I got scolded tonight.

My restaurant, inside, is divided into three parts.

The bar.

The main dining room.

The gallery.

The gallery is a green house space with four large tops (8 to 12) people. Four 2 tops.

The gallery was originally garden space between the restaurant and the house it’s attached to. The chef had it enclosed two years ago. Then during COVID had it heated and air conditioned. It’s a beautiful space.

Yes, it’s heated and air conditioned but it’s not insulated. So we struggle to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

The key. The key. The key.

Is for the back door to never be opened summer or winter.

There is an emergency exit from the gallery that leads to to the parking lot.

The minute the door opens the heat/air conditioning is sucked from the space because of the air being sucked out by the hoods.

In the winter when it’s 5* degrees like today it’s really bad. The temperature in the gallery will drop 30 degrees in 30 seconds.

The door can’t be locked because it’s a fire exit.

There is a sign that clearly says use front entrance.

So tonight I look over and two people are seating themselves at the bar. Oh no you dihn’t.

I meet them at the bar, explain they need to check in with the host.

I know. You only want to sit at the bar. You still need to check in with her. Yes. I know. Just a drink and a snack. I appreciate your ability to be fast. Check in with the host.

They eventually get seated.

Fast forward 90 minutes and they are getting ready to leave.

They start toward the gallery to leave. I stop them and explain they need to leave through the front door.

You’d think I called her some unfortunate name.

She was outraged.

She started to scold me about how close it was to the parking lot. Etc etc.

She ended by saying we should lock it if we don’t want it used.

It’s a fucking emergency exit. It doesn’t have a panic bar. It has to be unlocked.

Fuck this.

Some times I’d like to say open your own restaurant if you want different rules.

Meanwhile the people in the gallery want a comfortable dinner. In a warm space.