If you’ve never worked in a restaurant…there’s a lot more to it than just taking an order and delivering food….
Before the restaurant opens in the morning, someone has to be there early to get everything set up. Mornings, before we open, are actually a pretty cool time to be there, especially when someone brings in donuts. Now, if you haven’t had enough coffee….the first thing you do is brew a pot…nothing smells better than a fresh pot of coffee…sometimes I swear you can get the benefits of the caffeine just from the aroma of the coffee permeating the building…..(take a deep breath all of you coffee drinkers, you know what I mean)
Now, get busy! Polishing a water glass doesn’t sound like much, until you have to polish 80 plus glasses. Everything we need for the day has to be brought out….lemons need to be cut…gotta bring out the cream, make iced tea and lemonade, fill the parmesan cheese bowl, put the butter in a chilled container, get three bus tubs, one for glassware, one for silverware and one for dishes, remember to turn on the bread warmer, stock glassware, tea pots, ramekins, soup cups, table clothes, napkins, straws, to go containers, coffee cups, saucers, water glasses, fill ice bins, polish silverware and roll it into napkins, sample soup (optional), on any given day I usually forget something, so I’m sure I did here also.
It’s not unusual to see the owner vacuuming…again, someone has to do it. There are no little elves running around just dying to do this for us.
After you’ve placed your order, it’s blast off time for your server……we’re the ones who make your salad, ladle up your soup, fill the bread basket and get the dipping oil and/or butter. So please be patient when we arrive back at your with all this stuff, only to see that you quaffed down your diet coke in 5.2 seconds and weren’t standing by your side eagerly waiting to refill it. And why is it that people who drink diet soft drinks, on the average, drink twice as much soda as those who drink regular soda?
Throughout the shift, we are running racks of glasses through the dishwasher, washing, sorting and polishing silverware, and resetting tables. When the lettuce bin goes empty, we have to get another one, when the Ranch dressing runs out, we have to refill it, when the ice is low, (you get the picture), we refill it. And so it goes throughout the day…..if you’re not into multi-tasking, then this wouldn’t be a good fit for you.
When we close, everything that needs refrigeration has to back to the cooler, the bread warmer has to be cleaned out, more silverware has to be rolled, coffee pots need to cleaned, all surfaces need to be wiped down so they look shiny and new, and so on and so forth.
Where are those damn elves when we need them?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
I hope to be one of these people someday....
Let me tell you about the table I had yesterday….I realize I may sound a little snarky, but I always try and find a little humor in every situation…..and know that I mean no disrespect, because I really do hope to be one of these people someday……
I had a table of 13 from the geriatric set. We never know what the demographics of a table will be until they arrive…….so, upon arrival of the first one…she informed me that they had spoken to the manager, and he said they could have separate checks. (knew that was coming) I told her that was fine, as long as no one traded seats, since we do it all by a numbering system. She replied that they were too old to move around. Okay, cool, they’ve got a sense of humor about themselves. They had all gone to the symphony and were now regrouping for a meal.
I realized as I was trying to get a beverage order, that the hearing capabilities of this group was not what it once was. I tried bending over and leaning in closer to their ear, as close as possible without breaching any lines of etiquette…..gently tapping them on the shoulder when it was their turn…..(none of which was working by the way) but they were a helpful crowd….one of them would invariably announce from across the table, (while waving their arm and pointing) “Hey Betty! She’s talking to you!”
The first thought that ran through my mind was, why these people bothered to go to the symphony is beyond me, they can’t hear a damn thing, and they haven’t heard ANYTHING I’ve said.
One woman, I think she must have worked in the education field up until a couple of decades ago, raised her hand every time she wanted my attention. She had requested some ketchup and mustard…..so brought them out, each in their own little ramekin…then she raised her hand again, asking for mustard….I gently pointed out the little mustard ramekin, that was sitting next to, and almost touching the ketchup ramekin.
And so it went, maybe a little slower than some other tables from a different demographic would have gone, but God bless them, they are out enjoying life….and I really hope to be one of them some day.
I had a table of 13 from the geriatric set. We never know what the demographics of a table will be until they arrive…….so, upon arrival of the first one…she informed me that they had spoken to the manager, and he said they could have separate checks. (knew that was coming) I told her that was fine, as long as no one traded seats, since we do it all by a numbering system. She replied that they were too old to move around. Okay, cool, they’ve got a sense of humor about themselves. They had all gone to the symphony and were now regrouping for a meal.
