Syracuse, N.Y. — Like birds of prey, they watch intently trying not to be too obvious as to give away their target but without losing sight of their prize. Beer in hand, they watch as a table gives the telltale signs of departing: piling dishes, crumpling napkins inside the reusable baskets that once held chicken wings, pushing glasses together.
Then, as the diners completing their stay make the slightest movement indicating their departure, they spring. Sometimes, it’s one. Other times, it’s a group. It’s almost always with a coy apology or explanation, “Sorry. We weren’t stalking you. We just wanted to claim the table before someone else did.”