re: OT's opinion on staying at a place past closing time

I tip a nickel and ask for a Togo cup

I used to make some of my biggest tips on tables that came in just before closing. It helps if you display a good attitude about having to stay a little late.

I've worked in the restaurant industry and most people that come in 5 minutes before close are doing it on purpose. I always worked FOH so it wasn't that big of a deal to me but BOH has a lot of shite to do before they are able to leave, I'd think it would be common ettiquete to not knowingly screw people, especially students who have things they need to beside wait on your surf and turf at midnight.

The worst thing about posts like this is that you haven't got the guts to say it out loud and in public.
Then every time you eat out you can be assured that your meal really does taste like arse.

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What's this board's opinion on working retail or a restaurant and people who come in at the last minute or stay past closing time?

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I never had a problem with people hanging out for a half hour past close when I worked in a restaurant. I politely made it clear to them, what time the kitchen closed, etc.

The only thing that really pissed me off was when people would argue and beg me to serve them food way past close.

Can't count how many times some asshat asked me "well why can you just turn the grill back on" at 11:15 when we closed at 10:30.

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especially students who have things they need to beside wait on your surf and turf at midnight.

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Do you honestly make every decision based on the backstory of the life of the oerson working at the place you are at? I worked at a restaurant where my closing responsibility was cleaning dishes at the end of the night. We were the last ones out. Yeah, it sucked. But I picked that job. Owner paid me better than necessary (i.e. higher than min wage for a job that a homeless person could do), because it kind of sucked. I scheduled classes accordingly. When it got to be too much, I had to quit that job. That's life. Couldn't imagine asking the owner to maybe change business hours so that a waiter, cook, or delivery driver doesn't have to close out so late. And that's what you are doing. Establishing an earlier closing time due to some unspoken courtesy.

I don't walk in late mostly because I hate being in near empty restaurants. And yes, it does suck sometimes. But I also don't think someone doing it should be treated like a criminal.

I try not to do that but, if I do get in before the closing time, I eat quickly and get out.

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Less than he'd lose on turnover costs 

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You think there's a high turnover cost for waiters and line cooks?

Disrespectful as hell

My younger days I worked in the service industry.

As a cook/waiter it would drive the staff insane when a table would come in 5 minutes before closing. 20-30 minutes? Who cares. I mean that's fine. But it's the last 5 minute folks that drive you crazy.

In management for a bit finishing schooling up a place I ran in Memphis had it solved. The restaurant closed at 10. The KITCHEN closed at 930. It was known and well received and the staff as a whole would be out of there by 11 at the latest, usually 1030. Best restaurant gig I ever had.