great food! not-so-great policy!. i've been to pera bell several times and have always enjoyed my food and the wait staff has always been very good. however, i must say that the last two times i was there, i was very surprised and upset by their policy. my husband and i went on a weekday at about 4pm and asked for a window seat in the restaurant. we were seated in a small table in the corner with only a half view out the window when there were 2 or 3 other tables free with a full view out the window. i felt uncomfortable at the table we were given and asked the waiter if we could change tables, he said, "let me ask". usually, when i ask this in a restaurant i hear, "no problem" and the waiter moves us to the table i request. the waiter came back and said that we could not sit at one of the other tables along the window because they are for 4 people. mind you, the place was empty beside a man date happening in the back part of the restaurant. the waiter could tell i wasn't happy with his reply, so he got the manager. she came over and told me that she was "forbidden to seat us at any table that was for more than 2 people". i replied that there was no one else there and she said again she was "forbidden". i was not happy, and wanted to leave, but decided to stay since i was starving and didn't want to go anywhere else. our waiter suggested another 2 person table that was near enough the window and so we moved. (as a side note, by the time we had left, not a single other table was seated while we were there and so the table for 4 we had wanted was left unoccupied for the entire hour while we were there) i was happy though once the food came out, great burger and fries. funny thing is, i only wanted half my burger so i cut it in half and kept the bun off the top so it wouldn't stick to the cheese when i brought it home to heat up. when i got home and looked in the bag that was wrapped for me, they did not include the top bun, the lettuce or tomato or the delicious coleslaw that i had left on the plate. i was a little upset by this too as i was looking forward to a really half nice burger for later. i went again a week or two with a larger group of family and they were upset by pera bell's absurdly strict policies. when they arrived the restaurant was fairly empty and they were still waiting for us (only 2). the restaurant would not seat them until we came, because it was against their policy. however, they did eventually cave in and seat them before we arrived because i guess they made a big enough stink. i can understand being strict with your policies during busy hours, but when the place is dead/slow they should be more accomodating to make their guests feel welcome. i don't feel like i want to spend money in a place that doesn't want me to be happy while i'm there. one more thing, they seem to be a little bit stingy with their delicious pesto butter. when they served the bread they gave each of use a piece and only one small butter to share with 7 people! we asked for some extra butter and they left a second small helping. i guess this goes along with the small portions others have complained about.