Lately, the weather has been awesome! It's cool, sunny and perfect for dining outside. And most importantly, it is the perfect weather for crawfish! So, last night my friend and I decided to head to a popular restaurant for a few drinks and some hot, boiled crawfish.
This is besides the point, but it is relevant to this story...
If you follow me regularly, you be wondering what "86 sense" means. Well, in the restaurant world, when something is "86'ed," it means we are out of it. Conversely, when something is "68'ed," it means we have it again. Just some quick restaurant lingo for those who might be confused. Therefore, my name represents all of the people who lack common sense when dining...as well as my state of mind while serving these people in hopes to get on their level and truly understand them.
Anyway, the theme of our dining experience last night was definitely "86 sense." Here is the play-by-play...
Dressed in running shorts, t-shirts, hats and tennis shoes, we walked into the restaurant ready to eat some crawfish. We walked up to the hostess and asked to be seated on the balcony. She said it was full; however, before we walked in we assessed the situation, and there were clearly four open tables. So, she goes upstairs to look. When she comes back down, she tells us that there are tables but no chairs because others had taken them. Also, I should mention that there were five hostesses.
Knowing that there was availability, we asked if we could just go up there and look for ourselves...and we were so nice the whole time. I am not sure what part of this statement was hard to understand, but they looked like someone asked them to solve an impossible math problem.
Walking away, we just giggled about it because it was so awkward because they were literally so dumb. Guess you just had to be there to understand these girls. Next, we walked out on to the balcony and had 4 tables, like I suspected before, with...wait for it...
Chairs. That makes the first "86 sense" experience. Then, our waitress comes.
No "hi girls, how are y'all?" or "what can I get for you tonight?"...she just walks up and asks "So, are y'all just gonna chill tonight?"
"86 sense" experience number two.
Do I look like a girl who comes to a restaurant to "just chill"? No, I am dressed in shorts and a t-shirt with every intention of pigging-out...and it is obvious like I like to eat!
We ordered our drinks, and when she returned we ordered. This is how it went:
Me: "Yes, we want the mozzarella sticks, then we would each like the crawfish."
Server: "OK, so two mozzarella sticks, and two crawfish?"
Me: "No, we want one mozzarella and each want crawfish."
Server: "Oh yeah, that's whats up!"
"86 sense" experience number three.
Seriously? I know this is a casual place, but come on, girl. Be mindful of what you say to your guests...you never know who you are serving.
Well, after about 15 minutes, no cheese sticks! They are listed under the appetizer section, and we figured she knew her menu. Since my friend and I are both servers, we didn't want to be those obnoxious women who flag you down from across the restaurant...so I somehow managed to catch her attention as she was walking by in her constant state of confusion.
I told her that we wanted it as a starter...since it was listed as one. She played it cool and managed to get them within the next minute. Before we could take a bite, there she was, holding our crawfish. Keep in mind that our table was about two feet by two feet, and we have no room for our feast. All we could do was laugh it off.
"86 sense" experience number four.
Thank goodness she had one thing going for her: refill efficiency. Before I ordered, I rethought my decision because I didn't want to be stuck sucking ice cubes while eating crawfish. The things she would ask us and her actions were just comical. And after our responses she would always say, "Good. Great." It was so funny.
Then came time to split our checks. I was nervous. We told her to split the appetizer and dessert between the two of us. She split everything in half....but put them on the same ticket:
1/2 cheese sticks
1/2 cheese sticks
1 crawfish
1 drink
Last time I checked, two halves make a whole, right? "86 sense" experience number five.
Probably won't ever go back to that location, unless I want to be entertained by bad table side mannerisms. From the rude and blind fleet of hostesses, to the ditsy and scatterbrained server, the whole dining experience was like being punked. Thank goodness the crawfish were good.
Usually, if people lack the "book smarts," they can usually fend for themselves with common sense. As for these hostesses/servers, they lack both. Look out, World.
Always at your service,
86 sense
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Seriously?
What will they think of next?
Read this article...let me know your thoughts!
http://taintedgreen.com/green-gadgets/ireplace-restaurants-dump-printed-menus-and-staff-for-ipads/000938/kr-13
Always at your service,
86 sense
Read this article...let me know your thoughts!
http://taintedgreen.com/green-gadgets/ireplace-restaurants-dump-printed-menus-and-staff-for-ipads/000938/kr-13
Always at your service,
86 sense
Server in the City: No love for Valentine's Day
Server in the City: No love for Valentine's Day: "Although I promised to update Monday night, the mental and physical state of exhaustion simply wouldn't allow it. After a 14 hour work ..."
