I have a new host. She has worked with us for two weeks.

She is absolutely wonderful.

Tonight a person calls to ask what time our kitchen closed.

She asks me as I’m standing next to her.

I say 8:00.

She said into the phone around 8:00.

When she hung up I had to explain the difference between what I said and what she said. And what it means to the guests.

At 8:00 means you need to be here by 8:00. Not 8:01. Not 8:02.

Around 8:00 means you can show up at 8:20 and insist we feed you.

It might sound extreme but these are things you learn while dealing with the public.

I think she might think I’m crazy.

Which is not wrong.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Last night I mentioned that most foods should not be eaten hot.

I was told a story by a staff member today that brought the subject back up.

On Saturday night a server brought sharing plates for a table’s entrees as they were splitting a lot of food. It was an 8 top. He was called back over and the table was angry that the plates weren’t warm. They insisted he remove them. And replace them.

Seriously.

Who the fuck provides warm plates for sharing?

But also.

What foods should be eaten hot?

Not warm. Hot. Like scald your mouth hot.

As a server I’ve microwaved so many bowls of soups to boiling that I can’t even count that high.

As a manager I constantly field complaints about food that is not hot.

There is a huge difference between not hot and cold.

I asked a server this question today.

He said soup. I concurred.

He said pizza.

I disagree.

Pizza should be warm. But it should not be hot.

PS. I like NYC thin sliced pizza at room temperature. I never get it heated.

We also had a man send back his steak last week because it wasn’t hot.

So.

What other foods should be hot?

Not warm. But hot?

I can can say that in 2020 and 2021 tips were great. However the larger than life outrageous tips have fallen to the way side.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/americans-tip-less-than-before-the-covid-19-pandemic-survey-173148777.html?fs=e&s=cl