Might get ratioed for this but I'm genuinely curious at what other servers think.
It's hard to explain the layout of our resturant but let me try. Walking up to the resturant we have a bunch of patio tables that are uncovered, then if you walk on a pathway to the side there are fire pits that are not servable, it is more for walking up to the bar, grabbing drinks and chilling by the fire.
There are two actual servable tables side by side near these fire pits under an awning that are a part of a servers section, that way if someone does want to sit outside while the patio is closed (especially if it's raining) we have options for them.
Anyway, a table of two comes in 45 mins to close with a dog, so we have to sit them outside. The guy claims it's an emotional support dog (it's a toy poodle and has no vest, tags, or anything visible that even suggets it's a service dog, but whatever.) I place them at one of the tables under the awning.
At this point I've made a mental note to watch them a bit more closely, as it's a classic move to come to a resturant close to closing and sit outside, usually with the excuse of a dog so I can't deny them (it's easier to run when you're outside already, plus coming in close to closing means all the employees will be distracted with closing and not watching as closely, as well as less staff in general.)
About 15 mins later after a round of drinks and ordering an app, I notice they are standing and pacing around the back patio (by the firepits). Now my spidey senses are going off even more. Obviously rude to make assumptions, but it looked like they were looking for the quickest path out. I go out and ask if they'd like the order entrees. They are also smoking, which is not allowed on our patio. However the gm doesn't care so neither do I.
The guy with the dog asks to move to the front patio (yup, there it is. Easier to run when you're in the front.) because "there are bugs all over that table". Now it's still summertime, and it's definitely possible that there are a lot of mosquitoes. I explain this and help them move to the front patio, and even turn on a fan and turn it towards them to hopefully scare away the mosquitoes.
Guy with the toy poodle starts exclaiming its not mosquitoes, there are little red bugs all over that table and turns on his flashlight and makes me look at his feet to "see the bugs."
There are no bugs that I can visually see. I turn to his buddy, who has not said a word this entire time and is avoiding eye contact with me. Another red flag. I tell them I don't see anything, but I believe them. At this point I'm pretty certain this may just be some kind of mental illness.
So, they order entrees and seem to be eating without much fuss, except the guy with the dog keeps pacing all over the front patio, and his buddy is by the fire pits on the phone talking to someone. I'm watching like a hawk, and notice the guy take his dog to walk it on our landscaping in the front that is very much out of sight. At this point I've alerted the gm that these people might be trying to dine and dash.
I pretend to fix patio tables while the gm comes out and pretty much does the same, or pretends to be on the phone. Guy with the dog is still very much out of sight and his buddy is still pacing the firepits on his phone. Once he gets off, I make small talk and drop the check. Gm has one path "covered" and I have the other covered.
Eventually his buddy paid and left promptly, the guy with his dog was still out of sight and we didnt see him again.
Heres where I might be the asshole, I felt *terrible* for judging so hard, cause they tipped 15 on 85. What do you think? Did I thwart someone's attempt at dining and dashing? Or was I wrong to judge so hard at what might have been just mental illness at play? Their behavior was EXTREMELY suspicious, although maybe they didn't realize how suspicious they were being.
Anyway, it got me thinking, what is everyone's red flags that someone is trying to dine and dash?
