Ya never ever ever know what a day at the restaurant will bring.

Got to work very early today. It was my first day back. I had lots and lots and lots to do.

Staff started rolling in around 2:30. A few of them had been asked to come in early as we were setting up from scratch today.

It was great seeing them. I like the people on my team and I had really missed them.

Rest of the afternoon went great. The day goes by quickly. It was 5:00 in a blink.

We were not super busy tonight. Rain/freezing rain made the roads treacherous and coupled with the rest of the issues at hand it was quiet.

I took the opportunity to chat with guests. My staff. And after the last of the reservations were sat, I pulled out my laptop to work on some projects.

Around 8:15 I was chatting with a regular who had a question about a reservation when a food runner appeared and said I was needed in the kitchen.

I took two steps toward the kitchen, she stopped me to let me know that the gentleman seated at seat 15 at the bar was choking.

So let’s backup.

About 2.5 minutes before I was alerted:

One of our bartenders was starting to shut down the bar, let’s call her Lexie, as the night was winding down.

While she was cleaning, a woman seated at the bar, caught her attention, and indicated that she needed something. Lexie thought she needed a water and started filling a glass when she realized what was actually happening.

The man with the woman was clearly struggling to get a breath. Lexie was pretty sure it had been 45 seconds to a full minute before he alerted his companion that there was a problem.

Lexie dropped the glass she was filling. I remember hearing the glass break. She yelled for the other bartender, Garrett who was helping a table.

Garrett immediately went to then man and performed the Heimlich. They’re pretty sure the steak he was choking on was dislodged at this point but he was still having trouble breathing.

At this time a member of the kitchen team came out to help. He was performing the Heimlich again when I arrived.

I instructed the food runner to call 911.

The man still couldn’t breathe and couldn’t talk.

The Heimlich was performed again and at this point he threw up onto the floor.

He was finally breathing. And was able to speak.

He was clearly shaken.

He insisted we cancel the paramedics. And that he was fine.

He got cleaned up. Packaged up his dinner and asked for the check.

I checked in with them before they left and he assured me he was fine

They left.

Everyone was shook.

Thankfully my teamed acted wonderfully.

It’s the first time I’ve ever had this happen.

It was a crazy way to end the night.

What a first day back!