I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Meanwhile.

I get this text a few minutes after our storm passed.

It’s compliments of our neighbor Liz.

It made my night.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

It’s been a long summer.

The longest perhaps. 

It’s been a successful summer but also one with lots of frustration.

I feel like I’ve gotten beat up a lot.

By guests.

By staff.

By my boss.

Nothing bad.

The reality is, when you are one man band doing Front of House management for three venues, there are going to be a few mistakes.

More than a few.

Nothing major.

But I did forget order espresso. Until we were out.

And I didn’t schedule a lunch server this past Monday.

I’ve missed more than a few things on liquor orders.

Ive submitted the wrong tip sheet to payroll.

I’ve sent way too many people to the wrong restaurant for interviews.

I scheduled a server on the day of his mother’s funeral.

Nothing egregious.

But they add up.

And they weigh on me.

And there are days I wonder what the fuck I’m doing.

There are also days where the guests are just angry.

There are too many days to count when it comes to people yelling about the bar seats.

There are too many days to count where someone you’ve offered a job too emails and tells you how wonderful you are but they won’t be working for you.

Too many people as well who train. And then never come back.

Too many interviews schedule where no one shows up.

Too many employees who flame out and tell you what a horrible human you are.

And then sometimes, I’m just tired.

Fucking tired.

The above was my Wednesday and Thursday.

A sous chef on Thursday was chatting with me at the end of the day.

He looked at me and said, “are you okay? You are here, but you are not really here.”

That was the most honest thing anyone has said to me in a while.

Today I slept late.

At noon Adam came in to see if I was going to work.

I got up about 15 minutes later.

I have management coverage on the floor on Fridays and Saturdays.

With the rain and an accident on the turnpike I didn’t get to work until 1:45.

I started the day better than usual.

And it was the best day in a while.

I got more accomplished in 2 hours than I typically get done in 3 days.

Preshift at the old restaurant was fun as I shared my story about the kate guest, who tipped exactly 20%. And Chef shared that the angriest of the angry were in on Thursday.

I get back to my shift at the new restaurant.

It was far from perfect.

But it was smooth.

And the guests were the best.

A woman walks in and says I know you.

I say yea I’m from the other restaurant.

She says no. That’s not it.

Then she screams you used to work at David’s.

I then knew who she was.

She was so excited to see me.

She shared how much they hate the restaurant I. That spot now. She introduced me to her adult soon who was about three feet high when I first met him.

It was a great reunion.

Another man comes in who I did not know who is excited to learn I didn’t leave the company. I’m just at the new spot.

He wants to know why I’m there since the changes I made at the old restaurant were so great.

I explain that I’ve been tasked with replicating the systems from the old restaurant.

He goes on to say, the restaurant is in good hands.

Another family who I adore came in tonight. Their summer as lawyers in NYC has been tough. It’s their first time up in a few weeks.

They are excited to see me and introduce me to their friends.

Then after an amazing thunderstorm there is a rainbow over the water.

Then a couple leaves.

15 minutes later another exclaims oh look they aww getting engaged.

It was the couple who just left.

On the rock at the edge of the pier. With beautiful storm clouds and the appearing sunset silhouetting them.

I went out and congratulated them.

Her ring was bigger than my head.

The at the end of the night a man approaches me at the bar.

I can tell it’s not going to go well.

But then he goes on to say that tonight was their last night in Maine. He’s probably didn’t $5,000 dining out this week with his family. And hands down this was the best meal of their trip.

Then I get home an am oooming at the Facebook page of the restaurant and someone is going on and on about the restaurant and finishes by saying it was great to see me.

I didn’t recognize her name.

It was a great end to the day.

And I realized I am making progress.

And I’m doing what I was tasked to do.

And there are victories even when it doesn’t seem like it.

And tonight someone yelled about not be permitted to sit at the bar on their way out.

3 minutes later a different person pops in to say I just told those assholes they weren’t welcome back.

You all work too hard and are too good ti deal with jerks like that.

See you next week.

And out he went again.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Yesterday someone texted asking if they could get an 8:30 reservation for tonight.

I didn’t see the text until I got home so planned to deal with it when I got to work today.

By the time I arrived they’d texted back saying they’d booked it online.

Fun fact.

Per the way reservations work I was not surprised when they texted they’d be late.

End of night reservations are always late.

Fun fact. The last reservation before theirs was at 7:30.

No big deal.

But at 8:45 they still weren’t there.

At 8:50 I texted to see if they were coming.

