Sorry, I don’t really buy that. How can that be harder than 5 tables of 4? If everybody got a separate check, that would be harder.
But Applebees is mid-priced — you don’t spend $34 on your own meal; there’s a 2 for $20 deal that gives you two entrees and an appitizer, and they have desserts for between $1 and $3 for individual portions.
Think of the group dynamic.
five separate tables of four each are well contained and easy to manage. For the most part they are also easy to manage and are peaceful.
Twenty people at one table is mayhem. Try to remember who ordered what, everyone is talking at once, ten different “ hey, I also need this “ and only two arms to work with.
Your bringing things out as fast as you can but for everything to magically appear in front of everyone at the same time is impossible. But try having people understand that.
If the twenty top is all your tables, your entire section, bunched together and they leave a crap tip a good part of your earnings for the night are screwed. If they linger all damned night long and leave a crap tip your really screwed. If one or two of the five four tops leave a bad tip, not a big deal.
If my a real bad stroke of luck you have other tables including the twenty top those other tables will likely suffer.
A twenty top is not an easy task. And sadly, many people think waiters have a sign around their neck that says ‘ please abuse me. ‘
- and please read post 112. Bad enough with a small group pulling that bullpuckey but a twenty top?
I’ve seen it, its horrible.