Why some restaurants display a ‘full board’ even when there are empty chairs inside

What most people often don’t realise is the orchestration that goes behind the scenes.

“Every plate that leaves my kitchen is carefully choreographed with a balance of time, precision, and craftsmanship. We operate with a mindful capacity and don’t measure by how many chairs we can fill. We take into account the kitchen load, pacing of service, and maintaining a certain ambience,” said Rao.

According to him, a restaurant measures its success by how seamlessly it can deliver an uncompromised, thoughtful service from the first course to the last.

Here’s why the seating is arranged in such a way (Photo: Freepik)

“At times, an empty table you spot might be reserved for later seatings, or intentionally left vacant to give each guest a sense of comfort, space, and privacy because luxury is as much about how you feel as it is about what you consume,” said Rao.

Sometimes, the idea is also to pace the seating to ensure the staff can give every guest the attention they deserve, which is “personal, precise, and unrushed”.

When a restaurant says that it’s ‘full’, it’s most often about ‘delivering the highest standards of service and attention’ to those dining with us. “In hospitality, especially at fine dining restaurants, it’s about upholding the standards we’ve set; no experience has to be compromised in the pursuit of volume,” said Rao.

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