As I’ve mentioned here before, once upon a time I worked at a different restaurant in town.

I did a great job and was rewarded by being fired along with all of my staff.

Fun times.

As I’ve also said lots of people who work at the other company frequent my restaurant.

Two of them who have commented about my abilities before were in tonight.

We were chatting after their meal.

The old company is about to open a new restaurant.

On Friday.

I asked if he was ready.

He said he was, but couldn’t speak to the staff being ready.

He continues.

The restaurant is lacking (I don’t remember the word he used) inspiration.

I asked what he meant.

He said, they could really use a you. Someone to build them up. To inspire them. To cheer them on. Someone who can make sure things are getting done. He mentioned to the managers that candles need to be lit at the start of service and they said “we’ll try.” No one is picking up the things that fall through the cracks!

It’s hard not to gloat (a Wordle word this week). I’m not a brilliant GM. But I’m good at it. And I do try and motivate my staff. And just this week one of my employees said I was the best manager they’d ever had. I do know that as hard as it is to be amazing, it’s not hard at all NOT to be bad. I just don’t do all the things the assholes I’ve worked forvovervthecyears did.

Anyway.

It feels nice to be noticed.

To have people realize I run a good ship.

It might not be tight.

But it’s good.

A woman walks into the lobby. The host asks her how her dinner was.

She replies:

Fucking amazing! Fucking great! It’s the first time I’ve ever had a food orgasm.

And scene.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Our reservation app asks if you have any special requests.

These are some that we have received.

A table on the water: We are a mile + from any sort of water.

A table near the fireplace: we don’t have a fireplace.

A table with a view: We don’t have a view.

Two seats at the corner of the bar: our bar is horseshoe shaped. It doesn’t have corners.

A table in a quiet corner: we don’t have a single table in a corner.

A quiet table: Our restaurant is loud. The music is at 100%. Quiet doesn’t exist.

I often wonder when they are seated in the center of the dining room if they are upset.

Perhaps I’ll never know.

It’s my Friday!!!

By the time you read this it will be my Satunday.

I get one day off.

Three weeks ago I was overwhelmed by this fact. Not because I mind working, but because I miss spending time with my boyfriend.

I still hate not getting to see him, but I’ve resigned myself to just doing it. Something to get through.

I enjoy the business. I enjoy the volume. I enjoy the excitement. The chaotic energy at 4:00. The opening of the show at 5:00.

On Wednesday it will be one year since I started.

I like my job just as much now as I did then.

I’m happy I can say that.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

How are you guys?

Thank you, sir!

Yes m’am.

Welcome ladies.

I’ve written about this before. But it bears repeating.

I continue to coach my staff to use non gendered language. My day of yes m’am and no sir are gone.

After years of hating the term “folks” I’m a convert.

AnytIme I hear it I make a note to mention it to the team.

It’s not easy to change a thing that has been ingrained in a lot of us since birth.

But I try.

So try.

Hi folks. How are you doing tonight?

I was reminded of this because my old host had written a note to remind my new host about it.

It takes a little effort but even you can change.

Our chef has released a new cookbook. It’s truly beautiful.

Tonight a woman comes up to ask if a specific dish is in the book.

I assure her that it is.

She then asks if it would be okay to take a photo of the recipe.

Seriously.

I say no.

If you want the recipe you have to buy the book.

She is offended that I won’t let her take a photo.

But I stand my ground.

She does not buy the book.

A woman calls around 6:00 to let us know that she had originally started with 5 people, called and dropped to 4 and now wants go back to 5.

The host explains that unfortunately we don’t have a table that will hold 5 people available. We’d closed our patio tonight and inside was jammed.

They insist that they can squish because one of them is a kid. I tell the host that we’ll let them squish but they can’t move and they can’t add a chair.

They arrive.

Are seated.

And the host finds me to let me know their child is an adult woman. Who I find out later is old enough to drink.

Seriously.

You can’t make this shit up!

We got a mediocre review last week.

Their complaint?

A table of 8 had to share one salt shaker.

No.

Seriously.

That was her complaint.

PS. Chef’s food does not need salt.

I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

A regular was in tonight for his son’s high school graduation. 20 of them.

I’ve written about them before.

They are very particular. And not used to being told no.

The father comes up to me and says I need you to do me a favor. We are going back to our house after dinner and one of the guests likes a very specific drink and I don’t have the ingredients at my house. Can I get some Captain Morgan to go?

WTF?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

No you can’t.

I’ll tell you the same thing I tell kids who wanted to order liquor while under aged.

Pay my mortgage for a year right now so that when I lose my job I’m not homeless.

He didn’t push back but seriously.

Cheeseboard lady complained about me.

This was her survey response.

Two meals were undercooked but they took it back and cooked it further. The empanadas and salads were great. Outdoor seating is great and they should spray off the yellow pollen on the ground to complement the scenery. We had a cheese plate to bring to a party and the manager refused to provide ice or refrigerate it for us. Luckily one of the waitresses brought us some ice.

First.

The steaks they ordered were ordered well done.

The were delivered well done.

But using their own words they wanted them done.

Dead. Was the word she used.

They went back out charred.

When I checked back they were happy.

As for the pollen.

I’d like to formally apologize that our patio is outside. I’d like to apologize that in nature pollen falls from the sky. We will speak to GOD and see if we can work something out.

Fun fact. Our staff spends the first 30 minutes when they get to work wiping pollen off the tables. By the time we seat our first guests they are yellow again.

There is no way we could keep up with the pollen on the brick patio.

As for the cheese plate.

I don’t even know what to say.

They knew the answer when they made the phone call.

If not they would have never asked.

A failure to plan on your part does not make it my fault.

This one leaves me speechless.