I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Tonight around a 7:30 a young man walks thru the door.

I ask him if I can help him.

He says that he is there to buy a $100 gift card.

I tell him that if he gives me his credit card we’ll take it in to the bartender and get it processed.

The other host goes, in, and I chat with the fellow.

I ask if he’s local. I ask if he works nearby. I ask if he works in the fall when he’s in school.

I am basically interviewing him.

He’s very well spoken and to quote the other host cute as a button.

I ask him how old he is, and he replies 16. Perfect. You should come in the fall and be a food runner.

I give him my card and tell him to reach out if he’s interested.

Meanwhile, the other host has him sign for the gift card.

And she proclaims, my you have great penmanship.

The young man leaves and I tell a story.

When I was in high school, after I got my first job, and a checking account, I would need to cash a check to get money.

This was LONG before debit cards and ATM’s.

For those born in the 90’s and later a check is piece of paper you used to be able to exchange for money.

Anyway, I would go into E-Z Way to cash my checks. And the woman behind the counter would exclaim how great it was that I was responsible enough to have a checking account. Then I would give her my check, and she would give me my money.

And one day, she exclaimed that she thought I signed my name like a girl.

And I never signed it the same again.

With in a week, I developed the signature I still use today.

No gay, 16 year old boy, in 1981 wants to be told they do anything like a girl.

But I hope the kid who came in tonight comes searching for a job in a month or so.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

I was on the door tonight. 

I’m very short hosts. 

Anybody need a job?

I don’t mind being on the door, I love, love, love being the face of the restaurant.

However, it is hard to keep tabs on what’s going on in the restaurant when I’m stuck at the door.

Tonight was mostly smooth.   A couple of re-cooks, a couple of complaints that it was cold in the dining room, and 4 tables that showed up with more people than they were supposed to have. 

I love, that people reserve for 2 people because it’s available, then show up with 4 people because… I’m too tired to think of something funny.  This happened tonight. 

However, the excitement came a little after 5:00.

A man approaches me and says he’s with the crew that has been hired to record the performance tonight.  He follows this with a request to bring his equipment in thru the kitchen. 

Uh.  Huh? 

I told him we didn’t have any performers scheduled for the night.

He assures me that he just got off the phone with the person who is coming to perform and he’s there to record it. 

I assure him there is nothing scheduled.

He looks at his phone.

Then says, yes.  His friend has been hired to portray the grim reaper for a 50^th birthday party.  I assure him that that it NOT going to happen as we are NOT that restaurant.

He leaves. 

5 minutes later the reservation shows up.  They are carrying a cake. 

The woman who seems to be in charge pulls the other host aside to chat with her, that host, comes to me and says, you’ll need to handle this one. 

I turn the corner and the woman says, about 15 minutes after we are seated a mariachi band will be arriving to perform and eventually sing happy birthday to the guest of honor.

I assure her this will NOT be happening as we are NOT that restaurant.  And then I say, there was a man here who arrived to record the grim reaper who had been hired to come meet with the guest of honor. 

The woman says, oh no.  That can’t happen, I have children.

I say, yes, you are right, that can’t happen either.

She looks at her husband and basically says, abort, abort, abort. 

He goes out. 

Comes back a few minutes later and says you were right.  They scheduled the grim reaper. 

The party is finally seated.

About 15 minutes later, a food runner approaches to say, Chef wants to know where the table you just sat is going.  They all just left. 

UGH. 

I send for the server.

She arrives and says they are currently on the patio which is closed.

I close my eyes and decide I won’t get involved.

A few minutes later a server appears to say there is a ventriloquist at a table on the patio and wants to know what the hell is going on. 

I never got involved after they were seated.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

I did not open the patio tonight. 

The sun was shining till around 6:00. 

Then it got grey. 

Then the air got thick.

They the thunder rumbled.

Then a couple of flashes of lightening. 

The skies finally opened at 8:55. 

I made the right choice?  Right?

My favorite questions today, was well if it doesn’t rain can we sit on the patio. 

Yes.  I’m going to have 2 bartenders and 3 servers hang out all night, just in case it doesn’t rain.

I don’t think they got it when I said no. 

But alas.  I stand by my decision.