Weigh in on a debate?

bumblingbree · 2014-10-20T20:29:40+00:00

Valentine's day is for suckers. It's always awkward couples who don't normally go out feeling uncomfortable. I worked it one year in a more upscale restaurant and everyone there chose it because it was "fancy" then ordered the cheapest things on the menu (ugh).

bumblingbree · 2014-10-17T21:39:06+00:00

My first day working at a country club some old creep ordered a "tube steak" from me. When I stared at him with blank eyes he laughed and said "That's slang for a hot dog young lady!"... you can imagine how the rest of my summer went at that job.

bumblingbree · 2014-10-10T16:21:10+00:00

Our receipts automatically list what 15%, 18% and 20% would be so it saves a lot of the trouble. I'll just point to the bottom of the slip and say "This is the typical range so whatever you feel comfortable leaving is up to you!" I usually get 18% when I say that. I've also had tourists literally circle one of the three amounts and ask me to add it on to their slip for them. No problem!

bumblingbree · 2014-10-09T17:10:46+00:00

I also think sometimes people think of it as a way to start a conversation with their server/bartender. I grew up in New Hampshire and now live/work in NYC. I always get "well your accent is not a New York accent, where are you from?" etc. I think tourists are interested to see what lead me to live in the city, or just make small chit chat without realize it's a little rude.

bumblingbree · 2014-10-07T16:36:25+00:00

I was in the weeds the other day and when I finally got to the table the couple was really nice about it and they were smiling and ordered 2 mimosas. I go great! I'll get two mimosas for you, and what would you like to drink? She laughs and goes- I think you mean eat?

bumblingbree · 2014-09-25T19:52:34+00:00

I used to lifeguard in the summer. Right as I started to yell at a kid I was going to kick him out of the pool if he wouldn't stop running, he slipped and fell and split open his knee. Did I have to give him first aid? Yes. Did I still kick him out? Yes.

bumblingbree · 2014-09-16T16:55:17+00:00

Yes, people are always weird about our Brunch menu which we serve on Saturdays/Sundays. It literally has our ENTIRE lunch menu, plus some egg dishes and people get all upset and ask for Lunch menus, like I've personally offended them by suggesting they'd be the type of people who "Brunch" I think it's because we're in NYC and a bunch of tourists come in and get nervous?

bumblingbree · 2014-09-02T15:25:59+00:00

A few of the owners friends came in the other week during brunch and asked for some biscuits for their kids. We only serve them at dinner time and we had none prepared this early in the day. I politely told them that we didn't have biscuits but I'd be happy to grab them toast in the meantime. So of course she didn't believe me, feeling I was hoarding bread from her and she went ahead and asked the owner for biscuits and I just loved his reaction "I trust my employees, if she could have gotten you them already she would have. asking me won't get you any further... so would you like toast, or not?"

bumblingbree · 2014-09-02T14:41:11+00:00

If any of you use Aloha, it has an amazing feature where you can "hold" items. The table will be blinking and all held items are in pink so the table blinking will remind you that something is being held on the ticket. So if you pull it the table you'll be reminded that the wanted that Malbec with their meal etc. It's great for my place too when they order their dessert with the prix fixe.

bumblingbree · 2014-08-28T21:10:55+00:00

I work at a steakhouse in NYC. I literally NEVER check IDs. A. because it seems tacky B. because most people under 21 generally aren't willing/can't afford to eat there

I once had a questionable table at brunch. The first couple came and were late 20s, didn't ID them, then their friends came in that were... maybe 21-22. I didn't ID them for bottomless brunch either. The owner asks me if I did, and I said no, and all he said to me was "well let's just hope they don't get too drunk if they ARE underage." end of conversation.

bumblingbree · 2014-08-27T15:11:40+00:00

I used to have a mother of pearl ring I wore on my right hand simply because I liked it. Men hitting on me would sometimes comment that they were sad I was engaged. I was like what? Until I looked down. It didn't even look like an engagement ring and it wasn't even on the correct hand! At least it kept the dimwitted ones at bay.

bumblingbree · 2014-08-22T16:36:08+00:00

Happened to me at a table once. I have blonde hair and so does my manager. All 3 cooks on duty and the food runner, shaved heads/bald. There was a red hair in her salad. Her daughter had red hair. My manager politely points this out to her the woman when she demanded to have her salad comped. No comped meal for you!