I realized as I was trying to get a beverage order, that the hearing capabilities of this group was not what it once was. I tried bending over and leaning in closer to their ear, as close as possible without breaching any lines of etiquette…..gently tapping them on the shoulder when it was their turn…..(none of which was working by the way) but they were a helpful crowd….one of them would invariably announce from across the table, (while waving their arm and pointing) “Hey Betty! She’s talking to you!”
The first thought that ran through my mind was, why these people bothered to go to the symphony is beyond me, they can’t hear a damn thing, and they haven’t heard ANYTHING I’ve said.
One woman, I think she must have worked in the education field up until a couple of decades ago, raised her hand every time she wanted my attention. She had requested some ketchup and mustard…..so brought them out, each in their own little ramekin…then she raised her hand again, asking for mustard….I gently pointed out the little mustard ramekin, that was sitting next to, and almost touching the ketchup ramekin.
And so it went, maybe a little slower than some other tables from a different demographic would have gone, but God bless them, they are out enjoying life….and I really hope to be one of them some day.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Okay servers, here's your dream table....
Ever have those moments, when you’re trying to get an order from a table, and you feel it’d be easier to do dental work on yourself without benefit of Novocain, then to continue taking this order. And…. No food has even been discussed yet…..
I had 8 older ladies, (a lot of you are groaning already, I can hear you) who were in a room NOT adjacent to the main dining room, at 2 tables of 4, playing bridge. (the groans just turned into an “Oh shit.”) They arrive 2 hours before we open, the boss sets them up with a coffee and tea table, so they can help themselves. Shortly after I get there, he tells me they need menus. So I get the menus…but have to set them on the corner of the table, lest I disturb their card game. I went back a few minutes later….they weren’t ready to order yet….so I wait a few more minutes….go back to the room again….one lady announces she’s ready to order….the rest just mumble, if they even bother to acknowledge that they were spoken to….I tell them I’ll come back when everyone is ready. The woman who appears to be the ringleader informs me they will tell what their numbers are. What?
“We all have numbers, we’ll tell you what they are.
“No, I assign the numbers. We do it by seat numbers, and I’ll tell you what the numbers are.”
“We’re going to be moving around and trading seats.”
Great. So that just rendered the whole seat number thing totally useless.
I bring out silverware rolls, but again have to be careful about where I set them, lest I disturb their game. Bread and butter plates? Like the menus, stacked on a corner of the table. By the time I serve the bread and plates of dipping oil, I am so over this group, that I just set them down in the middle of the table…..on top of cards….save your glares and evil sidelong glances ladies, they’re lost on me.
We finally get to the ordering process….one lady states the name of a salad, I write it down, but then she goes off on a ramble about how that is what she usually orders, blah blah blah…this time she is going to order something different (save your ten minute dissertation for another time, you’ve got 15 seconds to order, or forever hold your peace)
In the short amount of time it took me to get the soups and salads, they had already traded seats. To hell with it…the only thing I can do is auction off the food.
Did I mention they all wanted separate checks? Enough said, you get the picture…..
I had 8 older ladies, (a lot of you are groaning already, I can hear you) who were in a room NOT adjacent to the main dining room, at 2 tables of 4, playing bridge. (the groans just turned into an “Oh shit.”) They arrive 2 hours before we open, the boss sets them up with a coffee and tea table, so they can help themselves. Shortly after I get there, he tells me they need menus. So I get the menus…but have to set them on the corner of the table, lest I disturb their card game. I went back a few minutes later….they weren’t ready to order yet….so I wait a few more minutes….go back to the room again….one lady announces she’s ready to order….the rest just mumble, if they even bother to acknowledge that they were spoken to….I tell them I’ll come back when everyone is ready. The woman who appears to be the ringleader informs me they will tell what their numbers are. What?
“We all have numbers, we’ll tell you what they are.
“No, I assign the numbers. We do it by seat numbers, and I’ll tell you what the numbers are.”
“We’re going to be moving around and trading seats.”
Great. So that just rendered the whole seat number thing totally useless.
