02-09-2019, 11:57 PM
(02-09-2019, 03:08 PM)plam Wrote:(02-09-2019, 02:04 PM)Spokes Wrote: This is something that has always bothered me about some restaurants, and in general about some places in North American culture. What's the rush. I loved going out for dinner in France. Hours of just eating, drinking and hanging out, with zero pressure to move on.
There are economic incentives to turn over the seats. I don't know about AYCE economics but I do know that, in some sense, restaurants are in large part renting you the seats; food costs are typically only one-third of a restaurant's operating costs. So, the more turnover, the more money the restaurant makes. Like, if you have three seatings vs two in an evening, you're grossing 50% more.
Of course, that could just be an indication that something is fundamentally wrong with our society. But restaurant economics are only a reflection of the society.
That's what I'm saying. Sure, I get restaurants are businesses and need to make money. But is that any different in Europe? It's a cultural thing.