Table time limits?

A friend asked me for a recommendation last night and I suggested Dorado, TAC, or Hopleaf. She called Dorado and was told brusquely by the hostess that she would take their reservation but that they had to be done and gone in two hours or less.

I have NEVER heard of such a thing being explicitly mentioned! Waiters hovering by the check rudely and busboys clearing your table while there is still food left yes, but telling someone upfront " be done in two hours or we will boot you"?!?!

Am I just going to the wrong places? I gotta say, I was kind of curious to try the duck nachos but if that's the service I can expect, I think I'll pass.


-They ended up at Hopleaf and had a fantastic time.

I've had it done very nicely, when I'm asking for an early reservation on a busy evening. They'll tell me they have a 7:30 reservation and I'd have to be done by then--is that all right? My reaction was to be grateful that they'd found a way to squeeze me in. So I guess, like so much, it all depends on how it's presented.

What time were they trying to make the reservation for? An 8:30 reservation at somewhere that closes at 10?

I don't know the actual hours or anything, but it's certainly a possibility..

Octarine wrote:A friend asked me for a recommendation last night and I suggested Dorado, TAC, or Hopleaf. She called Dorado and was told brusquely by the hostess that she would take their reservation but that they had to be done and gone in two hours or less.

I was at a dinner one time at a western suburban restaurant that not only told us we had to be out by 9:00, but when the designated time rolled around refused to serve the birthday cake we had brought for the occasion and politely, but firmly, asked us to leave. This was a party of approx. 15 people.