Would you lie and cheat to get a seat at Rich Table in San Francisco? What’s your moral compass when it comes to screwing someone else over to get ahead? Yesterday I saw this girl straight up lie to the host to secure a seat at the popular Hayes Valley restaurant Rich Table.

After a busy day breaking in the new mountain bike at China Camp I was starving and in the mood for a steak. I recalled walking pass Rich Table the other day and they had a 21 day dry aged ribeye on the menu for $42, which seems reasonable considering a steakhouse would run probably $80+. So I left the house at 4:40pm and at 4:55pm I was at the restaurant.

I was the first person at the restaurant so I just stood at the door since the host said they’ll be open in about 5 minutes. A minute later a couple comes and takes a seat on the bench. A minute later a solo guy comes and stands next to me. I distinctively remember him because I figured he’d be sitting next to me at the bar seating area. A minute later more people come and stand behind the guy. There was a bonafide line now. Then this girl comes along but rather than get in line she kinds of just hovers in front of the door, next to me. It struck me as odd but clearly there’s a line.

So it’s opening time and the host comes out. I tell him just 1 for the bar area. He mentions something about only 2 available and we’d have to first eating at 6pm. I think he thought the girl and I were a couple. In any event, I said sure I can do a quick meal but I just wanted 1 for the bar. That’s when she interjected, “I’m also just 1.”

The hosts asks, are you next, and without hesitation she says, “yes, I’m next.” But she wasn’t. The guy to my right was actually next. I forgot exactly what the hosts said but it was something to the effect that there is no more seatings available tonight. The guy looks disappointed and leaves. I could tell he was a bit timid, otherwise he would have said something, but just left instead.

There is no doubt in my mind this girl essentially cut the line and flat out lied to the host. When she came there was already a queue and she deliberately just stood next to me, the first person in line, instead of actually getting in line. I vividly remember thinking, “this chick trying to hovering at the front to cut the line? Is she that type of person?” Sure enough, when the host asks, are you next, she flat out lied. I was tempted to protest, “actually, this guy I think is next,” but I was so hungry since I hadn’t eaten since 11am and didn’t want to deal with some argument over seating at a restaurant, especially since it didn’t directly involve me.

I suppose some people just have that ruthlessness in them. Do whatever, say whatever, to get yours. Maybe her thinking is, “if this guy isn’t going to speak up for himself, that’s his problem.” I think some people have the mentality that you should do whatever it takes to get ahead in life, even just getting a seat at a popular restaurant.