I bring out silverware rolls, but again have to be careful about where I set them, lest I disturb their game. Bread and butter plates? Like the menus, stacked on a corner of the table. By the time I serve the bread and plates of dipping oil, I am so over this group, that I just set them down in the middle of the table…..on top of cards….save your glares and evil sidelong glances ladies, they’re lost on me.
We finally get to the ordering process….one lady states the name of a salad, I write it down, but then she goes off on a ramble about how that is what she usually orders, blah blah blah…this time she is going to order something different (save your ten minute dissertation for another time, you’ve got 15 seconds to order, or forever hold your peace)
In the short amount of time it took me to get the soups and salads, they had already traded seats. To hell with it…the only thing I can do is auction off the food.
Did I mention they all wanted separate checks? Enough said, you get the picture…..
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A ramblin' sort of week.....
It’s great to see a planned event turn into a HUGE success! We had a “Ladies Night Out”, last night. There were over 20 vendors form local businesses. There was wine and food (which always makes any occasion festive) everyone was having fun, buying stuff, many prizes were won…lots of conversation, laughter…
Most of my friends that came, hung out at the bar….they didn’t all know each other before they got there, but they do now……
The next event is a reunion of customers and co-workers from a place I worked at for 25 years….they say you can’t go home again…but you can sure as hell bring a part of the past to the present….can’t wait for this one!
Then we have a fund raiser for Cystic Fibrosis. My neighbor, whose daughter has CF asked if we could do a “guest bartender” fundraiser. The boss said yes. My neighbor will be behind the bar with me…..all that come in, buy a drink and leave a generous tip, which will all be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Mass emails will go out promoting this event, flyers to everyone at her school, and hopefully a radio spot that morning. We will have Cher and Lady Gaga (impersonators) who are donating their time, as our entertainment!
The day after that we are having a wine tasting….
Damn! I love my job!
Most of my friends that came, hung out at the bar….they didn’t all know each other before they got there, but they do now……
The next event is a reunion of customers and co-workers from a place I worked at for 25 years….they say you can’t go home again…but you can sure as hell bring a part of the past to the present….can’t wait for this one!
Then we have a fund raiser for Cystic Fibrosis. My neighbor, whose daughter has CF asked if we could do a “guest bartender” fundraiser. The boss said yes. My neighbor will be behind the bar with me…..all that come in, buy a drink and leave a generous tip, which will all be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Mass emails will go out promoting this event, flyers to everyone at her school, and hopefully a radio spot that morning. We will have Cher and Lady Gaga (impersonators) who are donating their time, as our entertainment!
The day after that we are having a wine tasting….
Damn! I love my job!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
When you're in the public eye......
I was speaking with a server, who worked at a restaurant where the Governor of our state occasionally dined. Through word of mouth, (and they say that’s the most powerful advertising venue) we were informed that this particular Governor didn’t “believe” in tipping more than 10%. What a statement to make, whether it be verbal or in writing, such as the bottom line of the charge slip. The statement that makes to all of us in the restaurant industry, is that you think we should work for half the pay. There are thousands upon thousands of restaurant workers in any given state, just barely scraping by, and you think we should earn less? Do you really think that little of this segment of your constituency? How quickly would the Governor try and quiet a movement that suggested they should have their pay cut in half? Or better yet, maybe they should get paid for performance….how much would be earned then?
So for those of you in the public eye (and most of you who are, are there because its where you wanted to be) you must remember that your “cheapness” makes a far greater statement about you, than it ever could about us.
Okay, that’s about as political as I get…….but it brings to mind the old adage, “What goes around, comes around.”
So for those of you in the public eye (and most of you who are, are there because its where you wanted to be) you must remember that your “cheapness” makes a far greater statement about you, than it ever could about us.
Okay, that’s about as political as I get…….but it brings to mind the old adage, “What goes around, comes around.”
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The crowd that plays together......
You know you’ve got a good bar crowd of regulars, when you put on special events, and even people that are not participating show up. They just want to be part of the group. These are the people that you delegate certain jobs to, and then they are a part of the group…especially when there is food involved….sooner or later they will get to see everyone who is participating.
