People watching at restaurants

[obob]

What does this mean? You go to restaurants and watch other people eat? I don't get it!

[lauda]

obob said:

What does this mean? You go to restaurants and watch other people eat? I don't get it!

You're going to have to put this in context I think...

[ally_f]

'People Watching'

...The casual pastime of observing others whilst in a public place, normally a restaurant, coffee shop or whatever, to glean a small insight into another persons life for entertainment value.

is this what you mean? Was that the question?

[Laplace]

It's when the OH always picks the table facing out towards the restaurant floor and you're sat facing a wall all night as her eyes and attention wander to another table, preferably within earshot.

A quick boot to the shin quickly remedies this is find.

[obob]

When restaurants are recommended on here people often say 'it's great for people watching' just wondered what it meant.

[Simpo Two]

'Celebs' I expect.

[lauda]

obob said:

When restaurants are recommended on here people often say 'it's great for people watching' just wondered what it meant.

Must admit, I don't think I would ever go to a restaurant to people watch, I'm normally more interested in the people I'm there with and the food.

People watching in cafes/bars can be quite entertaining when you're just relaxing with a drink and watching the world go by though. Brighton is a fairly good place for this as its population is pretty 'eclectic'. Just be careful you don't confuse people watching with cruising. Especially in Brighton.

[RDMcG]

I wonder abut this. Restaurants that are well known for people watching seem to be frequented by people who actually mean 'watch me". I have a mate who loves these places and loves to go there with some stunning woman, and the objective is actually to be admired. I asked him about it and he told me it "raised the brand" and that there was always the chance of a quick conversation with a new target.

Deep, I know. I go for the food and the atmosphere and much prefer a quiet place. Of course, I casually look around, same as everyone else I expect.

[Mobile Chicane]

Is it just me who thinks that other diners should be (predominantly) seen, and not heard?

Had a lovely supper at Hix Oyster and Chop House last night. Great company and wonderful food. However it was a tad marred by the table next who were loud and uncouth. An Alan Sugar type.

Look matey, the entire restaurant doesn't need to hear the details of your petit-bourgeois life. Likewise, control your wimmins. I don't need to hear their screeched vacuous 'conversation'.

Had I not been in polite company, I'd have leant over and sotto voce told the fat cntu to shut the fcku up.

[Simpo Two]

Mobile Chicane said:

Look matey, the entire restaurant doesn't need to hear the details of your petit-bourgeois life. Likewise, control your wimmins. I don't need to hear their screeched vacuous 'conversation'.

Reminds me of when I had the misfortune to sit on a table next to an odd couple. Man seemed quiet and pleasant; woman was Hyacinth Bucket, lambasting the poor waitresses with 'We've got a Bentley you know, so we know about high standards'. Except it was a P-reg and worth about £10K, less than half my Griff at the time. A thoroughly unpleasant old bat.

[lauda]

The woman in the restaurant next to us last night was regaling her fellow diners with a story about the last time she had contracted cystitis. Luckily we were on the coffees by this point.