---
title: "6 Common Wait Quotes From Restaurant Customers"
description: "The best ways to respond to wait quotes from restaurant customers: instantly improve service with a user-friendly waitlist app."
url: "https://www.carbonaraapp.com/wait-quotes-from-restaurant-customers/"
language: "en-GB"
published: "2025-01-15"
updated: "2025-07-07"
author: "Dillon Whitehead"
---

# 6 Common Wait Quotes From Restaurant Customers and How to Solve Them

![Two dogs sitting outside a store--Wait Quotes From Restaurant Customers--4363848--Pixabay](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/carbonara-1a538.appspot.com/o/marketingWebsite%2Fwp_g_d5d3c5009f05_6780e51f4e.jpg?alt=media)

To create a seamless dining experience is a challenge that every restaurant faces.

In this post, we'll break down six all-too-familiar wait quotes from restaurant customers that restaurant staff often hear in any dining establishment. Most importantly, we look at how to tackle them head-on to ensure those quotes never provoke further customer complaints.

[_Contact us_](https://restaurant-manager.carbonaraapp.com/#/sign-up/create-account) _to chat about how a waitlist app can boost customer satisfaction._

![Two dogs sitting outside a store--Wait Quotes From Restaurant Customers--4363848--Pixabay](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/carbonara-1a538.appspot.com/o/marketingWebsite%2Fwp_g_d5d3c5009f05_6780e51f4e.jpg?alt=media)

_Image by_ [_4363848_](https://pixabay.com/users/4363848-4363848/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3046244) _from_ [_Pixabay_](https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3046244) _(creative commons 2.0)_.

## 1. **"We've been waiting for so long for a table"**

It's the most common of all wait quotes. Whether the wait is objectively reasonable or not, customer perception is reality. The solution isn't just in speed; it's about the waiting experience itself. So how can you counter long wait times?

**Managing Expectations:**

Sometimes, long waits for tables are an inevitable part of the customer experience. For instance, a busy Saturday night with plenty of customers coming through the door, a lack of available seating will inevitably put pressure on staff. However, it’s not the end of the world. Here’s what you can do.

- **Provide** a clear initial wait time estimate. Research has shown that uncertainty plays a large role in customer dissatisfaction in [restaurant wait times](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/restaurant-wait-time/). With a waitlist app, however, you can update customers on the wait.
- **Underpromise** and overdeliver — or that’s what Harvard Business Review says, in their piece on [providing wait times](https://hbr.org/2020/10/when-providing-wait-times-it-pays-to-underpromise-and-overdeliver). However, smart technology can help restaurateurs more accurately estimate wait times.*
- **Create** an environment where the wait is part of the experience. Think buzzy bars or interactive waiting areas.

_*(Yet be careful: an overestimate can drive a customer away. Who would want to wait for 30 minutes when tables are free at the spot next door? So weave underestimates into your practices — for instance, to say that the wait is no longer than 30 minutes.)_

**Implementing Entertainment:**

Customers are free to explore the local area while they wait! Also, you could:

- Offer board games, puzzles, or an impromptu wine tasting while customers wait.
- Have a roving magician or live musician to keep spirits high.

_Read our_ [_ultimate guide to restaurant waitlist apps_](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/waitlist-app/) _to help conquer common wait quotes that your business deals with on a daily basis._

![A fork on a napkin on a table--Wait Quotes From Restaurant Customers--Laura--Pixabay](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/carbonara-1a538.appspot.com/o/marketingWebsite%2Fwp_g_6df48ef4aabb_02bcb9bdb1.jpg?alt=media)

_Image by_ [_Laura_](https://pixabay.com/users/lauratara-6167959/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2652770) _from_ [_Pixabay_](https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2652770) _(creative commons 2.0)_.

## 2. **"Is our food coming soon?"**

Communication is key here. Guests can wait a surprisingly long time with a smile, as long as they know they haven't been forgotten. Guests appreciate in-the-moment gestures. Give them a bonus and remember:

- Teach your team the importance of proactive updates. They can inform customers on stages in the preparation of their meal.
- If there is a delay to quality guest service, complimentary appetisers or drinks can work wonders.
- A simple explanation of any kitchen delays can be appreciated.

