Just an interesting one I would like to know peoples thoughts on esp for Australia. Also if this changes from a restaurant vs takeaway store vs others as well?
But basically I'm of the thought that you should be able to go to a restaurant and if it says 10pm close that means you have to be out the door by then. So if you arrive at 9.45pm and order a few items they can easily cook up for takeaway then they should allow you in. They wouldn't be closing the kitchen before 10pm (or at least around just before then).
I have however seen restaurants stay open past 10pm (but only serve up to then) and allow customers to eat inside. And on the flip side I've seen restaurants state they close at 10pm, and they're lights are out at 9.30pm or are pissed off because you came in at 9.30pm and they've already packed up and cleaned half an hour early.
Now obviously this depends on the restaurant and usually when you walk in the server is nice enough to let you know whether they're still taking orders and ultimately thats what I base it off of.
But I am interested to know what peoples "expectation is".
So a 10PM Close times means that you:
think about it this way
at 9.45pm as an owner you are thinking $$$$
at 9.45pm as a worker you are thinking i aint getting paid overtime i want to leave at 10.00pm on the dot