camper

Definition

A customer who overstays their welcome long after finishing their meal, blocking table turnover during prime service hours. The bane of every server's existence and the reason restaurants started adding automatic gratuity.

Example Usage

Table 15 finished eating an hour ago—total campers killing our turn time.

Origin

Restaurant service term, comparing lingering diners to camping out

Fun Fact

Some restaurants combat campers by dimming lights, raising music volume, or the passive-aggressive classic: repeatedly asking if they need anything else.

Source: Front-of-house restaurant slang

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