Longer and Later isn't Better

So my dedicated blog readers, you must be wondering why the prolific Wizard did not submit any new happenings yesterday to amuse you while you peruse. One of my managers ended up feeling sick yesterday, so I had to work the dreaded double from opening(8 A.M.) until closing(10 P.M.). I try to avoid ranting and b*tching on my blog mainly because nobody wants to hear it, but in this case I simply cannot resist. I run a casual dining restaurant with posted hours. Granted by 10 P.M. I was getting a little tired, but I try not to have this negatively affect my job performance. At 9:25 last night we sat a party of about 12 people that ended up expanding to 15. I happily seat customers until 10 P.M. in accordance with our posted hours. The party was informed that last call was imminent and ordered eight or nine pitchers of beer and four or five large pizzas before our last orders were to be submitted. No problems, I love big groups and serve them happily no matter what time they arrive, and these folks(no names, but their initials are the Farragut Lacrosse team) seemed to be respectful customers. We seated several more tables until 10 P.M. when the open signs were switched off. We began our kitchen closing and end of the evening procedures. At about 10:30 the last customers(Arrival time 9:58 P.M.) besides this table had left. The remaining table had eaten all their food and were busy nursing their remaining beer while enjoying some protracted conversation. Still no worries, I had employees still working and we were not quite ready to finish our cleaning. At 10:45 I politely informed the remaining gentlemen(six or so I think) that we appreciated their business and asked them to begin getting ready to finish up. As I walked away I overheard the obligatory mouthy asshole state "Oh, it's time to go, well I'm just going to sit here for another hour". I bit my tongue and hoped their sense of decency would prevail. 11 P.M. comes and goes. No change in the status of the table. They still had deathgrips on the last dregs of their beers, not drinking, just obliviously chatting away while we stood by watching and waiting for them to leave so we could go home. Finally, I was quite fed up. I told these rude men in my nicest stern voice "Guys, I don't mean to be rude, but my wife is eight months pregnant(a slight exaggeration, only seven months) and I have been here since 8 A.M., it's time to go". Ahhhh, the message seems to be sinking in. They drop their beers and get up. We finish our closing and get out at 11:40 P.M. I walk to my car and notice the lacrosse guys still chatting each other up in the parking lot. Moral of this rant? Restaurants should extend all courtesies while serving customers anytime they arrive during business hours. They should also allow the patrons to finish their meals in peace. Conversely, customers arriving at the end of the night need to be respectful of the staff and not dally unnecessarily after their meals are done and half their party has left. It smacks of disrespect and rudeness, regardless of how much money you are spending. I would like to say this is an isolated event, but it happens more than you would imagine. That's all, just wanted to blow off a little steam and let you know what I was doing while you were missing my blog!