There are things that happen, or people allow to happen when dining out. that I’m pretty sure would have a different outcome if they were eating at home.
Some folks came in last night and decided to have dinner out on the patio. It was a gorgeous evening for dining out, or doing anything outside for that matter.
They started out by ordering a couple of drinks, one of which was a bottle of beer which we serve with a chilled mug. A couple of minutes later, the server came back to the bar and asked for another chilled mug. Not that it mattered, but I was curious and asked why. She told me “A fly flew in the mug.” I asked if it got in the beer, she said no, he hadn’t poured it yet.
Okay, wait a minute….if this had happened at home, I’m pretty sure he would have just shooed the fly way, and then poured the beer in the glass. No big deal. Anyone who has ever eaten outside (we’ve all been on picnics) knows that there will always be a pesky fly around. Sometimes they land on your sandwich, or plate, or on a bowl of potato salad. I’ve never seen anyone throw out a plate of food or an entire bowl of salad because a fly landed on it. But because you’re at a restaurant, all of a sudden you get all picky and act as though a vulture just shit in your glass.
Let’s not forget the parents who allow their kids to make a mess of everything within arms reach, and then some, including the floor. I’ve heard the comment, “Oh well, someone gets paid to clean it up.” The statement that is actually being made, is that you’re too lazy to teach your kids how to act in public. I’d be willing to bet you don’t allow your kids to play with the salt, pepper and sugar at home, and dump it all over the table. Or let them shove food off of their plate, and when it lands on the floor, look the other way.
Try and stick to one set of rules, it’s be less confusing all the way around.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
It's just my opinion......
I have a friend I occasionally go out to dinner with. It’s sort of become “Adventures in Dining.” As with any large metropolitan area, we have a variety of different ethnic cuisines to choose from. Last night we dined on Middle Eastern food.
I have to admit I’ve not always been very adventuresome when it comes to food. I was a very picky eater as a kid. It wasn’t until I started working in restaurants that I truly expanded my limited palette.
So back to last night’s dinner……It started out with a small plate of neon pink cabbage. It was very pretty, but didn’t look like anything I had ever seen. My friend is a chef and VERY adventuresome eater, so he always gets to be the lead guinea pig.
He said the cabbage tasted like it had vinaigrette on it. Kind of like cole slaw….and as with a lot of different cuisines, there was lot of bread involved. (For which I was thankful) Not bad.
We ordered a variety platter…it was huge! A little bit of salad stuff at the bottom, a couple different types of chicken, (I’m good with that) some lamb skewers, some beef (I think) and some mystery meat on a skewer, however I won’t mention what it looked like. (I may be more daring than I once was, but I still can’t bring myself to eat mystery meat)
All in all, we finished a good portion of it…my friend took the remaining food in a to go box. My test for how well I enjoyed it, is, would I go back again? Only if someone else REALLY wanted to.
The time before we had sushi. My taste in food runs more toward the well done side, but I figured I couldn’t make a statement about sushi, until I tried it. So I did. And then I went home and had some pizza. That’s my statement.
I have to admit I’ve not always been very adventuresome when it comes to food. I was a very picky eater as a kid. It wasn’t until I started working in restaurants that I truly expanded my limited palette.
So back to last night’s dinner……It started out with a small plate of neon pink cabbage. It was very pretty, but didn’t look like anything I had ever seen. My friend is a chef and VERY adventuresome eater, so he always gets to be the lead guinea pig.
He said the cabbage tasted like it had vinaigrette on it. Kind of like cole slaw….and as with a lot of different cuisines, there was lot of bread involved. (For which I was thankful) Not bad.
We ordered a variety platter…it was huge! A little bit of salad stuff at the bottom, a couple different types of chicken, (I’m good with that) some lamb skewers, some beef (I think) and some mystery meat on a skewer, however I won’t mention what it looked like. (I may be more daring than I once was, but I still can’t bring myself to eat mystery meat)
All in all, we finished a good portion of it…my friend took the remaining food in a to go box. My test for how well I enjoyed it, is, would I go back again? Only if someone else REALLY wanted to.
The time before we had sushi. My taste in food runs more toward the well done side, but I figured I couldn’t make a statement about sushi, until I tried it. So I did. And then I went home and had some pizza. That’s my statement.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
What goes around comes around......
I was perusing through Twitter the other day, and I saw an article titled, “Verbal Tips Don’t Help Pay My Electric Bill.” How true.