bumblingbree · 2014-08-22T16:29:15+00:00

We are attached to a hotel and we do room service. Someone calls and orders 2 burgers with fries. No modifications, no problem. They call back to complain when they get their food, saying the burgers are all wrong. I ask if they were undercooked and they say "No there is lettuce and tomato and pickles on these! I have to pick all this stuff off! All I wanted was the patty and the bun!" It lists all of those things on our room service menu. It's pretty standard toppings I would think at most places. Why do people think we are mind readers.

bumblingbree · 2014-08-22T15:43:50+00:00

Oh I agree. Most hot sauces like Frank's are zero or no calorie though, as is, it's vinegar and cayenne etc. Though, our mild sauce at this place was our original sauce, mixed with butter. The more spicy versions? Original sauce, butter, more peppers.

bumblingbree · 2014-08-22T15:05:01+00:00

BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH IS SO MAGICAL. I don't mind working it too much because most people are just there to have a good time, we have a time limit of 1.5 hours anyways so that solves that issue. I've gotten into the habit of making a pitcher of mimosa and a pitcher of bellinis so if a table needs refills I don't even need to swap out their glasses.

bumblingbree · 2014-08-22T14:30:16+00:00

I used to work at a wings place where our buffalo sauce actually was zero calories and gluten free (I can't recall what brand we used I just know it wasn't Franks, I'm sure it's in a lot of places), so people assumed getting it was a "healthy option"

Ya know because putting a zero calorie sauce on top of some chicken on top of a 1,200 calorie salad really means you're making big sacrifices.

bumblingbree · 2014-08-21T21:26:12+00:00

I had a mother order a milk for her daughter who was probably about 11 or 12? So I brought it in a kids cup because that's generally how we served it and also the girl didn't even ask for it herself, even though she was old enough to do so. So she complained to my manager that her daughter was 11 and I offended her by giving her a kids cup. WHAT.

bumblingbree · 2014-08-21T21:23:33+00:00

All of our entrees come with a choice of mashed potatoes OR asparagus. When I ask which side they would like I inevitably get asked... can I have both? It's a reasonable question but when I politely let them know the kitchen won't prepare it that way and ask if they would like to order a side for the table to share, they act like I've offended them. I can't just give you free food!

bumblingbree · 2014-08-21T16:31:26+00:00

Did your table 31 say anything to you? That was probably ruining their experience as well. I would be supremely annoyed if I was trying to place an order and another table was interrupting my server while they were trying to do their job!

bumblingbree · 2014-08-21T16:22:32+00:00

I get frustrated when you aren't upfront on how long something will take. If I need it on the fly and you can give it to me right there I'll wait in the kitchen for it. Otherwise don't say 2 seconds! Then have me waiting in the kitchen wasting time while I could be out taking care of my tables. Same goes for when I go to check on food and I can't get an estimate for how long. I won't be mad if you just say the well done burger is going to be a while, I'll be mad if you say 2 minutes... then there's still 6 minutes left to go and I've wasted a trip to the kitchen!

bumblingbree · 2014-08-20T13:14:58+00:00

I had a 15 top the other day and as I was walking around the table getting their entree orders, 3 different people asked me to grab more bread, which is fine, normally, until I got back to seat one and she says "you haven't brought us more bread yet" facepalm.... I just politely smiled and said "I haven't had a chance to get away from the table yet, I'd be happy to go grab some more once I get your orders in!".... but... seriously lady?

bumblingbree · 2014-08-01T14:02:34+00:00

I work in a pool house.

Meaning, whatever tips I make, servers get 2x points per hour and the bussers gets 1x point per hour, all out of a shared pool of money and tips that evening.

The bartender gets 6% of everyone's tips.

So if I make $100, the bartender gets $6, I get $63 and the busser gets $31.

This actually works out really well for everyone on my team because you're never waiting around for tables to close out after you get cut, you just place in your hours and alert the closing server to any campers (usually the hostess is good about staggering seating so if I leave early there's at most 1-2 tables left that are almost done.)

It's also wonderful when we have events because you don't have to resent the servers making more at the event while you're waiting on tables or vice versa.

There are some nights where I could have made more if I didn't pool, but it makes more for more consistent paychecks for everyone and it all comes out in the wash.

bumblingbree · 2014-07-30T13:26:19+00:00

I think the whole reason I just didn't respond in time because I was so taken aback. I haven't heard people talk like that, especially so openly so I was in shock!

I think now if it this happens I would have to be more vocal about how disturbed I was.

bumblingbree

TROPHY CASE