Music.

Every restaurant since the beginning of time has a different vibe.

Even restaurants that serve similar types of food have different experiences. Whether style of service, music, decor, food.

Music is definitely a defining element in a lot of restaurants. Sometimes it’s background. Sometimes it’s live. Sometimes it’s classical. Sometimes it’s pop.

Every owner, manager, designer has a reason for why they play what they play. Sometimes the music is different night to night depending who’s controlling it. But there’s always a reason.

My owner is very specific about what he wants. He has a list of stations that we play. All the stations are similar. All variations on electronic chill playlists. They are fun. Upbeat. Solid bass.

The music has a definite driving beat.

It’s also not background music. The music is loud and sets the atmosphere in the dining room. It creates an up beat energy. It lets you know that this is not your fine dining experience from 1972.

I love turning on the music at 4:45 every night.

It’s the call for places.

The lights are lowered. The candies are lit. The actors are in place. The music begins.

And just like that the curtain goes up (by that I mean the doors are unlocked) and the show begins.

I’ve felt this energy every day since I’ve started. It is unlike any other restaurant I’ve worked in. It’s this amazing energy that consumes the building.

The first guests arrive. They are seated.

The show has begun.

The energy continues to build until we seat the last guests. And then gradually quietens as the guests complete their dinners and begin to leave.

Quieter and quieter.

Until it’s just the staff.

Curtain call.

At the end it’s just the dim lights. The candles. The thump of the music.

At the end we are only left with the ghost lights. The glow of the lights from the cooler, the exit signs, the parking lot.

Just like that.

The show is over.