Around 5:30 tonight the host comes up to me saying a woman on the phone is insisting she talk to me.

I ask who she is, and I’m informed that the woman wants to make a reservation for the chef’s table in two weeks. The host has done what she has been instructed to do. She has told the woman that she will make a note of the request but she can’t guarantee it will be available.

The woman is insisting that she speak to me.

I tell the host to take her name and number and that I will call her back. It’s 5:30 on Saturday night. It will wait.

The information is gathered.

The evening continues.

Around 7:00 during the middle of the 2nd turn I’m at the host stand. The phone rings. I pick up and it’s a woman who is outraged that I have not called her back yet. It’s been 90 minutes. It’s a Saturday night.

She asks if I’m Jeff. I say no. She then complains about me and wants to know if her reservation has been made. I explain it has not been made. She makes it. No mention of the chef’s table.

Seriously. Read the room.

I’m trying to decide now if I should call her back tomorrow.

We were busy tonight. But not as busy as the past few Saturday nights.

We were all chatting about it and someone mentioned that it might because of Lent. We are a steak house and people do give up meat, alcohol etc for Lent.

What are your thoughts.

PS. It also snowed today, so maybe you know it’s Winter.

The phone rings today.

Hello thank you for calling. How may I help you?

Hello. Would you have a reservation for two tonight?

Would you like the bar or the dining room?

The dining room please.

Unfortunately I don’t have any tables in the dining room tonight. We are booked.

We’ll how long are you open?

Our last reservation is at 8:30 tonight.

Then I’ll take a reservation at 8:30 then.

I’m sorry we are booked in the dining room tonight.

Then I can just come in and sit at the bar at 8:30?

Not always we might be full. Would like you like to make a reservation?

You should said you were full. What’s your capacity?

Huh?

What’s your capacity. How many people can you seat?

I don’t know? I’m not sure I understand?

How many seats? How many tables? What’s your capacity?

(At this point I make a conscious decision to stop being nice).

I have no idea how this this matters.

I want to know your capacity.

Sir. If you want a reservation let me know.

We’ll I live up the street. What to decide if it would be worth coming there three times a week.

………

So what’s you capacity.

Sir. We are full in the dining room. Our capacity doesn’t change that.

Your customer skills are lacking.

Huh?

Yes, you aren’t impressing me. Your customer service skills are lacking.

I’m not following but okay.

I’m trying to decide if I want to come there three times a week. What are your specials tonight.

I have no idea. I’ll find out at 4:30 when everyone does.

So when’s your last reservation.

At 8:30.

So I can just come in.

No sir. You will need a reservation.

Okay. I’ll take a reservation in the dining room.

…….

…….

All I have is at the bar.

He finally makes a reservation. He gives me his number.

He hangs up.

He never showed.

I kind of wonder if I was being played. The conversation was sooooo weird.