They arrived at 8:55.

At this point the kitchen had been finished since a bit after 8:00.

They ordered 4 courses.

Including the 20 minute dessert at the end of the meal.

I didn’t care that we had an 8:30 reservation. It’s the reality of the business.

But to show up 30 minutes late.

And keep 15 people at work.

And then take two full hours.

And.

You worked in the business.

I’d have turned my car around and ordered Burger King before I’d show up 30 minutes late for a reservation at the end of the night.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

The knee pain continues.

I’ve known for a long time that I’d have to wait three months after my last cortisone shot to get surgery.

I never knew it wasn’t the cortisone.

It’s the needle.

I called today to try and schedule an appointment to have the fluid removed.

I was told no.

And fun fact.

My knee pain began almost 15 years ago when I first started sleeping at Adam’s house.

So in truth I’ve had a good run.

I mostly hate looking like an old man.

I limp around like a 90 year old. It feels conspicuous. And uncomfortable.

My surgery is 9 wwwks from Wednesday.

Keep your fingers crossed that my knee holds up.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

My knee is getting worse.

I’ve noticed for a couple of weeks.

But at the new restaurant no one has reference.

Last night as I was waiting for people to finish up there was a new pain.

Shooting down my leg.

It was worse when I stopped for a burrito at Taco Escobar.

Sidebar:

When I got there at midnight on a Saturday night it was packed.

There was no room to sit.

The host approached my.

Just as I finished my takeout order a bar seat open up.

I get seated and order.

30 minutes later.

My order arrives.

Twice.

The host and the bartender has both put the order in.

The bartender who I’ve met a couple of times tells me not to worry about it. Tells me to keep both orders.

I pay the check. Double the check for the tip. And leave.

Halfway up Congress street there is a homeless man. I stop in the middle of the street. Ask if he wants dinner. And gives him one of my bags.

Meanwhile my knee is throbbing.

I get to bed an hour or so later.

Fall fast asleep and around 4:30 I wake myself up moaning.

The pain is intense.

I even took a pain pill.

I’ll keep you posted about tonight.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

I write my posts on Facebook.

Then I copy them to my blog.

Which is set to private. But if you know someone who would enjoy it let me know and I’ll approve them.

However.

On the blog I get to create a title.

And 90% of the time the title is a musical theater reference.

Sometimes subtle.

Sometimes obvious.

For example the title for the post before this was On A Clear Day….

If you know you know.

I’m sure of my five readers on my blog only Bob gets it.

It makes me smile though.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Today was a better day.

Thank god my staff realizes my struggle. They are mostly kind and supportive.

My staff at the new restaurant has learned my TELL when I’m struggling.

I take off my glasses and rub my temples.

It started a few months ago.

It happened less tonight.

Lots of kind people in.

Lots of amazing compliments.

One man who I don’t remember meeting before (and he was super handsome, so I’d remember) said we know you from TLF. We are so excited to be here.

I thanked him for coming and said to let me know what he thought after dinner.

He replied, if you are in charge here it’s going to be great.

Meanwhile, a regular, who is a psychic, came in tonight. I gave her a big hug. After dinner she went out to her car and came back with a stone and said I looked like I could use this.

I told her she had no idea how much I did need this today.

Then I thought to myself, we’ll, she is a psychic so she probably did know.

Meanwhile we continue to plug along.

Two steps forward.

One step back.

But always gayly forward.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

People email me for large party reservations.

Today a man emailed me ti change from 16 people to 24.

I made the change. And emailed him back.

He relied: thanks sweetheart.

Hmmm.

I’ve told Adam that I have a new boyfriend.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Today.

Was a day.

It started with TLF being short staffed.

As a rule.

Since I’ve been a GM I don’t deny requests off.

Most of the time it’s fine.

Sometimes.

Like tonight.

It fucks me.

Hard.

Without buying me drinks first.

We had 7 servers tonight.

We should have had 10/11.

We had three bartenders.

We should have had four.

We had 6 food runners.

We should have had 8/9.

Short.

And we asked the world of our team.

And they delivered.

We turned no one away.

And.

Most everyone appeared at the end unscathed.

I did get a letter of resignation but I was not surprised.

Although it did make me sad.

They got through it.

Meanwhile at UM we are also short staffed.

I have one bartender.

I’m supposed to have three.

We did turn people away.

There is no way to keep up as a bartender and do service drinks for a million people.

I handled the bartender with care.

I turned off reservations at the bar.

And only took a few walkins.