## 3. **"The waitstaff is too slow"**

Perception of service speed often focuses on the server. Whether true or not, it’s worth addressing to improve general efficiency.

**Service Training:**

- Incorporate prioritisation in waitstaff training.

- Teach time-saving techniques, such as efficient multi-tasking.
- Train staff to greet guests with etiquette — for instance, to offers drinks within two minutes of seating
- Remind staff to have an eye out for customer behaviour — for instance, if a customer is clearly looking for a server

**Technological Solutions:**

- Consider the latest point-of-sales service and devices to expedite order taking.
- Implement mobile ordering for more flexibility and speed, with systems like [mobile drinks ordering](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/mobile-drinks-ordering/) that can help improve overall restaurant efficiency.

![A person sitting at a table--Wait Quotes From Restaurant Customers--Mircea Iancu--Pixabay](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/carbonara-1a538.appspot.com/o/marketingWebsite%2Fwp_g_01bb59d8cc19_4e97c6bbb4.jpg?alt=media)

_Image by_ [_Mircea Iancu_](https://pixabay.com/users/surprising_snapshots-11873433/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7994623) _from_ [_Pixabay_](https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7994623) _(creative commons 2.0)_

## 4. **"There's no one available to take our order"**

This is a tricky one. As already mentioned, staff should have an eye out for customer behaviour, to know when they’re needed. So proactive staffing is crucial, but not always feasible in a busy establishment. Therefore:

**Cross-Training:**

- Ensure all staff members can take basic orders and assist patrons.
- Implement a shift manager who can jump in to help during peaks.

## 5. **"Our reservation wasn't honoured on time"**

From social media to Google reviews, [everyone is a restaurant critic](https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/aug/02/no-shows-cork-sniffers-and-salt-addicts-restaurateurs-on-21-dining-habits-to-avoid). The mark of a good restaurant is in its ability to manage reservations, and more importantly, the inevitable chaos that sometimes arises. So, to avoid those negative reviews online, here are a few tips.

**Managing Delays:**

- Be honest about the delay and offer a sincere apology.
- Briefly explain the reason for the wait to reduce frustration.

**Incentives for Inconveniences:**

- Offer a complimentary round of drinks for the table or an appetiser.
- Consider a discount for a future visit to make up for the inconvenience.

_Get started with a low-cost, reliable restaurant reservations system — find out what others think in “_[_Why this Spanish Restaurant is Celebrating Carbonara App_](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/why-this-spanish-restaurant-is-celebrating-carbonara-app/)_”._

## 6. **"We didn't get the table we wanted"**

A specific table request unmet can dampen an entire meal experience. Understanding possible limitations can ease customer disappointment.

**Managing Expectations:**

- Use clear language when discussing table availability at time of booking.
- Explain in advance if there are specific reasons a table can't be guaranteed.

**Surprise and Distraction:**

- Exceed customer expectations with exceptional service at all times _—_ anticipate table demand with [a table management system](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/why-restaurant-table-numbers-matter/).
- Have staff who are great at chit-chat to keep the atmosphere buoyant during seating.

### **Tackling Common Wait Quotes from Restaurant Customers**

In tackling these common wait quotes, keep in mind that the restaurant business is dynamic, requiring both a structured approach and quick thinking.

Every wait time is an opportunity. Whether it’s to create a great first impression or ensure a loyal customer to return at a late date, the way you handle these quotes can define your restaurant's reputation.

With patience, a well-trained team, and the occasional complimentary treat, you can transform even the most outspoken quote-spouter into your biggest advocate.

[_Sign up_](https://restaurant-manager.carbonaraapp.com/#/sign-up/create-account) _to discover what Carbonara App can do for your customers and staff today!_

_Read more:_ [_Revolutionise the Restaurant Waitlist with a Cloud-Based Hospitality App_](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/cloud-based-hospitality-app/)_._