No love for Valentine's Day
Although I promised to update Monday night, the mental and physical state of exhaustion simply wouldn't allow it. After a 14 hour work day, I just wanted to:
The morning started off with a positive server meeting, followed by a wonderful cupcake breakfast! And cupcakes didn't end at breakfast. Whenever we had a chance, we were eating pounds of candy, brownies, cupcakes, and our managers even made us pizzas for lunch. Also, whenever we seemed sluggish, our managers broke out cases of Monster energy drinks as a pick-me-upper. If all this junk isn't enough to make someone feel sick by the end of the night....the clientele did.
I get it. It's a dim-lighting, semi-dressy, nice restaurant. It's a tad bit pricey, romantic and an ideal choice for a special evening. It's no wonder why we were on a wait until 10:10...even though it is plastered on the door that we CLOSE at 10:00.
What I don't get is how so many people can lack so much COMMON SENSE. It's somewhat scary. Let me explain how something works. Believe it or not, server's don't work for free. Shocking, I know....sorry if I caught some of you off guard. Actually, 3% of your bill goes to hostesses or server assistants. Therefore, if you choose not to tip your server, we are actually paying for you to eat while working for less than nothing...literally.
This is how it works. We get paid $2.13 an hour....and the last time I saw a paycheck was...never. Since we have to claim tips for tax purposes, we leave with cash after every shift. It's hard to explain, but basically, the $2.13 an hour is like leverage...if you don't make what you should have based on your total sales...the $2.13 factors in to make up for it.
What my rant breaks down to is that fact that Valentine's Day sucks if you are in the service industry. The goal of every person on the floor that night was to make money. In order to make money, you have to deliver...from the service to the mood created at the table in order to make a special evening. I delivered. My co-workers delivered. The guests...did not. It became a joke. When people left the table, we would play a guessing game... "how much do you think you got?" Answers ranged from zero to around $4. You were considered lucky if you got anything over $5. I was grateful whenever I got anything. I did not treat any table different from the other...who am I to judge?
Unfortunately, around 9:00 p.m., my job just became comical. I was done. I was care-free about everything because it simply was not worth my time. I did my job to the minimum and attempted to make the evening special for people, but by then, I just didn't care...because this is what I was dealing with:
1. It's Valentine's Day. You are on a date. You are in a restaurant. You are going to talk on your phone during the entire meal. Not only are you on your phone, but you are talking on an ear piece...and you look good.
*Classic. That's the way to make a woman feel special. Well my friend, you might be wondering why I haven't approached your table yet. Who am I to interrupt your conversation? You can just stay parched until your important conversations finishes.
2. It's Valentine's Day. You are on a date. You are so into your date. You think y'all should sit on the same side of the booth. You want to cuddle. Now, y'all make-out. Ultimately, you want to make this super awkward for everyone around y'all.
*Super uncomfortable. Get a room. Or here is an even better idea. Stay home. Order take-out. Cook a nice meal. Overall, I am going to end up boxing your food because you cannot keep your hands off of each other. Save your time and money...and spare me the awkward experience.
3. It's Valentine's Day. You order a tropical drink...at a restaurant with one of the biggest wine selections in the area. Man, the bartender forgot the umbrella for your drink. No festive umbrella, no tip for my server.
*Sorry, mam. We must have ran out of umbrellas when we ran out of frozen drinks. Oh wait, we never had either.
4. It's Valentine's Day. You want two shots of Patron. Two more please. Twoooo more please. Now, you seem too drunk to order...and too broke to tip.
*Didn't know people wanted to party hard on Valentine's Day. I have sympathy for your date. If I was her, I would be insulted. Obviously, he has to get hammered in order to enjoy the evening. Is the really that bad of company? Who does this?
5. It's Valentine's Day. You get drinks. You get appetizers. You get expensive entrees. Of course, you get dessert. Overall, you rack up a pretty high ticket. You "stiff" your server. How nice of you!
*Theme of the night. My lowest ticket of the night was $57.63. Several tickets reached over $130. If I was tipped at all, it was about 4%. Great effort to make your Valentine feel special...your server, not so much.
Here is the final breakdown... (drum roll, please....)
Valentine's Day 2011 Stats:
Number of times I wanted to quit on the spot: 12
Number of times people wanted to quit on the spot: 23
Number of times people actually quit on the spot: 1
Hours worked: 14
My personal sales from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m: $1600
Tip share (taken out of my sales): $48
State tax: 9%....do the math. Double the tax and that turns out to be 18%. Wow. Simple knowledge. Use it.