Service went great.

Except for about 20 minutes at 7:45/8:00 when I over sat the dining room.

Luckily the downstairs bartender came up and helped out.

Here’s the part that drives me insane.

I cannot.

Tell someone no at the bar.

Without pushback.

I’ve tried gentle.

I’ve tried firm.

I’ve tried explanations.

I’ve tried lying.

No one cares.

It leads me to believe we have an alcohol problem in America.

I love love love to drink.

I’m sipping a bourbon as I type.

But if you told me no tonight. I would not lose my mind.

All night people came in.

All night I said no to sitting at the bar.

All night I got pushback.

Around 7:30 two guys seat themselves at the bar.

A server comes over and asks if they sat themselves.

I had not even noticed.

I send over to tell the they need to check in with host.

One of them comes over.

Hot.

I explain that I don’t have room at the bar tonight.

He pushes back.

I explain that they can go downstairs.

He pushes back but leaves.

His friend stays.

I approach him at the bar.

He will not take no for an answer.

Ive told him he can get drinks downstairs.

I’ve told him we have reservations for these chairs.

He wants to stay.

Why can’t I stay?

Because we have reservations.

But the chairs are empty.

I say, yes. That’s how reservations work. The chairs are empty till the reservation arrives.

He is pissed.

But leaves.

He calls me choice words at the host stand.

Meanwhile a reservation arrives.

They have reserved a table.

They want the bar.

I explain that we can’t accommodate them.

We seat them. 20 minutes later he comes up to me and accosts me because the chairs are still empty.

I have no time for it.

I am not kind.

6 seconds later table 43 leaves.

I ask how their dinner was.

All was good but we need a better bartender. The Sri is room too long.

He says this loudly so the bartender will hear. It’s not for my benefit.

I’m having none of this.

I say the bartender is out with a broken arm.

He says no she’s not, she’s downstairs.

I all but tell him he’s an asshole.

He knows I’m pissed.

I look. The four of them were in the restaurant 1:45.

They didn’t take that long.

Meanwhile we’ve seated the 8:00’s and the bar us backed up.

Turns out asshole from earlier has gone downstairs.

He’s done nothing but complain about me.

He’s told the bartender he’s a lawyer.

And that we are losing his revenue by not letting him drink upstairs.

He doesn’t see the irony that he’s drinking booze. Priced the same. In another venue. That shares revenue.

I’ve just nothing.

He goes on and on.

I tell the bartender to let him know that if he’d gone to business school he might understand this better.

She shared that she asked him if he ever worked in a restaurant.

He said no.

And she said then you do t know what you’re taking about.

They left 6%.

I hope he’s not a lawyer that deals with money.

Then table 43 leaves. Without ordering food.

The mother is mad because she can’t eat anything.

Because we have a pepper that’s in the marinade on our chicken.

She can’t eat spicy food.

On a scale of one to ten the pepper is a -4.

The server told them this.

I tell the server they can leave but they have to pay for the beverages.

I print the check.

I approach the woman and explain this.

And she attacks.

I tell her it’s not spicy.

I tell her we can get other things

She agrees to sit back down.

Her family is embarrassed.

She is acting like a child.

They never recover.

The husband eats and leaves.

Her very cute son is horrified.

The daughter is apologetic.

She grunts at me when she leaves.

Meanwhile.

I’m exhausted.

Beat.

How do you say no to someone about the bar without them yelling at you.

I’ve tried just no.

I’ve tried telling the truth.

I’ve tried reservations.

Nothing works.

Meanwhile.

I’m fucking exhausted.

I’m tired.

I’m ready for fall.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Our dining room is akways cold.

People complain all night.

Tonight it was hot.

At 7:35 I’m sweating.

It’s 74*.

I go to the thermostat.

I adjust it.

10 minutes later.

Nothing.

I adjust it again.

I make sure it’s on cool.

I make sure the fans are on

Nada. It’s 76*.

I turn it off.

I turn it back on.

Nada.

It’s 78*.

Finally I go to the kitchen and ask the chef if he can check the breakers.

He does.

Nada.

It’s 80*.

I text Chef and say the dining room a/c is not working.

30 seconds later the chef at my restaurant says the thermostat is set on 80. Someone has turned it up.

And sometimes I think I’m losing my mind.

I was turning the thermostat up.

Not down.

10 minutes later it was down to 72*

I owned my stupidity.

I didn’t blame anyone.

I didn’t pretend it wasn’t me.

But I still felt really. Really stupid.