We open at 5:00. Every day we are open.

Every. Day. We. Are. Open.

By 4:30 we have cars in our lot.

So.

We have learned that if we open at 4:45 we can seat half of our 4:00 reservations early.

Therefore we seat double the amount of people we’d normally seat at 5:00 because we know that 50% of them will be in their chairs by 4:55.

By 5:00, most of our 5:00’s are sat.

The night continues.

At this time of the year we seat our last resy’s during the week at 7:30. On the weekend’s 8:30.

What I’ve learned????

Early reservations are always early.

Late reservations are always VERY late. And I do mean very.

The kitchen is shutting down. Servers have checked out. Bartenders tell me we only have water.

Seriously.

Late reservations are always 15, 20, 30 minutes late.

Don’t do that.

No one likes it.

That is all.

I got to work at 1:00 today.

I gathered up my computer and papers. Got them set up in the dining room. Made my three cappuccinos, in one cup, that gets me started.

And clicked play on the voicemail.

The first message was from last night.

A gentleman who wants a reservation next Sunday.

The next message is from the same gentleman.

The next message is from the SAME GENTLEMAN.

I write down all the calls.

I return the calls in order.

617.555.5555

A man answers.

Hi this is Jeff from the _.

He says finally. I’ve left several messages.

Hmmmm. I’m annoyed now.

I explain we didn’t call at 10:00 last night. And I just got in today.

He says great. And tells me he needs a reservation next Sunday.

I ask for his number starting with the area code.

He gives it to me.

Ahhhhhhh.

It’s Dave.

I know him.

He has been in every Saturday since late November.

Except this past week when he and his wife hosted family for dinner.

This is a guy you’d never know could afford to eat at our restaurant. He and his wife are unassuming. Plain folks. I’d actually expect to see them on a porch in Eastern Kentucky before having dinner at my restaurant.

They come in at 5:00. On the nose. The order well. They eat about half their food. They always order dessert. They eat one or two bites. They are in their truck on their way home by 6:05.

They are very sweet. I’ve learned where they like to sit. Who they like as their server.

They have only complained once. When we sat them in our Gallery. I know not to do that again.

I will let you know how next Sunday goes.

Meanwhile.

Don’t judge.

They may look regular. They may not be.