- How you deal with a guest depends on a number of things: Are they regulars? Are they drunk? How long have they been at the table? There's no law to it.
- If they are drunk, you can refuse to serve them and ask them to leave.
- For other situations, take the bull by the horns and speak honestly and openly. If you start clearing up or stacking chairs, they will like it less. Tell them diplomatically that the cashier has to go home or that you can't give them the key to the restaurant. Diplomacy is important to avoid a confrontation.
- If the guests are regulars and are having an important conversation, maybe you will close a bit later, but 99% of the time people understand the situation and leave with no problem.
- Of course, if you know them well enough you can say: "I want to go home, I'll call you a taxi!"
Silvano Giraldin, restaurant manager, Le Gavroche