I’d like to speak with the manager!!!

Anyone have June 16 as the first asshole of the season on your calendar?

It’s 7:20.

I’m at the door because things are getting hectic.

At exactly 7:31 a group walks in.

I ask them if the have a reservation and the young man in front of me gives me his name.

I say yes. Thank you. You are scheduled at 8:00. It will be closer to 8 before I can get you seated.

He’s nice.

I should mention that it’s an 8-top.

The father/grandfather gets involved and let’s me know he booked for 7:30.

I check the reservation.

It is for 8:00.

I tell him that.

He asks where they can wait.

I explain that I don’t have a place for them to wait.

He tells me that I’ll have to open the terrace then.

I tell him that’s not going to happen.

He repeats that he made the reservation for 7:30.

I assure him that it is for 8:00, explaining that we don’t take 8 top reservations in June, on Friday, at 8:00.

He tells me this is unacceptable.

I go back to trying to get people seated.

He waits about two minutes and asks if I’m working on a solution.

I tell him that I am not and that I can get him seated at 8:00.

I should mention the lobby is full.

The vestibule is full.

There are people waiting outside.

Things have backed up.

I am desperately trying to get people in seats.

I take the iPad and go into the dining room.

On my way back the man meets me in the bar area and begins to berate me.

He tells me that it’s unacceptable that I am not seating him. That we have lost 8 good customers. That he will be sure to share his displeasure with his friends. He will share his displeasure on line. And that I will be sorry that I am not helping him. And on and on and on.

He gets more intense and louder as he goes on.

He stops.

I say come with me.

I lead him into the lobby, open the door and explain, that I’m done. He can go elsewhere fir dinner. But good luck finding a place that can accommodate an 8 top at 8:00 without a reservation on a Friday in June.

I should mention that as I say this they are French Canadian. Only the young man and the guy yelling at me speak English. His wife asks him in French what is happening and she is shocked.

He tells me he is outraged and that he is going to tell everyone about this and I’ll be sorry.

As he exits the last door he asks my name.

I follow him out and say my name is Jeff.

Spelled. J. E. F. F.

Be sure to spell it correctly.

I’m the GM.

When I walk back in there is applause.

Everyone apologizes for his behavior and tells me how glad they are I didn’t allow him to talk to me like that.

I look at everyone and say summer is here.

At this point tables are reset.

I start seating people.

They all shake my hand as they go in.

I apologize for the distraction.

They are all so sweet.

And as I said to my staff.

The summer people are here.