Restaurant seating lingo

[Peter Skarsgard]

Does anyone know if there is a specific word or restaurant lingo that describes the seating of two diners at 90 degrees to one another, when seated at a square or round table? This is how I prefer to be placed for a nice meal, rather than directly across or directly side by side, but I never know how to describe it to the hostess, and it ends up being a lengthy confused discussion with the person taking my reservation before the meaning of my request is actually understood! What about in French? Same? Thanks. Pete

[Felice]

I'm not so sure there is a name for this, I've worked as a waiter in both the US and France and can't remember ever having this request.

[Peter Skarsgard]

Thanks anyways, Felice.

Let's give it a name. I'll get it started...

1. au coude (at the elbow)

2. a l'intersection

Suggestions?

[SundaySous]

I've waited tables here in Chicago and seen this. Usually people on business.

Business: usually after ordering one person gets up and sits next to the other, then they clear everything out of their way until they are served.

Lovers: wait till they are seated and then move, oblivious to any and everything.

People watchers: These people will show the host where to seat them and then reposition the table if need be to provide viewing.

[Fat Guy]

Is "perpendicular" an insufficient explanation?

(I prefer to sit this way with my wife -- less head-craning than side-by-side, more intimate than across a table.)

[Kent Wang]

Other than the terminology, Where to sit at a table when there are extra seats.

[SundaySous]

I nominate we call it "Skarsgard".

[crouching tyler]

I nominate we call it "Skarsgard".

←

I second that. It just sounds right.

[Dignan]

12 and 3?

[naes]

I nominate we call it "Skarsgard".

←

I second that. It just sounds right.

←

I third it.

Actually, it's just because you seconded it, Robin, that I'm willing to back you up.

Love from Brooklyn

[PatDC]

Does anyone know if there is a specific word or restaurant lingo that describes the seating of two diners at 90 degrees to one another, when seated at a square or round table? This is how I prefer to be placed for a nice meal, rather than directly across or directly side by side, but I never know how to describe it to the hostess, and it ends up being a lengthy confused discussion with the person taking my reservation before the meaning of my request is actually understood! What about in French? Same? Thanks. Pete

←

I would think catty-cornered would convey that information in English, or just to say on a diagonal.

[Fat Guy]

Catty-corner means at opposite corners, though, not on adjacent sides. Since people don't sit at the corners of tables, that could be confusing. I'd be able to figure out what it meant, but I'm not sure everybody would.

12 and 3 might work if the restaurant uses that lingo, however at most restaurants where I've seen the inner workings they use positions 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., clockwise starting from whichever seat is closest to the kitchen, entrance, back wall or whatever that particular restaurant designates as the benchmark. Depending on the way the table is shaped, positions 1 and 2 might be on adjacent sides with the chairs perpendicular to one another, but they could also be on the same side of the table or across from one another.

[PatDC]

Catty-corner means at opposite corners, though, not on adjacent sides. Since people don't sit at the corners of tables, that could be confusing. I'd be able to figure out what it meant, but I'm not sure everybody would.

You're right. I guess your perpendicular is best, but there really doesn't seem to be an easy term to cover the configuration.

[rbailin]

Thanks anyways, Felice.

Let's give it a name. I'll get it started...

1. au coude (at the elbow)

2. a l'intersection

Suggestions?

←

In French, it would be:

à côté

[Fat Guy]

Last night I was eating at a great new place in New York called Anthos, and my wife and I were led to a corner table by the maitre d' (a woman -- what do you call a female maitre d'?). The table had the perpendicular seating configuration under discussion here. So I asked her, "What's the word for sitting this way?" She replied without hesitation, "Catty-corner." She was firm on the point that, even though it's technically incorrect, it's the lingo at every restaurant she's worked at (which includes Felidia, the Italian restaurant owned by Lidia Bastianich). So, one point for "catty-corner."

[HungryChris]

How about sitting at adjacent sides?

HC

[Catriona]

rbailin

A cote would surely mean side by side, no? I may be wrong...