If every table tipped the standard 18%: $288
If every table tipped me 20% (which is the norm at this restaurant): $320
What I walked with that night: $180
*And I was one of the lucky ones...
It's ironic that a holiday based on love can fill people with so much anger! Now, with you as my witness, I vouch to not work in a restaurant by next Valentine's Day. So, hurry up internships!
Apologies for the preaching. venting, complaining, whining, math lessons, etc. I promise I DO enjoy my job... people can be great. I guess the reason why Valentine's Day was awful is because the great people have common sense..which makes them great. :)
Enjoy this beautiful weather!
Always at your service,
86 sense
- Sit in silence.
- Indulge in one, or four, bottles of pinot.
- Soak in a bubble bath.
- Sleep until next week.
- Black out the entire day.
The morning started off with a positive server meeting, followed by a wonderful cupcake breakfast! And cupcakes didn't end at breakfast. Whenever we had a chance, we were eating pounds of candy, brownies, cupcakes, and our managers even made us pizzas for lunch. Also, whenever we seemed sluggish, our managers broke out cases of Monster energy drinks as a pick-me-upper. If all this junk isn't enough to make someone feel sick by the end of the night....the clientele did.
I get it. It's a dim-lighting, semi-dressy, nice restaurant. It's a tad bit pricey, romantic and an ideal choice for a special evening. It's no wonder why we were on a wait until 10:10...even though it is plastered on the door that we CLOSE at 10:00.
What I don't get is how so many people can lack so much COMMON SENSE. It's somewhat scary. Let me explain how something works. Believe it or not, server's don't work for free. Shocking, I know....sorry if I caught some of you off guard. Actually, 3% of your bill goes to hostesses or server assistants. Therefore, if you choose not to tip your server, we are actually paying for you to eat while working for less than nothing...literally.
This is how it works. We get paid $2.13 an hour....and the last time I saw a paycheck was...never. Since we have to claim tips for tax purposes, we leave with cash after every shift. It's hard to explain, but basically, the $2.13 an hour is like leverage...if you don't make what you should have based on your total sales...the $2.13 factors in to make up for it.
What my rant breaks down to is that fact that Valentine's Day sucks if you are in the service industry. The goal of every person on the floor that night was to make money. In order to make money, you have to deliver...from the service to the mood created at the table in order to make a special evening. I delivered. My co-workers delivered. The guests...did not. It became a joke. When people left the table, we would play a guessing game... "how much do you think you got?" Answers ranged from zero to around $4. You were considered lucky if you got anything over $5. I was grateful whenever I got anything. I did not treat any table different from the other...who am I to judge?
Unfortunately, around 9:00 p.m., my job just became comical. I was done. I was care-free about everything because it simply was not worth my time. I did my job to the minimum and attempted to make the evening special for people, but by then, I just didn't care...because this is what I was dealing with:
1. It's Valentine's Day. You are on a date. You are in a restaurant. You are going to talk on your phone during the entire meal. Not only are you on your phone, but you are talking on an ear piece...and you look good.
*Classic. That's the way to make a woman feel special. Well my friend, you might be wondering why I haven't approached your table yet. Who am I to interrupt your conversation? You can just stay parched until your important conversations finishes.
2. It's Valentine's Day. You are on a date. You are so into your date. You think y'all should sit on the same side of the booth. You want to cuddle. Now, y'all make-out. Ultimately, you want to make this super awkward for everyone around y'all.
*Super uncomfortable. Get a room. Or here is an even better idea. Stay home. Order take-out. Cook a nice meal. Overall, I am going to end up boxing your food because you cannot keep your hands off of each other. Save your time and money...and spare me the awkward experience.
3. It's Valentine's Day. You order a tropical drink...at a restaurant with one of the biggest wine selections in the area. Man, the bartender forgot the umbrella for your drink. No festive umbrella, no tip for my server.
*Sorry, mam. We must have ran out of umbrellas when we ran out of frozen drinks. Oh wait, we never had either.
4. It's Valentine's Day. You want two shots of Patron. Two more please. Twoooo more please. Now, you seem too drunk to order...and too broke to tip.
*Didn't know people wanted to party hard on Valentine's Day. I have sympathy for your date. If I was her, I would be insulted. Obviously, he has to get hammered in order to enjoy the evening. Is the really that bad of company? Who does this?