It made me think about a party of 19 that I worked last week. It started out to be the usual luncheon thing, their arrival time was 11:30. Cool. That means they should be all wrapped up by about 1:00 or 1:30.….then I can clean up the room and have a couple of hours off before my evening shift. This party turned out to be a meeting that lasted until 4:00. Unless they add extra to the tip, I’m working an extra 2 and half hours, for the same money.
Sure, I got a lot of “Verbal tips,” and I thank you for those. Some even make it a point to tell us they are going to tell the owner how well we did. Again, I thank you for that, but it still doesn’t help pay the bills. Would it have killed them to ante up another buck a piece ? I don’t think so. Certainly would’ve helped make my day.
One of the servers had a table that ran up a $75.00 tab last Sunday. They wanted change for a twenty. I had just gotten to work (I was bartending) and didn’t have a cash drawer yet. They decided not to wait to get the change, and left a $3.00 tip. Now, 20% of $75.00 would have been $15.00, a pretty standard tip. But $3.00!?!? Would it have killed you to leave the twenty? Would it have killed you to be a little generous? I don’t think so.
By leaving the extra gratuity, what you essentially would have done, is just like the movie title says, “Pay It forward.” Somewhere down the line, from an unexpected source, you would’ve received a kindness in return. Please don’t argue back that no one ever does anything nice for you….it has to start somewhere, so why not be the one who starts the chain?
It’s up to you…for “What goes around comes around.” is a very true statement. You can start a chain of kindness and enjoy the benefits…..or you can be miserly and cheap. Just don’t be surprised when something comes around to bite you in the ass.
It made me think about a party of 19 that I worked last week. It started out to be the usual luncheon thing, their arrival time was 11:30. Cool. That means they should be all wrapped up by about 1:00 or 1:30.….then I can clean up the room and have a couple of hours off before my evening shift. This party turned out to be a meeting that lasted until 4:00. Unless they add extra to the tip, I’m working an extra 2 and half hours, for the same money.
Sure, I got a lot of “Verbal tips,” and I thank you for those. Some even make it a point to tell us they are going to tell the owner how well we did. Again, I thank you for that, but it still doesn’t help pay the bills. Would it have killed them to ante up another buck a piece ? I don’t think so. Certainly would’ve helped make my day.
One of the servers had a table that ran up a $75.00 tab last Sunday. They wanted change for a twenty. I had just gotten to work (I was bartending) and didn’t have a cash drawer yet. They decided not to wait to get the change, and left a $3.00 tip. Now, 20% of $75.00 would have been $15.00, a pretty standard tip. But $3.00!?!? Would it have killed you to leave the twenty? Would it have killed you to be a little generous? I don’t think so.
By leaving the extra gratuity, what you essentially would have done, is just like the movie title says, “Pay It forward.” Somewhere down the line, from an unexpected source, you would’ve received a kindness in return. Please don’t argue back that no one ever does anything nice for you….it has to start somewhere, so why not be the one who starts the chain?
It’s up to you…for “What goes around comes around.” is a very true statement. You can start a chain of kindness and enjoy the benefits…..or you can be miserly and cheap. Just don’t be surprised when something comes around to bite you in the ass.
Monday, June 27, 2011
No, that does not come in a half order.....
Soft drinks get free refills, beers don’t. The other day at Happy Hour, someone wanted half a beer. No. It‘s Happy Hour, prices are already reduced. We don’t sell beer by the ounce, we sell it by the glass. The draft beer they were drinking was only $2.00. If this person was someone who frequented the place, spent a few bucks, maybe had some dinner, I might reconsider, but when all you spend is $2.00, I’m not gonna sell you half a beer at half the price. Especially when you’re someone who annoys the living shit out of everyone.
Yesterday, someone wanted a glass of Sangria. We have several varieties of Sangria, and they are served in 17 ounce pitchers, along with a glass filled with ice and fruit. Just order the drink as it comes. (The kitchen isn’t going to let you order half a steak)
I’m not going there. I’m not going to start customizing the size of your order, anymore than we already do. You can get a mixed drink in a rock glass, or a tall glass. If you order a bottle of beer, you can have any glass you want.
If you want Sangria, order Sangria. If you choose not to drink it all, that’s your choice.
If you want a smaller beer, order a bottle, that’s only 12 ounces, a draft beer is 20 ounces. See, we do have choices. So don’t go getting ridiculous on me.
