Meet the New Candidate for the Absolute Worst Restaurant Chair
This article discusses a new type of restaurant chair that has gained viral attention on TikTok for its perceived discomfort and unusual design. The chair, which resembles a "jumbo Tootsie Roll-esque stool" or a "nugget" that didn't finish downloading, sparked a viral video of a woman in a Parisian restaurant struggling to understand how to sit on it. The video's creator, Ronni Lee, captioned her experience, highlighting the chair's inadequacy for sitting comfortably, stating it was "only big enough for one cheek." The author recounts their own experience living in Paris and wonders if they, too, had encountered and subsequently blocked out memories of such a chair.
The viral video garnered 2.4 million likes on TikTok within four days, leading to a trend of people discussing and attempting to use these "leaning bar chairs." Comments on these videos clarify that these chairs are designed for leaning against rather than sitting fully, a concept the author finds questionable, suggesting that if a restaurant provides a structure that almost functions as a stool, an actual stool would be more practical. The article also draws a parallel to the common practice of ordering and drinking espresso "al banco" (at the counter) in Italian culture but argues that this particular chair design, described as a "chunky shard," appears to be in an identity crisis.
The phenomenon of this peculiar seating is not exclusive to French cafes. Similar contemporary versions have been observed in Kentucky Fried Chicken locations, as depicted in other viral TikTok videos. These videos show individuals struggling to interact with the chairs, humorously comparing them to a "forlorn Everest hiker" or a gymnast approaching a "pommel horse." User comments on these KFC videos further reveal similar designs in places like Costco food courts, with one commenter speculating that "fast food of the future… they don’t want you to stay."
The article then raises the question of whether these chairs transcend poor design and venture into the realm of "hostile architecture." Hostile architecture refers to urban design elements that intentionally restrict or deter certain behaviors, often targeting vulnerable populations like those experiencing homelessness. The author notes that, beyond cafes and fast-food chains, these leaning chairs are almost exclusively found in public transport zones. The NYC Street Design Manual, for instance, includes a "LeaningBar" design, justifying its implementation by stating that "Leaning can be especially appealing to people for whom sitting requires greater effort." While acknowledging this potential benefit, the author suggests that such designs might inadvertently make spaces more uncomfortable for people without housing, posing the question of why a bar cannot coexist with a bench for broader accessibility and comfort. The article concludes by humorously stating that this "almost-chair" can keep its secrets for now, implying its impracticality and enigmatic nature.
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