Dear Miss Manners: When is it acceptable to ask for a different table when being seated at a restaurant?
My husband and I have a favorite restaurant, which does not take reservations. In the past month, we have been seated once by the restrooms and once by the kitchen.
The second time, I politely asked the hostess if we could have another table, and she complied. I thanked her profusely and made sure to leave a good tip for our waiter. The restaurant was busy, but there were open tables and no waiting time, so I didn't feel I was being unreasonable.
My husband was upset and told me I shouldn't have asked to be seated elsewhere. He sulked for a good part of the meal.
This has happened before, and while I will sometimes accept poor seating to avoid an argument, it often makes the meal less appetizing for me. The nearness to a restroom and its accompanying traffic and smells is unpleasant, and if there are open seats elsewhere, I will ask to be reseated.
Am I wrong to do so?
Gentle reader: The etiquette problem here is not the seating, but your husband's sulking.
He has made the common mistake of believing that a restaurant is something more than a commercial establishment that benefits from satisfying its customers. In your case, especially, as regular customers, the opportunity to please you by making a simple adjustment should be welcome — as it apparently was.
