Seated in less desirable table bc of age

I'd have moved, as long as we weren't taking up a table for four and it was busy.

I never go for an evening meal on my own but even if I want only a cup of coffee during the day I am seated near the loos or the busy kitchen door.

When DH and I were 'courting' in our late teens/early 20's, we were always parked by either the loo or the kitchen.....Things haven't changed much over the years...

OH is slightly fussy about where we sit, in that he doesn't like to be hidden away in a corner), but if we are not 100% happy with the table we offered, we always ask if we can sit in whatever place we would prefer, assuming of course that our preferred table isn't reserved and (if there are any signs that they are going to be really busy) isn't too big for our needs.

I can't say that it has ever crossed our minds that the first table we are offered is deliberately hiding us away, but I will bear that possibility in mind next time we eat out.

I find it irritating if two of us go into a quiet, almost empty restaurant and we are seated at a tiny table in a bad spot. They'll usually give you somewhere better if asked, but why do it?
Sometimes they'll say the other tables are booked, but they are often still emply two hours later when we are leaving.

I haven't noticed this sort of discrimination. A few weeks ago I was staying in an hotel (alone aged over 80) and was given a very pleasantly situated table at breakfast each morning. Last week I took my daughter out for lunch at an hotel in my market town. I had booked the table, but on arrival we were given the choice of tables, either in the restaurant or on the enclosed verandah. I often eat in this hotel with friends of similar age. We've never been offered a 'bad' table.

It doesn't matter where we go we always get seated in a draught, with no view, near the service door to the kitchen, up a flight of steps, next table to the noisiest most disruptive clients .........you name it, we have been faced with it!

I am clearly disabled and on a cruise holiday recently we had booked a speciality restaurant. We checked in at the concierge desk and were then escorted to our table at the far side of the restaurant and the waiter had the nerve to tut and roll his eyes because I couldn't keep up! I was bloody furious. And there were lots of vacant tables which were easier for me to access too.
When we left, I sought out the young man and asked him if he found it entertaining to watch me struggle.

We always move if we don’t like where we’re offered.
You might like to read The Invisible Women’s Club by Helen Paris. It’s a page turner, with a lovely description of just what you’ve experienced.

J52

We always move if we don’t like where we’re offered.
You might like to read The Invisible Women’s Club by Helen Paris. It’s a page turner, with a lovely description of just what you’ve experienced.

Yes, we're not back at school!

No never noticed this, most places I go for coffee or snack you seat yourself if you go to a restaurant it depends how busy they are.
Are you in USA Zuzu it may be different there I may be wrong but you said your husband uses a cane I ve only ever heard it called a walking stick or stick over here I also no idea what a 2 top or a 4 top is ?

I took my husband to stay in a nice hotel for his 90th birthday and we were pleased to be taken to the table in the centre of the bay window with the best sea view.

Whenever we’re shown to a table we don’t like we immediately refuse- with the reason! Nearly always results in us choosing an alternative.
Be alert & call them out on this!

Yes, we're in the US, Georgia. This was on Tybee Island, but it's happened at other restaurants. Not every time, but often enough we finally noticed it. A 2-top & 4-top refer to how many people the table will sit. I understand when busy saving the larger tables for larger parties, but it was so obvious, both couples were seated at larger tables and we were initially relegated to the back side. I did ask and the hostess graciously changed our table. I don't know what other people call it here. I call it his stick when we're talking, but wrote cane.

I have never noticed it. We have favourite tables in pubs and hotels, but realised yesterday we were sitting at the table we requested because of the view, and it is directly in front of the door to the loos. Never realised it was a slur.

My friend and I , both in our 80’s , always ask for another table, very nicely, if we don’t like the one we are given.
We are paying the same amount of money as everyone else.
We just say we don’t like the one we haven been given with no explanation.

We eat out a lot in various places and have never noticed this to be honest. Often told we can choose a table if we haven’t pre-booked.

We ask if we can choose a table if not many diners are there, usually this is fine, but have noticed that on occasion we get the duff table by the toilets or the door. And there also seems to be an invisibility thing going on. Have on more than one occasion been out dining and the waiting staff have gone to take the orders of younger diners who arrived after us, and trying to get served at the bar, forget it.

Astitchintime

It doesn't matter where we go we always get seated in a draught, with no view, near the service door to the kitchen, up a flight of steps, next table to the noisiest most disruptive clients .........you name it, we have been faced with it!

I am clearly disabled and on a cruise holiday recently we had booked a speciality restaurant. We checked in at the concierge desk and were then escorted to our table at the far side of the restaurant and the waiter had the nerve to tut and roll his eyes because I couldn't keep up! I was bloody furious. And there were lots of vacant tables which were easier for me to access too.
When we left, I sought out the young man and asked him if he found it entertaining to watch me struggle.

What a bloomin nerve, glad you called him out on it. I am not a shouty in your face kind of person but if someone treats me as that young man treated you, or similar, I do get irate.

Not found this at all, not with a friend, nor my husband or just myself. I would’nt hesitate to either move or ask to be moved if it happened.

I cannot say that I have ever noticed this. We went out to lunch today, we are in our 80s, and we were given a 4 person table in a run with all the other customers, mainly young families.

DH cannot walk far or very fast. If, occasionally, we are directed to a table not convenient for him, I just ask for a more convenient tablle and point out that he cannot walk that far.

Yesterday, we were in A&E, where DH had been sent by our GP. At one point the doctor wanted DH to go to another room for a scan. I just asked how far it was, and when told requested a wheelchair.

All these problems with being treated differently, would end if people would just speak up when it happens and insist on proper treatment.

I always ask to be seated in a quiet corner when booking, and usually get it. If I don't like the seat I'm offered I'll ask for an alternative. If I really don't like it (it's in full sun, to which I'm sensitive, or a bar stool, which will give me days of back pain), then I'll leave and go elsewhere.

I usually just say something like, "I'm sorry but, due to back issues, I can't sit on a high bar stool. Do you have any tables with regular chairs?" If they do, I thank them. If they don't, I'll go find somewhere else that meets my needs.

I’m a lot younger than many on here and I’ve not noticed this , but I’m very fussy with tables and if I’m not happy with the table I will ask nicely if I can be moved .

I’ve not noticed. Always asked for different table if not happy with their choice. No problems. I’m more fussy about the table and ambience in the place than the food 😀

You want to try eating on your own as an older woman, you could die of hunger some times. I usually walk out. Found it much easier in places where you choose your table, like Nero or Costa for a snack. If a restaurant I ask first what tables they have available, if it's awful I just say, no thanks and leave, it saves them the work.