5. It's Valentine's Day. You get drinks. You get appetizers. You get expensive entrees. Of course, you get dessert. Overall, you rack up a pretty high ticket. You "stiff" your server. How nice of you!
*Theme of the night. My lowest ticket of the night was $57.63. Several tickets reached over $130. If I was tipped at all, it was about 4%. Great effort to make your Valentine feel special...your server, not so much.
Here is the final breakdown... (drum roll, please....)
Valentine's Day 2011 Stats:
Number of times I wanted to quit on the spot: 12
Number of times people wanted to quit on the spot: 23
Number of times people actually quit on the spot: 1
Hours worked: 14
My personal sales from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m: $1600
Tip share (taken out of my sales): $48
State tax: 9%....do the math. Double the tax and that turns out to be 18%. Wow. Simple knowledge. Use it.
If every table tipped the standard 18%: $288
If every table tipped me 20% (which is the norm at this restaurant): $320
What I walked with that night: $180
*And I was one of the lucky ones...
It's ironic that a holiday based on love can fill people with so much anger! Now, with you as my witness, I vouch to not work in a restaurant by next Valentine's Day. So, hurry up internships!
Apologies for the preaching. venting, complaining, whining, math lessons, etc. I promise I DO enjoy my job... people can be great. I guess the reason why Valentine's Day was awful is because the great people have common sense..which makes them great. :)
Enjoy this beautiful weather!
Always at your service,
86 sense
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Best wishes...
...to those braving the hour waits at restaurants across town tomorrow. It's Valentine's Day for those who forgot! And sorry to the those who didn't want to be reminded.
We have been gearing up for the one of the biggest weekends in the service industry. Thankfully, I was just scheduled to work a double on Friday. I missed the giant Saturday and Sunday rush due to a wonderful weekend in the "Big Easy!" Anyways, I will be back on the floor tomorrow for a dreadful 13 hour shift. I am anxious to see how the turnout will be considering the holiday is on a Monday!
If Friday night's shift foreshadowed anything about Monday's shift...BRING.IT.ON. People were great. Tips were great. Service...well of course, nothing less that excellent. As for Monday, I am trying to think positive; however, I imagine I will see a lot of:
1. "let's sit on the same side of the booth and make this completely awkward" people
2. "out of their element" people....which is expected on Valentine's Day
3. "wine/food experts"...who are really not experts in the least bit...just trying to impress their date
4. "I will have the filet, well done"...if that doesn't kill me enough, they ask for ketchup and BBQ sauce!
Tomorrow night, I will be sure to provide you with a few interesting stories about the most dreaded day in the service industry. Hopefully, I missed the brunt of the storm while I was wining and dining! I will keep y'all updated with stories from the trenches tomorrow night; thus, my mood will most likely be extreme, so look forward to a comical post.
Also, for those of you in a Valentine's rut, you might find these few suggestions helpful...
If you're out to eat tomorrow...be a sweetheart on Valentine's Day! While your server is waiting on you and your Valentine...he or she is missing out on time with his/her Valentine...or missing out on contemplating what's wrong with himself/herself while getting lost in a few cocktails.
Enjoy your day! Always at your service,
86 sense
We have been gearing up for the one of the biggest weekends in the service industry. Thankfully, I was just scheduled to work a double on Friday. I missed the giant Saturday and Sunday rush due to a wonderful weekend in the "Big Easy!" Anyways, I will be back on the floor tomorrow for a dreadful 13 hour shift. I am anxious to see how the turnout will be considering the holiday is on a Monday!
If Friday night's shift foreshadowed anything about Monday's shift...BRING.IT.ON. People were great. Tips were great. Service...well of course, nothing less that excellent. As for Monday, I am trying to think positive; however, I imagine I will see a lot of:
1. "let's sit on the same side of the booth and make this completely awkward" people
2. "out of their element" people....which is expected on Valentine's Day
3. "wine/food experts"...who are really not experts in the least bit...just trying to impress their date
4. "I will have the filet, well done"...if that doesn't kill me enough, they ask for ketchup and BBQ sauce!
Tomorrow night, I will be sure to provide you with a few interesting stories about the most dreaded day in the service industry. Hopefully, I missed the brunt of the storm while I was wining and dining! I will keep y'all updated with stories from the trenches tomorrow night; thus, my mood will most likely be extreme, so look forward to a comical post.
Also, for those of you in a Valentine's rut, you might find these few suggestions helpful...
- No reservations? Luckily, there is an app for that: http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=159
- For those of you slackers who forgot to make a reservation and have no hopes in getting one, here are a few tips to either: 1. get you out of the dog house or 2. seem like you actually planned something: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Heart-Healthy-Valentines-Day-Tips_UCM_322023_Article.jsp
- For those of you who are still sticking to your "Eat Right" New Year's Resolution (cheers to you...shame on me), explore this site for helpful dining out tips: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/DiningOut/Dining-Out_UCM_304183_SubHomePage.jsp
If you're out to eat tomorrow...be a sweetheart on Valentine's Day! While your server is waiting on you and your Valentine...he or she is missing out on time with his/her Valentine...or missing out on contemplating what's wrong with himself/herself while getting lost in a few cocktails.
Enjoy your day! Always at your service,
86 sense
Monday, February 7, 2011
Story Time...
As a member of the restaurant industry, I have concluded that everyone should work in a restaurant once in their life...or at least date/befriend someone who has. This relationship will undoubtedly spark a whole new appreciation for servers ...which you should possess to begin with...because we are the ones who are quenching your thirst and making you uncomfortably full!
So....tonight's post will be more of a story time. Topic... "Did that just happen" moments.
First and foremost, it is important to understand that greeting a table is crucial. A great first impression, followed by great service, usually results in a great tip (or at least it should). Therefore, I know how to turn on the charm when it counts. If I have a table of women, my voice tends to sound relaxed and bubbly... and I am on top of their water/Diet Coke refills like no one's business. If it's men, I crank my southern accent all the way to a Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama... and smile so cute that all my dimples are visible...even in dim lighting.
But...it doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, I always greet a table by saying...
1. Friendly, enthusiastic response....with the guests asking the same question in return
2. Polite...only sharing the bare minimum
3. [insert chirping cricket sound here]
"My name is (blah), and I will be taking care of y'all today." Then I go in to my normal spill...
Leading in the next blur (above)...followed by offering them a "guys' drink"...." So, gentlemen, how about starting off with a Crown and Coke or a nice glass of (select draft beer)?"
Now....you are probably wondering...where is she going with this? Well here goes story time about gentlemen.
The "Winker"
Listen, old man. Chances are you are old enough to be my father. How would you feel if creepy men were winking at your daughter while she is trying to do her job...in order to pay her bills? Probably the same way my dad would feel!
Countless times, I have been the victim of a wink. I'm not sure if you are under the impression that you will get better service because your eye keeps having spasm when I drop off your Jack on the rocks...but frankly, it is just unnecessary. Usually, I will just get guys to run things to the table...thus, you are really hurting your chances of me, or any other girl server, passing by your table. You see, servers have a network...you tell one person something, and in a matter of three minutes, everyone knows.
For example, I tell Joe about the winker, who then tells Sue, and next thing you know... "Winker at table 33." Next, that table either becomes a high traffic area to test it out...to see if he winks at other people too... or it becomes infested with guy servers because no girls want to pass the table...and I am too freaked out to keep going back.
So, to all you winkers out there. It's not cute. It won't get you better service. It's just creepy. And...also a perfect example of awkward nonverbal communication.
The "Out-of-their-Element" Guest
I will admit, the restaurant I work for is a bit pricey. Therefore, the people who are "out-of-their-element" always provide the best stories....
Recently, I had a party of ten, which consisted of five couples. They were seated an hour before closing and smelled like they were eating because they had the munchies. By this point, I was exhausted and ready to go home. I approached the table, looking like I had been through war with steak sauce. I greeted them....and immediately could tell...this is going to be a good time.
I offered drinks. Everyone ordered martinis, crown and coke, shots of patron. Things were starting to look up...maybe I was wrong to judge. Then...one young man asked me a question.
Guy: "Yeah, um, Mam'....y'all been busy lately, huh?"
Me: "Yes, Sir. We are usually this busy every weekend though."
Guy: "Shoooot...I figured y'all would be busy....everyone got them income tax checks in."
Me: [laughing....out loud....had to walk away]
After recomposing myself...I proceeded to take their order. Starting with the same young man...
Guy: "Um, yeah, I want the #29 Steak with the number #9 salad."
Knowing that I could not laugh again, I had to pull myself together and inform the party that the numbers were indeed...our prices.
Thus, due to the income tax money, I made A LOT of money too. Filets and countless martinis can add up to a pretty pricey check. After the moaning, fits and rechecking their bills....I was given the guilt trip from them. "Well, we were going out tonight...but you done took all our monies. Shooot...we can't go to the boat now, girl!"
I tried to lighten the mood and they began joking with me again....then the guy who dropped the income tax line on me put the icing on the cake by saying..."Bye...see ya next February." This statement was no joke...however, I lost it again.
