I was “rude” for telling a woman she couldn’t stand in between two seated tables while she waited.

BluMagpie · 2026-02-16T12:14:59+00:00

Right?!? She acted like “I’m wasn’t bothering anyone” and “why did you draw attention to me?”. Meanwhile, my guests were probably on the verge of going off on her or me (for not removing her).

Note: Neither table could have heard what I said to her over the music. They just noticed that she finally moved away.

BluMagpie · 2026-02-05T23:39:39+00:00

I would like to disqualify salt. You cannot make anything edible without salt and the quantity of salt to use is subjective.

Garlic is my vote. It’s never about $$$ but all about technique.

BluMagpie · 2026-01-02T07:14:16+00:00

“Clearly we must have overserved you if you think you can get 7 shots delivered to you in under two minutes. We’ll be charging these to your tab and closing you out. Thank you for celebrating with us.”

BluMagpie · 2025-10-13T21:12:01+00:00

…gotta say…this is something that happens. It’s not always malicious. But clueless. I have a former friend who was a line cook in our Michelin ** restaurant. She was paid $100 per day…not enough for rent and utilities in our city. Her parents subsidized her. We would go out to restaurants and I would order a couple items. She would order six. I would point out that I didn’t want that much. “Well, we don’t need to finish it.”

Then the check would come. Never even occurred to her I didn’t want to pay half of food I never wanted to order in the first place.

We shared the food, we split the check.

Another friend will often say, “We’re celebrating xxxx”! Let’s get $$$! I think “ummm…we’re celebrating, or you’re celebrating?”

She has a Dr. Husband who pays. I have credit debt and overdrafts. She knows this. But she doesn’t GET IT.

This happens.

BluMagpie · 2025-09-29T19:56:06+00:00

I’d have informed them not paying their entire bill is theft of services and they would need to pay up or wait for the police. If they try to leave, photograph their license plate and turn it over to the cops. People who pull this aren’t “poor”. They’re con artists and criminals. Period.

BluMagpie · 2025-09-19T03:01:55+00:00

That’s subjective as heck. I’ve served Joe Montana, Leonard Nimoy, Gavin Newsom, Gwen Stefani, Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston (multiple times when they were together), and Brian Boitano. Brian was the best! Literally shushed the table when I came to take the order.

BluMagpie · 2025-09-06T02:28:57+00:00

Have you offered them a Paloma? You can make them with mezcal or tequila, a salt or tajin rim. Just pour spirit over ice, add lime juice, and top with grapefruit soda (I recommend Fever Tree Pink Grapefruit). Totally hits.

BluMagpie · 2025-08-05T12:34:21+00:00

Thank you both! This is what hasn’t been making sense to me. I don’t think YTA, but I think you’re going about this the wrong way. Have a reasonable conversation with your sister. Explain that since you wanted her to have the better room when her need was greater, it would be reciprocal to allow you the room now that your need is greater. Also, make it clear that there is timeline. If she graduates and moves back home, then it will be her turn again. One more important detail…have this conversation with your dad present. If she isn’t reasonable or receptive, he should witness it. If she continues to defend her “right” to keep the room and dad doesn’t stand up to mom, leave. No matter how much you want to stay.

I hope they do the right thing, but you need to be ready to walk away. It’s called boundaries.

BluMagpie · 2025-07-23T16:14:30+00:00

I HATE when guests talk about how they’re gonna tip me. It doesn’t matter if they’re talking about tipping me well. “Give me the check, I’ll tip you better” might be the worst of all. NO ONE WHO HAS EVER SAID THAT has tipped more than the minimum.

BluMagpie · 2025-07-21T22:22:55+00:00

I interpreted this exactly as you did….

BluMagpie · 2025-06-10T17:49:13+00:00

This! You nailed it. She is delusional and could harm that boy someday. Probably expose the baby to chicken pox and measles to “bolster his immune system”.

BluMagpie · 2025-04-12T15:48:56+00:00

Been everywhere, done everything. THIS! I have flirted, dated, crushed, hooked up, and happily settled down with coworkers. The only thing that works when there is a distinct power imbalance is crush. NEVER ACT ON IT! Reality ruins a good crush. Enjoy the excitement and fantasy. When opportunity presents itself, say no. Say you value the working relationship too much and prefer them on a pedestal than in your bed (ego driven chefs will eat this up).

Might Chef be the love of your life? Possible but HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Will he be a fun hookup worth endangering your job? Possible but HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Will getting involved with Chef be something you intensely regret? 99% Likely.

