Host/Server rants...

This afternoon as I was checking my Facebook, I came across a beautiful piece of work... It was a paragraph of what any server or host (those who actually have a brain) would think to themselves on any given day... but all summed up into one. 


My good friend Alycia shared the following with her friends: 
"I hate it when guests walk through a lobby full of people on a Friday night and says "you're not on a wait, right?". I hate it when guests don't read the menu. I hate it when I'm behind the host stand and guest ask me if they just seat themselves. I hate it when guests think they're being funny. I hate it that guests only want to talk to me when I'm running seven other tables. I hate it when parents let their kids make huge messes all over the table. I hate olives. I especially hate it when a guest walks in and refers to their child as "a half". I hate it when a guest complains to me about how their drink is not strong enough. I hate it when I ask a party if they're ready to order, they say yes and then keep on discussing what they want. I hate it that that always happens when I'm also running seven other tables. I hate it when I approach a table and they ignore me. I hate it even more when they call me back as I'm walking away. I hate it when a table tries to talk me when I'm clearly helping another table. It's a good thing that I actually like my jobs though."
Bravo! Love, Bravo! You made my day!

Source: Alycia Vasquez
Image: Dumb & Dumber. All Rights Reserved.

Nice people do exist...and get it!

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Iowa couple behind a goodwill gesture that went viral said they did it to serve as an inspiration for others.

Makenzie Schultz and her husband, Steve, were celebrating their six-year wedding anniversary over the weekend at a sushi restaurant in Cedar Rapids.

But the service “sucked.”

Instead of taking to social media to complain, Makenzie posted a picture of the tip they left.  The image took the internet by storm gaining over a million likes and 147,000 shares.

Despite waiting for 20 minutes to get water, 40 minutes for an appetizer and over an hour for their entrée, the couple gave a $100 tip on a $66.65 bill.

“People all around us were making fun of the restaurant and how bad the service was,” the Facebook post explained.

That would usually mean pitiful tips for the server. However, the couple from Cedar Rapids blamed their hour-long wait for food on staffing.

“That’s when I told my husband, ‘He’s working so hard and you can tell he’s so stressed out but he’s not letting on to us.’ When he came to the table he was very sweet and nice,” Makenzie toldWHO-TV/Channel 13. “That is why it touched me. We have been in his shoes.”

Source: WHNT

Dumb Questions!

No one says it better than The Bitchy Waiter,
In "The 20 worst questions to ask your server".

There he shares the most common questions any current Front of House staff, but specifically servers endure on a daily basis.

One of my favorite is...
6. "What's taking my well-done burger so long, did they have to go kill the cow?"

Stupid questions like these drive me crazy. Especially because as stated by the bitchy waiter as servers hearing stupid lines a million times.

One thing that really drives me crazy is similar to number 12...

12. "Can I get a little extra liquor in my drink?"

...Can I get less ice in my drink?
The answer... sure but it doesn't mean you are getting more liquor! If anything you are getting more soda or juice.

Think before you ask. As most Front of House staff say, everyone should work in a restaurant once in their life.

Be sure to check out The Bitchy Waiter!

Nguyean Vietnamese

I was recommended to try this little place in Swampscott, Massachusetts. It was presented when you walked in as "fine dining". The chairs and table sets were perfect. The server was super sweet as well. I was rather hungry, so I ordered a salad, couple pieces of sushi and some Sirloin Steak Pho. It was absolutely amazing! Our server Veronica gave awesome service, including some recommendations and seemed so knowledgeable about the menu. It was so good I woke up wanting to eat more. The good thing is I took home the leftover broth.

It was weird because as a restaurant manager all I do is preach guest service. So, when I go out to eat all I do is judge and look for imperfections. I was going to do this at this restaurant, but the second the food arrived and I realized I was in good hands, I had a great time out; without judgement and just happy as can be with my party. I will definitely go back.

Self Seaters

Ever have those guests who have never worked in a restaurant, who seat themselves?

Have you ever had those guests that walk up past the host stand and ask you if they should just seat themselves?

Question to them...When was the last time you went to a restaurant?

Essentially, every restaurant in 2014 now has a host stand and preaches guest service. This is to again essentially try to give you a "Disney World" experience. This is because of horrible websites like Yelp.

So, back to self seaters...

I had these ladies walk back up to the host stand and ask me if I'm the manager. They then go on to tell me that they sat down at a table where they did not have a server approach their table. The server got a drink order at the table next to them and brought that table drinks. Yet, hadnt gotten to them. "This is what you would call bad service", they said.

I apologized and asked them if they would stay and i'd take care of them (nothing free, of course) by giving them a better experience. They denied the offer.

I asked the 3 hosts to tell me where any of them could have been seated... not one specifically sat them. I had a couple servers that were too busy to notice and no clue what server wasn't watching their section.

So, out of 3 hosts and servers who had that section do not know where these women sat. Everyone did remember 2 african American women passing them or in the restaurant stopping to talk to me.

I guess a quick solve to all of this would be if people when they enter a restaurant find the host stand and kindly wait to be seated. Don't be stupid. 

Burrata...is a cheese...

I had never heard of Burrata cheese until I looked at the menu for 62 Restaurant. I then went to my reliable source: Wikipedia. They define it as: "

Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The outer shell is solid mozzarella, while the inside contains both mozzarella and cream, giving it an unusual, soft texture. It is also defined by some sources as an outer shell of mozzarella filled with butter or a mixture of butter and sugar. It is usually served fresh and at room temperature. The name "burrata" means "buttered" in Italian."

Fair enough...The only thing is it's one of the main cheeses I can't eat. Mozzerella and of course Cream.


Burrata Wiki

Why are minorities cheap?

I never quite understood why American minorities tip so poorly?

Most of the time you have people of Latin or Black (African American) decent come into a restaurant and question prices on your menu. Most of the time menus are posted outside.

The other day I had a party of 5 come in, look at a menu ask for take-out...fine! They realize it it was a burger discount day and ask for To-Go. Once told it was dine-in only they stayed, Gave a 10% tip.

I don't think they understand that the servers make $2.63 per hour.

Today, a party of 8 including children came in and ordered burgers and steak tips  as well as alcoholic drinks. They stated that our menu was a bit higher in price (over heard by the server and myself) and yet ordered what they did. They were needy as well and ordered pricey drinks. Their bill was about $110 and left $9 for a tip.

That basically translates to : We spent too much on food and drinks we will figure out what isnt Too much to leave as a tip.

It becomes fustrating because this creates stereotypes.

To bring it home: my aunt likes to send food back that may not taste like her own or cause scenes for reservations not ready for when she makes them. She basically expects free food is what it is.

These people have never worked in a restaurant and should never eat outside of their own home.

Rockafellas

Tonight was my first time ever visiting Rockafellas.

Our server was great and attentive.

I dont want to come off as a bad Yelp reviewer, because those people suck. Most are fat and just love complaining that they go out to eat alone.

I love food and I've eaten at some amazing fine dining restaurant as well as regular deep-fried bar food.

Tonight, I ordered the Short Rib (cooked pretty well) that sat in the window a minute too long as it waited for my accompaniments Med Well steak tips, that were sent back as being rare. Weird...I know...

Garlic Mashed were super dry regular mashed, corrected with a little butter, salt n pepper at the table.

Good notes: Drinks & Caesar Salad were tasty!
Oh!...& Courtney was super nice!

Result: You literally have 2 more strikes! This explains why we were the only two diners. You are in the central area of Salem, MA! Step it up!