The owner of a popular coffee shop whose staff have been abused by customers says some people have a sense of entitlement beyond belief.
Owner of Meath eatery Sage & Stone, Ciara Burke, who has had to ban some customers after they upset her staff was speaking in the wake of comedian James Cordon's apology over his behaviour at a US eatery.
She believes that table service may become a thing of the past if customers continue to give staff at eateries abuse.
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"I have the loveliest staff here of all ages and one of them told me last week that she doesn't know how much more she can take from customers," she said from her premises outside Duleek, Co. Meath.
"I have teenagers working here who get subjected to the most horrible verbal assaults from some customers who want their food yesterday or won't make excuses for a simple mistake if it happens. It's only a very few that are abusive but that's enough to upset staff.
"The staff get lashed by people for what's on the menu or what's not on the menu. If they are waiting more than ten minutes for their food, the floor staff have to bear the brunt of their tongues.
"No-one deserves that. They are doing a thankless job and it's no wonder that the hospitality sector finds it so hard to get staff. I'm sure the abuse is a factor.
"We are a busy 80 seat restaurant with table service. We cook our food to order. We are not a fast food restaurant but some expect us to be.
"Some people now have a sense of entitlement beyond belief. They want everything and feel they should get it immediately. Table service may become a thing of the past in cafes and restaurants like ours because of people's ridiculous demands.
"In the last few years, I've had to ban a few - very few- people from coming back.
"Thankfully most of our customers are the loveliest people who almost make up for the very few nasty clients who have an air of superiority about them. Restaurants and cafes like us have struggled during Covid and we are again struggling to pay rising energy bills and absorb costs as much as we can.
"We try hard to provide a good service and one with a smile so I would urge customers to think about what the staff go through when going out for something to eat. I for one, won't put up with my staff being abused and will be the first to act on it."
Ciara hit the headlines recently for banning people wearing pyjamas from coming into her cafe
"I had a few trolls but mostly people were hugely supportive. You have to speak up for what you believe in and I don't think pyjamas in a coffee shop is suitable attire."
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