A woman in Illinois sparked debate online after accusing restaurant employees of treating her differently because she and her group arrived about an hour before closing time.
While inside the restaurant, the woman filmed herself confronting an employee about the alleged mistreatment. She claimed the staff was upset about her group arriving before closing time. On the video, she added text that read, “POV: the restaurant workers was mad that you came in at 9 when they closed at 10,” suggesting she believed the timing of their visit was the reason for the employees’ attitude.
In the video, the woman spoke directly to the employee and said, “I can feel your vibe.” She also claimed that the employee was acting “some type of way” because her group arrived close to closing time. The woman further alleged that the employee sent a coworker to their table to inform them it was time to leave at 10 p.m. She added, “It makes me feel bad now. It makes me feel less of a customer,” expressing that she felt unwelcome due to the situation.
The woman continued her accusations, telling the employee, “you kept making little faces like we seen it the whole time.” She then added that while she understood she may have frustrated the employee by arriving close to closing time, she believed the employee should still smile and remain polite until they left, and could express frustration afterward if needed. The video ended at that point, so it is unclear how the employee responded following the confrontation.
Viewers Criticize Illinois Woman for Confronting Restaurant Employee
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers criticized the Illinois woman, arguing that she was in the wrong due to arriving at the restaurant close to closing time. Some also suggested that her behavior was an attempt to avoid tipping. “She trying to get out of tipping. Happens all the time,” one person wrote. Another commented, “Guess it was time for the bill.”
On the other hand, some people defended the woman, arguing that her timing was acceptable. “Coming in at 9 when they close at 10, is 100% acceptable! As long as they order before the kitchen closes, they are good until they finish their meal,” one person wrote. Another replied, “i agree with you. That’s a whole hour. Closing task are for CLOSING task. You may get to do them early, but might have to actually do it at close.”
The video sparked a broader debate about restaurant etiquette, with viewers divided over whether arriving an hour before closing should ever be considered a problem. While some argued that customers should be able to dine until closing time, others said restaurant workers have every right to feel frustrated when large groups arrive late in the evening.