It’s the same thing as the guy who ordered his drink in a tall glass, and then wants more booze in it. For the same price. Don’t complain about the drink not being strong enough, when that’s the way you ordered it. (Idiot)
I’m not going to set that precedent….so don’t whine at me, “But I only want a half a drink.” If I let you get away with it….then next time you are in, you’ll start a different whine, “I got it that way last time I was here.” I’ve learned that if you do someone a special favor like that, it is no longer viewed as a special favor, they will expect it to be the norm, and continue with the incessant whining thinking it will get them their own way. All they will manage to accomplish is to annoy and alienate everyone around them.
Yesterday, someone wanted a glass of Sangria. We have several varieties of Sangria, and they are served in 17 ounce pitchers, along with a glass filled with ice and fruit. Just order the drink as it comes. (The kitchen isn’t going to let you order half a steak)
I’m not going there. I’m not going to start customizing the size of your order, anymore than we already do. You can get a mixed drink in a rock glass, or a tall glass. If you order a bottle of beer, you can have any glass you want.
If you want Sangria, order Sangria. If you choose not to drink it all, that’s your choice.
If you want a smaller beer, order a bottle, that’s only 12 ounces, a draft beer is 20 ounces. See, we do have choices. So don’t go getting ridiculous on me.
It’s the same thing as the guy who ordered his drink in a tall glass, and then wants more booze in it. For the same price. Don’t complain about the drink not being strong enough, when that’s the way you ordered it. (Idiot)
I’m not going to set that precedent….so don’t whine at me, “But I only want a half a drink.” If I let you get away with it….then next time you are in, you’ll start a different whine, “I got it that way last time I was here.” I’ve learned that if you do someone a special favor like that, it is no longer viewed as a special favor, they will expect it to be the norm, and continue with the incessant whining thinking it will get them their own way. All they will manage to accomplish is to annoy and alienate everyone around them.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Practice what you preach.....
I worked a luncheon yesterday, for 19 elementary school principals. I was asked the night before if I could come in and work this….“It starts early, just serve them lunch and you can have a couple hours off before your next shift starts.” “Okay.”
Shortly after my arrival at 10:00 a.m. to set up, a few of them arrived, to set out candy dishes and flowers. Then one of them handed me a sheet of paper (she said it was a copy of the invitation) so I would be able to tell who had ordered.. They had 4 choices, and each one had a little mini table tent in front of them, with their name and a number corresponding to what they had ordered. One guy set his facing the wrong way. I reached over and turned it around, “I realize you know who you are, but I need to see this so I know what you ordered”)
As I perused the invitation, there was one line that jumped out and hit me in the face. It read “11:30 to 4ish.” WHAT!?! WHAT!?! 4ish!?! As my eyes were bugging out, I was inwardly screaming. So much for a break, my next shift begins at 4! AND! There will be no additional gratuity for the extra couple of hours I have to wait around for them to finish their meeting. (Those in the educational field are known for being notoriously cheap)
As I was trying to serve them beverages and lunch, one man kept leaning his chair back, balancing on the back two legs, and blocking the aisle. (This just reeks of professionalism) When I was in school, anytime anyone sat like that, they were told to put all four legs of the chair on the floor, so they wouldn’t fall over backwards.
Not to mention that he was also blocking the aisle….we were not allowed to rearrange our chairs any way we wanted, we had to keep the aisles clear. Others moved their chairs around, and ended up blocking any passageway I may have had to one of the tables. The one doing the balancing act finally started putting his chair back down on all fours so I could get through. Just barely. (Sorry to inconvenience you)
Then there were the ones who put their bags or boxes or books on the floor by their chair. Sure, they’re out of your way, you don’t have to move around the room, but I do. So I had to step over a bunch of stuff. (I don’t remember be allowed to put my books, or purse or whatever on the floor next to my chair, someone may trip over them)
So, in the public’s eye, you’re supposed to be the smart ones. Practice what you preach, or at the very least, practice a little common sense.
