Tonight I get called to the host stand.

I get there and an older woman is waiting to speak to me.

She launched into her complaint.

She has ordered the mashed potatoes. She did not know they had garlic. She is allergic to garlic. She is now going to be very sick because no one told her that the mashed potatoes have garlic.

I wait until she is finished.

I ask her if she told her server she was allergic to garlic.

No but…the menu should have said it had garlic.

I ask again did you tell your server.

No but…

She insists that the menu should have said it.

Fun fact.

Our menu doesn’t describe any of our sides.

Mashed potatoes.

Potato salad.

Quinoa salad.

French fries.

House salad.

Creamed spinach

Broccolini.

No description.

Just a list.

The potatoe salad has egg. The broccolini is grilled. The mashed potatoes have garlic.

Last night a man sent back the creamed spinach because it has cheese.

More than once someone has sent back the quinoa salad because they didn’t know what it was.

But.

I’m going to go out on a limb here.

If you have an allergy. One that is serious. One that will make you sick. It is your responsibility to tell us about it.

And.

It wasn’t till later I learned she had ordered the filet. It is brushed with seasoning that has garlic powder. But she wouldn’t know that because she didn’t ask or tell us about the allergy.