............................................................................................................................................................
These two stories are just the tip of the iceberg...and just stories that happened this week. I have a huge repertoire of entertaining stories and will share most of them with you. Please feel free to post your stories as well!!
Remember....we may be putting food on your table....but we work to put food on ours! Be sweet to your servers!
Always at your service,
86 sense
So....tonight's post will be more of a story time. Topic... "Did that just happen" moments.
First and foremost, it is important to understand that greeting a table is crucial. A great first impression, followed by great service, usually results in a great tip (or at least it should). Therefore, I know how to turn on the charm when it counts. If I have a table of women, my voice tends to sound relaxed and bubbly... and I am on top of their water/Diet Coke refills like no one's business. If it's men, I crank my southern accent all the way to a Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama... and smile so cute that all my dimples are visible...even in dim lighting.
But...it doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, I always greet a table by saying...
- "Good morning/afternoon/evening! Welcome to (blah). How are y'all doing today?"
1. Friendly, enthusiastic response....with the guests asking the same question in return
2. Polite...only sharing the bare minimum
3. [insert chirping cricket sound here]
- Next, I would go on to responding or saying...
"My name is (blah), and I will be taking care of y'all today." Then I go in to my normal spill...
- But....if it is a table of men...I always say,
Leading in the next blur (above)...followed by offering them a "guys' drink"...." So, gentlemen, how about starting off with a Crown and Coke or a nice glass of (select draft beer)?"
Now....you are probably wondering...where is she going with this? Well here goes story time about gentlemen.
The "Winker"
Listen, old man. Chances are you are old enough to be my father. How would you feel if creepy men were winking at your daughter while she is trying to do her job...in order to pay her bills? Probably the same way my dad would feel!
Countless times, I have been the victim of a wink. I'm not sure if you are under the impression that you will get better service because your eye keeps having spasm when I drop off your Jack on the rocks...but frankly, it is just unnecessary. Usually, I will just get guys to run things to the table...thus, you are really hurting your chances of me, or any other girl server, passing by your table. You see, servers have a network...you tell one person something, and in a matter of three minutes, everyone knows.
For example, I tell Joe about the winker, who then tells Sue, and next thing you know... "Winker at table 33." Next, that table either becomes a high traffic area to test it out...to see if he winks at other people too... or it becomes infested with guy servers because no girls want to pass the table...and I am too freaked out to keep going back.
So, to all you winkers out there. It's not cute. It won't get you better service. It's just creepy. And...also a perfect example of awkward nonverbal communication.
The "Out-of-their-Element" Guest
I will admit, the restaurant I work for is a bit pricey. Therefore, the people who are "out-of-their-element" always provide the best stories....
Recently, I had a party of ten, which consisted of five couples. They were seated an hour before closing and smelled like they were eating because they had the munchies. By this point, I was exhausted and ready to go home. I approached the table, looking like I had been through war with steak sauce. I greeted them....and immediately could tell...this is going to be a good time.
I offered drinks. Everyone ordered martinis, crown and coke, shots of patron. Things were starting to look up...maybe I was wrong to judge. Then...one young man asked me a question.
Guy: "Yeah, um, Mam'....y'all been busy lately, huh?"
Me: "Yes, Sir. We are usually this busy every weekend though."
Guy: "Shoooot...I figured y'all would be busy....everyone got them income tax checks in."
Me: [laughing....out loud....had to walk away]
After recomposing myself...I proceeded to take their order. Starting with the same young man...
Guy: "Um, yeah, I want the #29 Steak with the number #9 salad."
Knowing that I could not laugh again, I had to pull myself together and inform the party that the numbers were indeed...our prices.
Thus, due to the income tax money, I made A LOT of money too. Filets and countless martinis can add up to a pretty pricey check. After the moaning, fits and rechecking their bills....I was given the guilt trip from them. "Well, we were going out tonight...but you done took all our monies. Shooot...we can't go to the boat now, girl!"
I tried to lighten the mood and they began joking with me again....then the guy who dropped the income tax line on me put the icing on the cake by saying..."Bye...see ya next February." This statement was no joke...however, I lost it again.
............................................................................................................................................................
These two stories are just the tip of the iceberg...and just stories that happened this week. I have a huge repertoire of entertaining stories and will share most of them with you. Please feel free to post your stories as well!!
Remember....we may be putting food on your table....but we work to put food on ours! Be sweet to your servers!
Always at your service,
86 sense
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