I've always kind of wondered what happens in these situations where a restaurant is evacuated. If I were finished with a meal certainly the right thing to do would be to return and pay. What would be the correct thing to do if you were say half finished or had just had appetizers?
I would absolutely return and attempt to pay. However, it would not surprise me in the least if restaurant management comped the meals of the people who did try and return. Even if that were the case, I would still insist on getting a tip to whomever my server was.
These comments remind me of a experience I recently had this past August when I visited Disneyland out in sunny California.
I made time to enjoy a meal at one of my favorite dining spots , Cafe Orleans, one fine late afternoon.
Most of the seating is located outside, and they had full tables that day.
I was just about done with my meal when all of a sudden most of the waitstaff started going around to the tables and telling everyone we had to evacuate the area ASAP.
It was done in a calm way, table by table, likely to avoid freaking people out and fueling a possible panic....but it was still a experience that was a bit of a jolting surprise in that serene setting.
I was told to basically drop what I was doing and leave right now.
I was also told by my server I had two choices -
Drop everything and walk away, and don't worry about payment for my meal.
Or...
Come back once Guests are allowed back in and have a fresh plate brought out of whatever I had ordered.
Something I thought about once vacating as instructed and left standing under the trees in the walkway.
For those familiar with Disneyland, the entire area of New Orleans Sq. from POTC to the French Market was cleared of Guests that afternoon.
Club 33 I believe was emptied too.
A bit surreal to experience in this setting, for sure, but it was handled well.
Later on I found out it was some type of kitchen fire that triggered the evac, but I have no real way of knowing for certain.
In the end, I will confess I took Option #1 and walked after hanging around the area for about 30 minutes.
I felt really bad leaving without leaving my server a tip...but in the confusion there was no opportunity.
I had for the most part finished my small meal and my server had encouraged Option #1.
There were several Guests around me at others tables who were just beginning theirs and were fairly miffed they had to leave their tables.
Even saw a couple try to reach over the outdoor seating areas' railings to try to grab some of their food while waiting for word to come that we could all be let back in.
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