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If you’re someone who likes to do a little research before visiting a restaurant, you know the Google listing layout all too well.
There should be a tab to book a table, another to view the menu, and, of course, the opening hours.
But, it seems that might not be enough anymore, with one Aussie influencer taking aim at restaurants who don’t provide the whole story – and everyone agrees, something needs to change.
‘I was shaking!’
Aussie content creator Matt Hey, on TikTok as @alright.hey, took to the app this week to share a shocking story from a local restaurant.
“Something we need to normalize in 2025 is restaurants updating their Google listings to include what time the kitchen closes, as opposed to what time the restaurant closes,” he said.
“I went out for a movie the other night with my friends, it finished, and we were like ‘let’s go get a bite to eat’. I find this restaurant, it looks great, it’s a 15 minute walk away. It closes at 10pm, it’s currently 8.30pm, I’m like, ‘come on girls, let’s go, we could probably make it in 12 if we really tried’.
“We get there, we’re sweating, we’re starving, we’re ready to spend our hard earned money, because we have just trekked it through Narnia to get here. It’s 8.45pm, I go ‘can I get a table for 5 please?’. She goes, ‘sorry, the kitchen closed at 8.30pm’.”
Matt said he was taken aback by the comment, as this information wasn’t listed anywhere online.
“I’ve worked in hospitality, she’s not gonna cop it, we went ‘alright love, no worries, have a good night, see you’ and tried to find somewhere else. But, let me tell you, on the inside I was shaking. I was burning up… the Karen was sitting right here in my throat ready to attack,” he said.
“I really had to restrain myself, and I’m glad I did, but if you’d had it on your Google listing, it wouldn’t have been a problem.”
He ended the video saying he hopes things take a turn for the better – sooner rather than later.
“Let’s sort that out this year!” he said.
‘Kinda crazy’
Commenters on the post agreed with Matt, adding there was no way he should have assumed the kitchen would close so early at a restaurant without a bar.
“100% agree, also a kitchen closing at 8:30 for dinner is kind of early,” one commenter said.
“8:30 for a 10pm close is kinda crazy (in my opinion)” another agreed.
“8:30 kitchen close?? Then why even stay open till 10? Only makes sense if it’s a bar with food but even they usually have kitchen open till 10 and stay open till midnight/2am,” said a third.
“Having the kitchen close an HOUR AND A HALF the restaurant “closes” BAFFLES ME. And that’s coming from a server who’s restaurants kitchen doesn’t close until the last table is gone,” another added.
Time for a total overhaul
Matt’s comments were also overflowing with other suggestions, requesting a complete overhaul of restaurant websites in 2025.
Some requested the hours to be even more specific, adding in final seating times, or opening hours during holiday periods.
“Also update opening hours on Google for holiday periods so I’m not going for a 30 min drive to get a kebab only to be met with lights outs doors closed 😫” one commenter said.
“Also holiday hours! Tell me why I drove 30 mins to get a coffee from my fav place at 4pm only to find they were closed despite their google page saying they were open til 8pm 😔” another agreed.
“Restaurants should have a LAST SEATING time instead of a closing time,” a third said.
“We booked in for a late lunch somewhere recently at 230pm. Our friends were running a few mins late went up to order at 245 ‘oh kitchen closes at 230’ WHY HAVE THAT AS A SEATING OPTION THEN!” said another commenter.
Others wanted to see better websites in general, with readable menus, contact details – the works.
“Normalize restaurants having proper websites again, everyone just links to an Instagram these days. Makes me feel like a boomer,” one commenter said.
“Normalize PDF menus on websites and not weirdly spaced menu listings!!!” another agreed.
“normalize businesses having a basic website – services, contact details, hours etc the facebook/insta/yelp situation is exhausting,” a third commenter said.
“And always having the menus ready to read online!! Haha,” another said.
