I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

The phone rings.  I answer.

They say, how long is the wait?

I explain that we don’t run a wait. 

They say, so if I walk in right now, how long will I have to wait?

I explain that we don’t run a wait, we don’t keep a list.  We either have a table for you or we don’t.

This confuses everyone, not just the person on the phone. 

So I can’t just come down there and wait.

You can come wait, but I can’t guarantee I’ll have a table for you before we close.  

So, you don’t have any more open tables tonight?

I can’t answer this question, as I don’t know how many people are in their party.  If it’s 2 people I’ll have a table open in about 30 minutes.  If it’s ten people, you’d have to try again tomorrow.

I ask him all the important question.    

How many are in you party?  

He replies five.

I start looking and moving things around.

I let him know that I would have room for 5 people around 7:30 and ask if he’d like to make a reservation.  

He does.  

I book the table for him and all is well.

He shows up around 7:25 with his friends.  

And the best part.  

They were maybe 17/18 year’s old at best.  

Very well behaved.  Ordered well.  Tipped the server well.

Their parents should be proud.