We had Helen, who was extremely helpful in all of our activities. At the golf outing one year, we stationed her at the end of the ninth hole, standing by a bar-b-que, upon which we heated up a giant pot of sloppy joes. We convinced her that standing around a golf course all day would get boring, and this would insure that she got to see everyone, and food, being a popular commodity, proved this to be true. It was fortunate for us that Helen didn’t play golf and had no interest in learning….and it gave her a little bit of a power trip, knowing that all 40 golfers had to go through her to get some food.
Helen’s lack of interest in actually participating in sports was again fortuitous for us when we had our ski trip. This time we convinced her that sitting in the lodge all day would be boring…so we made her the designated photographer.
At the ice skating party, (we rented the local indoor ice rink) we had quite a few extras who chose to watch, so that, combined with the fact that everyone was continuously on and off the ice, left no one lacking for conversation….I think it was a real bonding experience for those watching at the edge of the rink to have the opportunity to point at, heckle and laugh at those of us who fell down.
The biggest draw were the bowling tournaments. No need to designate any duties to anyone. All the extras just did what everyone does at a bowling alley anyways….drink.
We had Helen, who was extremely helpful in all of our activities. At the golf outing one year, we stationed her at the end of the ninth hole, standing by a bar-b-que, upon which we heated up a giant pot of sloppy joes. We convinced her that standing around a golf course all day would get boring, and this would insure that she got to see everyone, and food, being a popular commodity, proved this to be true. It was fortunate for us that Helen didn’t play golf and had no interest in learning….and it gave her a little bit of a power trip, knowing that all 40 golfers had to go through her to get some food.
Helen’s lack of interest in actually participating in sports was again fortuitous for us when we had our ski trip. This time we convinced her that sitting in the lodge all day would be boring…so we made her the designated photographer.
At the ice skating party, (we rented the local indoor ice rink) we had quite a few extras who chose to watch, so that, combined with the fact that everyone was continuously on and off the ice, left no one lacking for conversation….I think it was a real bonding experience for those watching at the edge of the rink to have the opportunity to point at, heckle and laugh at those of us who fell down.
The biggest draw were the bowling tournaments. No need to designate any duties to anyone. All the extras just did what everyone does at a bowling alley anyways….drink.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Ahhhh Monday morning......
I love Monday mornings! Monday has been my day off for many years now. While the rest of the world is winding down Sunday night, back to bed on time, getting their mind set for Monday morning, the blare of the alarm clock, the beginning of another week…..I don’t have to worry about getting enough sleep…..I can get up when I want to…and like right now…I get to sit back and relax with as many cups of coffee as I want. I get to leisurely plan out my day…it’s mine to get as much or as little done as I want to.
A visit to the gym may be in order, a good workout followed by the lure of a meltdown in the sauna, or a stroll through the grocery store….not having to hurry, not worrying about if I forgot anything. It doesn’t matter what errands I have to run, the stores are never busy…no lines no waiting.
I love it…the rest of the world is scurrying about getting their week in order….I’m sitting back enjoying my coffee…… and because it’s Monday….I’m enjoying it twice as much.
Enough rambling….I think I’ll go get a bunch of stuff done…and then…then I have the option of taking a nap if I want to…or reading…or writing….or whatever strikes my fancy…
So off I go on my Monday adventures…..then I’ll be ready for the rest of the week. Sure, I work the weekends…but it’s a slow ascent through the week that builds to the hyper activity of Friday and Saturday nights….but it always brings me back to Monday …..it almost feels like I’m cheating, like playing hooky from school…..and that makes it even sweeter….ah, blissful Monday!
A visit to the gym may be in order, a good workout followed by the lure of a meltdown in the sauna, or a stroll through the grocery store….not having to hurry, not worrying about if I forgot anything. It doesn’t matter what errands I have to run, the stores are never busy…no lines no waiting.
I love it…the rest of the world is scurrying about getting their week in order….I’m sitting back enjoying my coffee…… and because it’s Monday….I’m enjoying it twice as much.
Enough rambling….I think I’ll go get a bunch of stuff done…and then…then I have the option of taking a nap if I want to…or reading…or writing….or whatever strikes my fancy…
So off I go on my Monday adventures…..then I’ll be ready for the rest of the week. Sure, I work the weekends…but it’s a slow ascent through the week that builds to the hyper activity of Friday and Saturday nights….but it always brings me back to Monday …..it almost feels like I’m cheating, like playing hooky from school…..and that makes it even sweeter….ah, blissful Monday!
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