Its 7 am and both a hostess and another server have started.
A few more tables come in. The majority of people just want to eat. They don't want to make conversation and they don't complain about the food or where they are sitting or how its horrible that they feel forced to eat three eggs.
With two servers on, the sitting should be one table in my section and one table in the other server's section and back and forth until we have about even numbers of customers. Sometimes one of us will get sat more than one table in a row (people wanting a booth or to sit by the window) but at the end of the hour we should have sold about the same. The trouble is sometimes you get a server working with you who decides that they need to make more money than usual this day... or they were out drinking the night before and don't want to deal with customers this morning. Luckily today we're on an level playing field.
Just before 8 am, a table of 2 sits in my section. The couple is looking at their menus when I approach and say:" Good Morning, would I be able to start you off with something to drink? A juice? Or a coffee?" Now one thing you may not know about the human auditory system... its flawed. Especially at 8 in the morning... before your first jolt of caffeine. People will 9 times out of 10 hear the last thing said to them and that is it. Any words in the sentence before that will not be heard at all. So this lovely couple ( who I'm sure outside of a restaurant are quite intelligent) only heard the following word of my greeting: "Coffee?". So their response, while correct for what they heard, irks me beyond belief. The man looks up to me and politely says: "Yes."
I've done this thousands of times before so I know he only heard "Coffee" so I know that's what he wants. I turn to the woman and say: "Would I be able to start you off with something to drink?" She looks at me and says:"I'll have the same." (Which is amazing because technically nothing was ordered.)
I pour two coffees and go back to the table. Placing the coffees in front of the customers I smile and ask: "Do you need a moment?"
"I'll have a veterinarian omelet and a Sesame Street bagel please," the lady says.
"Sure," I reply, trying not to let my laughing leave my eyes. "And for you sir?"
"I'll have the big breakfast with Dippy Eggs and sausage." (Dippy eggs are just that, eggs you can dip your toast in.)
"And what kind of toast would you like sir?" (For some reason, this question leads to insulted looks from most customers... I'd love to know what they hear.)
"Excuse me?", he responds.
"What kind of toast would you like with that sir? White or brown?"
"Oh, sorry! Yes, please."
"Okay, so yes to toast. But what kind would you like, sir?"
"Oh, brown please..... (again, only hearing the last thing he was asked.) Unless you have whole wheat."
"The brown bread is whole wheat sir."
"Then perfect. I'll have that."
I take their menus and go to the computer to place their order. Punching the order in takes no more than 30 seconds. I turn and check out my section and the Dippy eggs man is trying to get my attention. I go over to the table to see what is up (mostly wondering if I have to change something on their order) and he tells me he'd like a refill on coffee. He's had the cup for less than two minutes and already looking for a refill.
I tell him that I have a new pot brewing and that I'll be around with some coffee as soon as its ready. (Complete lie! I always tell people this. I only like to refill coffees after I take the food to the table. It makes it easier for me to know who has and hasn't had a refill.)
About three minutes later or so, the orders are up and dropped off to the table. Coffees are refilled. Bills are dropped at other tables. Bills are paid and customers are on their merry ways.
The rest of the morning goes by without a glitch. That is until 11..... when the Boss comes in.
It doesn't matter what kind of restaurant you work in, the Boss is crazy. Something about Restaurant Ownership. It either attracts the crazies or makes the sane one (and yes, I meant to use the singular there) crazy. Don't get me wrong. I have the utmost respect for anyone who has the drive and patience to own a restaurant. But my goodness, why are they all nuts?
Something about the air in a restaurant changes when the Boss arrives. There is an underlying tension that appears out of nowhere. Servers who were completely calm mere moments ago are now making sure that they have a rag in their hand so it looks like they've been busy cleaning their sections.
The morning progresses. Tables are served. Bills are paid. Money is made. And then, the lunch rush occurs....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment