Asked to Give Up Their Table Just 70 Minutes Into Dinner, NYC Diner Calls Out Moroccan Restaurant Ayah Over Strict Seating Limit
NEW YORK, NEW YORK — A New York City food reviewer says a night out at a popular Moroccan restaurant ended on a sour note after staff asked her and a friend to leave their table barely more than an hour into their reservation.
Karen, who reviews restaurants on TikTok as @karensilvaart, shared the moment from Ayah, calling it a “horrible experience.”
The Timeline of the Night
According to Karen:
- 8:00 p.m.: She and her friend arrive for their reservation
- After dinner: She asks the server for tea
- 9:10 p.m.: Staff tell them they need to move, roughly 70 minutes after sitting down
Tea Offered at the Bar Instead
In her video, the server explains they will bring the tea to the bar, because the table needs to be turned over within five minutes.
Karen was stunned. She said she believed an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes was a reasonable expectation for dinner.
The Restaurant’s Time Limits
Ayah takes reservations, but tables come with a time limit of about 90 minutes to two hours. Once that time is up, staff may ask guests to leave or move to the on-site bar.
Karen said she was not aware of the policy before her visit.
Dessert Canceled Over the Frustration
After being offered a spot at the bar, Karen decided she no longer wanted dessert. She slammed what she described as “ridiculous” hospitality in NYC restaurants, and she was visibly annoyed by the end of the video.
Diners Split Over Who Was Right
Viewers landed on both sides of the debate.
Supporters of Karen said being pushed out mid-meal would make anyone angry. One commenter said they would be mad if asked to leave while still chewing, while another said the staff was in the wrong and that being moved at 70 minutes was “crazy.”
Others defended the restaurant. One viewer said they were almost certain the booking listed a 90-minute table limit, adding that many diners ignore those terms and expect the next reservation to wait extra time just so they can finish their tea.
The Bigger Question
The debate has reopened a familiar argument about busy restaurants, tight reservation windows and how much time diners should expect when they book a table, especially in a crowded city like New York.
Ayah has not publicly commented on the video.
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