I've seen this in many businesses. My two favourite restaurants are always near-fully staffed, one of them regardless of the time of day. 6am on a Tuesday or 6pm on a Friday night, they have just as many staff working.
Even in these normally 'off' times, they'll have around 80% capacity, often workers for the cable companies, etc. who want to be in and out fast but get good food. And they are. I've been in on those off times and you can get your food in under 5 minutes because they're prepping everything. Even better, when you tell them you're done, they're back with the bill in under a minute.
I've never gotten service like that at a chain-restaurant, because even in their off-times they've barely got any staff. You wait longer for your food, you wait longer for you bills and god forbid you want a refill on your drink, because they'll never pass you at this time of day.
Even in these normally 'off' times, they'll have around 80% capacity, often workers for the cable companies, etc. who want to be in and out fast but get good food. And they are. I've been in on those off times and you can get your food in under 5 minutes because they're prepping everything. Even better, when you tell them you're done, they're back with the bill in under a minute.
I've never gotten service like that at a chain-restaurant, because even in their off-times they've barely got any staff. You wait longer for your food, you wait longer for you bills and god forbid you want a refill on your drink, because they'll never pass you at this time of day.