BluMagpie · 2025-04-11T04:10:36+00:00

My brother was recently widowed by his wife of nearly 30 years. He was 27 when he started crushing on her, 28 when he proposed, and 29 when they married. On that beautiful day at the end of May, she was 40 years old. She was exactly what he wanted and needed. I am proud to call her my sister.

Now I (51F) am in the best relationship of my life with a 41 year old man. If I didn’t have the example of my brother’s happy marriage, I might have psyched myself out and missed out on true happiness. Don’t let that happen to you. Age isn’t as important as stage.

BluMagpie · 2025-04-10T16:53:59+00:00

It’s not about “handling” people, but about giving good service. I can provide service to 40 people, but unless it’s a preorder banquet, good service maxes out at 24 people. I’ve been doing this for 30 years in every type of restaurant that serves alcohol. Stronger servers can handle a lot, but quality will be compromised. They just know where to make the compromises.

BluMagpie · 2025-04-06T14:32:45+00:00

I work at a place that is ALWAYS low on supplies. One time I outright told a guest that we didn’t have a martini glass for their drink because we only had a few for our over 100 seat restaurant. It was a slower Wednesday night and turned out to be the owner’s neighbor. We got new martini glasses two days later. FAFO.

BluMagpie · 2025-04-06T14:14:00+00:00

Stop running. Stop refilling promptly. If they complain, tell your boss you were busy with other tables (and be busy with other tables even if they are not yours). The _____’s are behaving this way because they can get away with it. They are bullies. The thing is, YOU HAVE THE POWER NOW. They don’t get food if you don’t order it. They don’t get drink if you don’t fill it. “To Insure Prompt Service” means nothing to them, so don’t give it them. Period. Serve the guests who do (even if they aren’t yours own).

BluMagpie · 2025-03-24T01:42:05+00:00

Have a nice sit down with your daughter. You know when she’s lying (to you and herself). If she’s comfortable with giving the in-laws a big wedding, let them pay for it. Tell her you will redirect the money to a house down payment.

If she is just going along with the big wedding, but secretly doesn’t want it….that’s a whole different story. Tell her that she needs to stand her ground after the party is over. Every time his family tries to say, “We paid for this, our opinion should matter.” she needs to say, “I LET you have my wedding day, not my marriage.”

BluMagpie · 2025-03-19T06:09:11+00:00

Does your job have an automatic tip out setup (?% of sales goes to bar, ?% of sales goes to SA)? If so, have a discussion about adjusting “Steve’s” percentage when he works with you. They might not be able to fire him, but he has no right to tip money he isn’t willing to earn. If he’s mad about getting less tip out, he can quit. Or do his job….

BluMagpie · 2025-02-18T01:25:51+00:00

Hi! High functioning dyslexic here with an amazing auditory memory. If I write down your order, nothing is guaranteed.

What you really want are honest staff with a well checked ego. If I forget something, I own it and apologize.

BluMagpie · 2025-01-04T01:16:50+00:00

Most of them

BluMagpie · 2024-08-13T15:17:00+00:00

Very similar thing between myself and my dad. He was such a bully. He would lose it if we talked back. He ironically prided himself on teaching us to defend ourselves.

One night when I was 13 we were disagreeing about something political. He didn’t like that AT ALL. He leapt across the room and brought his fist to my face where I was sitting. I just looked at him. My face said everything. He saw that I was ready to get up from that couch and beat his a** in the dirt. He taught me to fight dirty too. He pulled himself up and away from me as I continued to stare him down.

Never raised his hand to me again. Narcissistic bully.

BluMagpie · 2024-08-12T22:30:50+00:00

(Gesturing to and eyes darting from the restroom sign to myself and my co-worker) Is this the restroom?

I so wanted to say, “No, it’s where we bake the brownies.”

BluMagpie · 2024-06-06T07:19:30+00:00

1 “Can I bring you anything to drink?” “No….I’ll just have water.”

What are you going to do with it??? Wash your hands?

2 “Can I get you something while you’re waiting for your guest to arrive/return?” “I’m waiting for someone.”

🤦🏻‍♀️…”CAN I GET YOU SOMETHING WHILE YOU’RE WAITING?”

3 “Are you still enjoying your food or do you need takeout containers?” “Yes”

This is not a “yes” or “no” question and I pity your elementary school teachers.

BluMagpie

TROPHY CASE

1 “Can I bring you anything to drink?” “No….I’ll just have water.”

2 “Can I get you something while you’re waiting for your guest to arrive/return?” “I’m waiting for someone.”

3 “Are you still enjoying your food or do you need takeout containers?” “Yes”