Shortly after my arrival at 10:00 a.m. to set up, a few of them arrived, to set out candy dishes and flowers. Then one of them handed me a sheet of paper (she said it was a copy of the invitation) so I would be able to tell who had ordered.. They had 4 choices, and each one had a little mini table tent in front of them, with their name and a number corresponding to what they had ordered. One guy set his facing the wrong way. I reached over and turned it around, “I realize you know who you are, but I need to see this so I know what you ordered”)
As I perused the invitation, there was one line that jumped out and hit me in the face. It read “11:30 to 4ish.” WHAT!?! WHAT!?! 4ish!?! As my eyes were bugging out, I was inwardly screaming. So much for a break, my next shift begins at 4! AND! There will be no additional gratuity for the extra couple of hours I have to wait around for them to finish their meeting. (Those in the educational field are known for being notoriously cheap)
As I was trying to serve them beverages and lunch, one man kept leaning his chair back, balancing on the back two legs, and blocking the aisle. (This just reeks of professionalism) When I was in school, anytime anyone sat like that, they were told to put all four legs of the chair on the floor, so they wouldn’t fall over backwards.
Not to mention that he was also blocking the aisle….we were not allowed to rearrange our chairs any way we wanted, we had to keep the aisles clear. Others moved their chairs around, and ended up blocking any passageway I may have had to one of the tables. The one doing the balancing act finally started putting his chair back down on all fours so I could get through. Just barely. (Sorry to inconvenience you)
Then there were the ones who put their bags or boxes or books on the floor by their chair. Sure, they’re out of your way, you don’t have to move around the room, but I do. So I had to step over a bunch of stuff. (I don’t remember be allowed to put my books, or purse or whatever on the floor next to my chair, someone may trip over them)
So, in the public’s eye, you’re supposed to be the smart ones. Practice what you preach, or at the very least, practice a little common sense.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
When help is a hindrance........
When things are running full tilt boogie, the only way to get through the shift is to help each other out. We’re very good at this. And…you get even better at this when you’ve all been working together for a while. “Hey! Have you got a second?” “Yeah, what do you need?” “Can you bring bread and oil to table 134?” “You got it!” Or, “If you’re going out there with the coffee pot, can you refill table 112?” “Sure, no problem.” “Hey! Can someone give me a follow and bring that tray of food to table 130?” “I’m on it!” This goes on all night. We all help each other out.
However, if I am behind the bar, it sometimes becomes a different story. There is limited work space at the service bar, so sometimes help isn’t help at all…..if you’re in my way, you’re a hindrance. The servers realize this, and stay out of the way…..the boss is a different story.
One night he decided to help put clean wine glasses on the rack, which hangs right over the service bar. (He has no idea how quickly we do things.) He would take one glass at a time out of the rack, they were washed in, walk the two steps and hang it up…..then get another glass……and then another…..I needed him out of the way. I can carry 7 wine glasses in one hand, and greatly decrease the time it takes to do this. Also, it was not imperative that these glasses be put away at this time. Because I have to work around him, it slows down the whole drink pouring process, by a lot.
Then he sees 3 servers setting up glasses for their drink orders, and decides he should help pour. How is it helping when it takes him a full minute to locate a wine bottle, (he doesn’t know where anything is) all the while standing right in front of the liquor bottles I need to grab.
The other night I was very busy at the service bar, two people sat down, at the service end of the bar, I turned to them, put down a couple of bevnap, (which is the international sign that I have gotten their order) the boss comes back behind the bar, with a tray, that he spends way too much time draping a cloth napkin over, has to step in front of me to get a couple of cordial glasses, then he turns to the couple and asks, “Has she helped you yet?” They looked at me with a puzzled expression on their faces….like…”What the hell was that all about?” I just looked at them and said, “Yeah, he does that a lot.”
So he poured a glass of wine, or a cordial, good for him….but it greatly hindered the progress of the other 12 drinks that needed to be poured! Ya wanna help me?!? Stay out of my way!!!!
However, if I am behind the bar, it sometimes becomes a different story. There is limited work space at the service bar, so sometimes help isn’t help at all…..if you’re in my way, you’re a hindrance. The servers realize this, and stay out of the way…..the boss is a different story.
One night he decided to help put clean wine glasses on the rack, which hangs right over the service bar. (He has no idea how quickly we do things.) He would take one glass at a time out of the rack, they were washed in, walk the two steps and hang it up…..then get another glass……and then another…..I needed him out of the way. I can carry 7 wine glasses in one hand, and greatly decrease the time it takes to do this. Also, it was not imperative that these glasses be put away at this time. Because I have to work around him, it slows down the whole drink pouring process, by a lot.
