# Do restaurants try to "hide" ugly or unattractive customers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2015, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023 "2015-04-07T05:10:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/21 "2015-04-07T16:01:49Z")
I thought \*\*AnaMen \*\*was being tongue-in-cheek but I could be wrong. This one, however: > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > “Hey there fellows, I’d like you to meet Ken and Lonny.” > > “Larry.” > > “Ken, Lonny, I’d like you to meet…” > > “Larry!” > > “…Mohammed, Jugdish, Sydney and Clayton. Grab a seat and make yourselves at home. Don’t be shy about helping yourselves to punch and cookies.” … I confess I did not follow. OP, I am one of the wise-asses who was about to spout off, but it was not at the potential of you/your wife looking anything other than “normal” whatever the fuck that means in this context. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/22 "2015-04-07T16:28:55Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > … I confess I did not follow… **Vinyl Turnip** was quoting [a scene from Animal House](https://youtu.be/LuFCaIAnETk?t=57s) where the “less desirable” pledges were shuttled off to their own room at a frat party. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/23 "2015-04-07T17:00:50Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Usually, a restaurant isn’t slighting someone by seating them at the front of the restaurant. For most restaurants, those tables are desirable (perhaps because of the view or perhaps because you can see and be seen there). You and I know that, but my friends saw it differently. Sometimes there truly is no pleasing people. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/24 "2015-04-07T17:08:17Z")
I didn’t even know there was an “ugly people” section in restaurants. Perhaps it’s because we’re usually seated by the windows. How sad. Do they even order from the same menu? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/25 "2015-04-07T17:15:20Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > **Vinyl Turnip** was quoting [a scene from Animal House](https://youtu.be/LuFCaIAnETk?t=57s) where the “less desirable” pledges were shuttled off to their own room at a frat party. Not pledges…rushees. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/26 "2015-04-07T17:19:35Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Oh sure you make it sound so reasonable. I bet you think we went to the moon too, huh? No, no, not the moon - the restaurant with the fake space trip [was Mars 2112](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_2112) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/27 "2015-04-07T17:41:23Z")
As a hiker who goes into restaurants direct from the trail at times, yes many do and it’s sort of a joke among the hikers to be seated in the hiker section, usually in the back and away from the other guests. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/28 "2015-04-07T17:42:50Z")
I have noticed that I’m often seated by the window at Chinese Restaurants. Exceptions occur when they already have an Asian to display and implicitly endorse their food. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/29 "2015-04-07T18:26:54Z")
This would explain why my wife and I are usually seated front and center and sometimes with a spotlight trained on our table. ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/30 "2015-04-07T18:39:14Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > This would explain why my wife and I are usually seated front and center and sometimes with a spotlight trained on our table. You mean the spotlight doesn’t follow you wherever you go? Some people’s lives are _so_ uninteresting. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/31 "2015-04-07T18:42:09Z")
Speaking of children, I met my daughter and toddler grandson for lunch at Steak 'N Ale and they seated us smack in the middle. My grandson with the booming voice starting pointing at the silverware and yelling “FORK! FORK!”, only he had his own babyish version of the word. :eek: I wish they had stuck us in a back corner … or out back. It wouldn’t bother me at all if a restaurant had a designated children’s area. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/32 "2015-04-07T18:48:20Z")
They do this because the staff doesn’t want to have to look at you. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/33 "2015-04-07T18:56:53Z")
> [@Beauregard\_Porkypine](#): > > Maybe those of us less attractive types should stay home and off the streets to ease your dining experience. > I would hate someone to “walk-in”, see me, and then run in disgust. Please do. It is such a burden having to constantly avert mine eyes from thy filfth. > [@kanicbird](#): > > As a hiker who goes into restaurants direct from the trail at times, yes many do and it’s sort of a joke among the hikers to be seated in the hiker section, usually in the back and away from the other guests. That’s because you guys are smelly what with the bear crap on the bottom of your shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/34 "2015-04-07T19:16:01Z")
I’m pretty sure if a chain restaurant had a policy of “Hide the ugly people” it would soon turn into a PR nightmare for them as the Muckrakers would have a field day with it. ---
**Author:** ![skylyn12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@skylyn12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skylyn12)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/35 "2015-04-07T19:18:06Z")
> [@bump](#): > > That’s the usual rule, but I have noticed that when you come in with small children, they’ll often segregate you off in a section with a bunch of other parents. Probably not because you or your children are particularly embarrassing for the restaurant, but because screeching children and other not perfectly behaved children can be bothersome to other patrons, but probably less so to other parents. I have noticed this at plenty of places. They will put all the people with kids together. Makes sense but ends up being pretty darn loud. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/36 "2015-04-07T19:24:36Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > This would explain why my wife and I are usually seated front and center and sometimes with a spotlight trained on our table. They are just trying to discourage you from stealing the silverware. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/37 "2015-04-07T20:29:19Z")
Can confirm, am land whale that eats at Carrabas. Anecdote time: In [Garlic and Sapphires](http://www.amazon.com/Garlic-Sapphires-Secret-Critic-Disguise/dp/0143036610), Ruth Reichl shares that if she is recognized in a restaurant, the owners/waiters will surround her with happy people, often friends of the restaurant pulled in especially. These happy people will be given the same high quality food that she receives, rather than the peasant food (she remarks that she got raspberries twice as big as regular diners). I suppose the opposite could be true. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > I find that when I go to the local yuppie sports bar on a Friday for their fajita & margarita special, they’ll walk me past a couple dozen empty tables and seat me clear in the back, rather than out front by all the happy, cheerful, young crowd with the laughing and the drinks and the friends and everything. Just curious, why aren’t you eating at the bar? Or is the implication that you’re alone not accurate? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/38 "2015-04-07T20:31:07Z")
> [@LibrarySpy](#): > > These happy people will be given the same high quality food that she receives, rather than the peasant food (she remarks that she got raspberries twice as big as regular diners). > > I suppose the opposite could be true. > > Just curious, why aren’t you eating at the bar? Or is the implication that you’re alone not accurate? Those be some big raspberries. :eek: Is it expected that people sitting alone will eat at the bar? I never eat at the bar. I want a freakin table. Even if I am alone. A tiny table is fine, but the bar is a terrible place to eat, with the bartender staring gimlets into your soul the whole time… ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/39 "2015-04-07T20:40:16Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Is it expected that people sitting alone will eat at the bar? I never eat at the bar. I want a freakin table. Even if I am alone. A tiny table is fine, but the bar is a terrible place to eat, with the bartender staring gimlets into your soul the whole time… Hee. It’s completely acceptable to eat at a table. I just tend to eat at the bar where it’s friendly and I can talk to people. At a table I feel too imperial. Also, while we’re talking about it, it’s perfectly acceptable to sit at a bar and not order alcohol. MOM. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023/40 "2015-04-07T21:05:55Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > … > > Is it expected that people sitting alone will eat at the bar? I never eat at the bar. I want a freakin table. Even if I am alone. A tiny table is fine, but the bar is a terrible place to eat, with the bartender staring gimlets into your soul the whole time… I think it’s to each their own. I solo’ed at a table once, I did not like it, the bar please. I felt out of place, quite ironically like I am there on display for anyone to be staring gimlets into my soul :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-restaurants-try-to-hide-ugly-or-unattractive-customers/717023.md?page=3)