a problem with this.

I can certainly see food allergy folks bringing items with them.

 

[beasmiester]

Thanks for the responses. I guess I've gotten too old to remember what it's like to travel with kids and try to keep everybody happy. We try to have everything to meet the wants of our visitors but haven't been able to bring in Donuts for the kids. Looks like that needs to be my next move.