Then he sees 3 servers setting up glasses for their drink orders, and decides he should help pour. How is it helping when it takes him a full minute to locate a wine bottle, (he doesn’t know where anything is) all the while standing right in front of the liquor bottles I need to grab.
The other night I was very busy at the service bar, two people sat down, at the service end of the bar, I turned to them, put down a couple of bevnap, (which is the international sign that I have gotten their order) the boss comes back behind the bar, with a tray, that he spends way too much time draping a cloth napkin over, has to step in front of me to get a couple of cordial glasses, then he turns to the couple and asks, “Has she helped you yet?” They looked at me with a puzzled expression on their faces….like…”What the hell was that all about?” I just looked at them and said, “Yeah, he does that a lot.”
So he poured a glass of wine, or a cordial, good for him….but it greatly hindered the progress of the other 12 drinks that needed to be poured! Ya wanna help me?!? Stay out of my way!!!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Predictable and Unpredictable
I have hit what I am going to consider a milestone, I’ve officially written over 300 blogs. I know I’ve repeated some topics from time to time….hopefully with a slightly different slant each time…..but the restaurant industry certainly has provided me with a lot of material. Mostly because people are interesting (whether it be bad or good) and unpredictable at times.
There are those who we are always glad to see….they’re always pleasant, go with the flow and never complain about anything. Then there are those who, upon their arrival, cause us all to let out a collective moan. They are the predictable ones, in that we know they are going to bitch about something, and unpredictable in that we never know what they will find to complain about. (We'll call this "Creative Bitchery")
We have one woman who unrolls her silverware (she is VERY predictable) and thoroughly examines it. She carefully turns it round and round, holds it up to the light, at every angle possible…I‘m surprised she doesn‘t pull out a magnifying glass…..I’m not going to stand there and watch this procedure….I’ll come back when she’s done.
I go back to the table when she is finished, (and this is not a quick process) she’ll hand over a fork or knife, and declare that it is dirty. Knew that was coming. There may be water spot on whatever utensil she determined to be dirty. As far as I know, a water spot on a piece of silverware has never killed anyone. I will not play into the drama, I simply, and I mean very simply say “Oh” and walk away with it, or just put it in my apron pocket. This is not the end of the world and I won’t let you think it is. I’ll walk to the kitchen and come out with a new utensil, or is it? It could be a different one, or it could be I just wiped off the water spot. (She’ll never know)
There are the predictable ones that sit at the bar, and ALWAYS try and get something for free. The unpredictable part is that you never know what half ass reason they’re gonna come up with on any given day. Give it a rest. It’s Happy Hour and you are already getting either half price or discounted drinks. Why keep proving to the world, day after day that you are cheap and obnoxious.
I think it’s time to start taking all this material and merging it into the next book. The first book, "The Bar Wench From Hell," is available at the Barnes & Noble website.
There are those who we are always glad to see….they’re always pleasant, go with the flow and never complain about anything. Then there are those who, upon their arrival, cause us all to let out a collective moan. They are the predictable ones, in that we know they are going to bitch about something, and unpredictable in that we never know what they will find to complain about. (We'll call this "Creative Bitchery")
We have one woman who unrolls her silverware (she is VERY predictable) and thoroughly examines it. She carefully turns it round and round, holds it up to the light, at every angle possible…I‘m surprised she doesn‘t pull out a magnifying glass…..I’m not going to stand there and watch this procedure….I’ll come back when she’s done.
I go back to the table when she is finished, (and this is not a quick process) she’ll hand over a fork or knife, and declare that it is dirty. Knew that was coming. There may be water spot on whatever utensil she determined to be dirty. As far as I know, a water spot on a piece of silverware has never killed anyone. I will not play into the drama, I simply, and I mean very simply say “Oh” and walk away with it, or just put it in my apron pocket. This is not the end of the world and I won’t let you think it is. I’ll walk to the kitchen and come out with a new utensil, or is it? It could be a different one, or it could be I just wiped off the water spot. (She’ll never know)
There are the predictable ones that sit at the bar, and ALWAYS try and get something for free. The unpredictable part is that you never know what half ass reason they’re gonna come up with on any given day. Give it a rest. It’s Happy Hour and you are already getting either half price or discounted drinks. Why keep proving to the world, day after day that you are cheap and obnoxious.
I think it’s time to start taking all this material and merging it into the next book. The first book, "The Bar Wench From Hell," is available at the Barnes & Noble website.
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