QUOTE(ducky @ Apr 15 2007, 05:46 PM)
I wouldn't blame the owners of the restaurant for the behavior of the group. I also wouldn't blame the owners if they had asked them to hold the noise down for the other patronsand it failed to have any effect. Offering to move the couple to a quieter table would be a good solution if it existed.
I also don't think it is acceptable to say that it's okay for a group of 21-year-olds or people of any age to treat an upscale restaurant like a frat house and throw manners out the window just because they have money to spend and they feel entitled to "have a good time," which includes obnoxious behavior. Maybe they can afford to eat somewhere like Pachangas three times a week. I guess too bad for the couple who are celebrating their wedding anniversary that can't normally afford that sort of thing and decided to splurge for the occasion.
The problem rests entirely with the sense of entitlement to "have a good time" at the expense of others. I myself have been part of one of those large noisy groups, but when asked to keep it down we immediately did so and apologized. If we wanted to keep having a good time, we would have finished up our meal and met at someone else's house. These girls could have done the same thing and moved it on down to Powerhouse.
I think you nailed it with the sense of entitlement of having a good time, at the expense of others.
My sister's and my family went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant here in Folsom about a month ago. Since we had a party of 10, our seating options were limited. Next to us was another large party, probably 10 or so. They were celebrating something, and I was OK with that. However, within the course of the meal, and several drinks later, they became extremely vocal. They eventually just stood around their table, not sitting down at all, and became louder and louder. We asked to be moved, but the restaurant did not have another table to accomodate us. Finally, when the offending party offered up a few profanities, my husband stood up and told them we had children present. They did tone it down a bit, but were still loud and obnoxious, and it put a damper on our evening.
Getting back to the original post, Steve did a comparison of eight woman out having a good time versus the two diners, dollar for dollar. Of course, the eight woman will spend more money, but perhaps just that night. Who knows if they would ever come back. If the original poster had an enjoyable experience, she might of made this restaurant a favorite and returned often, and spread the good word.