Published: April 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Sybil Davis
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Have you ever arrived at a restaurant at closing time and wondered why you may not have been welcomed with open arms? This often is a hard call for the restaurant when most of the guests already have been served and the kitchen staff has shut off and cleaned the equipment. Your argument may be that a sign says the restaurant is open until 10 p.m.

Now, proper training dictates that any guest arriving at closing time should be treated the same as that guest who arrives at 6 p.m. While you may receive a cordial greeting — sometimes it just may not be possible for restaurants to accommodate late comers, even if it’s just before the established time to close. Here are a few reasons that may help you to understand why you might be told that you can’t be accommodated at a late hour:

• Most guests have already left and so have most of the servers.

• The kitchen staff may be operating with a limited staff.

• Restaurants must make a profit and when guests arrive at a late hour and linger for a couple of hours the restaurant suffers, especially when a couple of diners are keeping the restaurant open.

• It’s inconsiderate to the people who work in the restaurant to hold the restaurant open just for you.

Reservations are always better, but often we may be out on the town and decide at the last minute to have a late dinner at one of the many nice restaurants in our great city. Should this happen — walk in the restaurant and see how many guests still are there. Are there several guests or only two or three? If there are several guests still dining, then politely advise the host that you would like to have dinner, but that you would certainly understand if it would be a problem since it may be near closing time. If there is any hesitation, then say that you will try again at another date. If you get the feeling that it will be OK, then don’t overstay your welcome by lingering over coffee.

It’s a good idea to leave a generous tip for a late service. Also, be sure to thank those responsible for accommodating you at a later than normal hour.