People taking things into their own hands..

I have been very surprised lately with the brashness of people at restaurants.. I have seen this act a few times at the restaurant I work at, and also at a few others where I was a customer: Customers going behind the bar, and getting their own beverage. Really.. does anyone else see this occur? To the point where servers, managers, front of the house people, all have to approach the customer and ask 'excuse me, what are you doing?' .. they normally respond factually: "Getting a drink" ..

This happens especially at my establishment of secondary employment during banquets.. often the bar is closed for the length of the dinner service because the bar is in the middle of the kitchen and seating area, so a full bar would be a hindrance to serving food quickly. So .. people take it on themselves to go behind the bar, grab a pitcher of soda, water .. maybe even a beer.

And they are very sneaky about it, too.. Really, does anyone else see this ever happen? Are people going mad!? Why can't they ask the server to quickly get them a pitcher of water or soda.. the server can do that?

I mentioned a few weeks ago during a wedding to a man that the bar was closed until right after dinner. He said, 'ok' .. next I see, he's sneaking behind the bar to grab a beer.. I have to tell him he can't.. A few minutes later, he is trying again.. Another server had to exclaim his inability to DO THIS!

Is this.. maybe not common? Or is this a new pattern of people wanting things so quickly because of life in general that they are taking this practice to their local restaurants??

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Old time is still a flyin'

One day you're sitting pretty.. The restaurant is yours. The next day your losing business.. you want to give the place away.. The final day you're bankrupt.. Cashless and strapped, the only thing left to find solace in is that cold mug of beer---the same one that led you down the path to hanging yourself ..

And years later, when your memory serves you well only part time, you're back in the same restaurant you once had.. dancing in a congo line with an orange wig on your head.. And you may ask yourself .. Well, how did I get here?

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Two of my least favorite things: Raw steaks and class reunion

Two worlds collided tonight..The world of raw steaks at weddings, and the world of class reunions.. My head is still spinning.

Again, words of wisdom on two subjects: Don't order steaks at weddings, and second, don't go to class reunions!

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There's still soup on my fly.. just a few less updates recently..

I'll try harder..

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How drunk is too drunk at a wedding?

Open bar. Ok, I get it. You want to drink.
It's been a long week.

But how drunk is too drunk.

Fluttering eyes.. not seeing straight. Fighting in public.. Forgetting that you were sucking that gut in and now it's hanging out--for both men and women...

How drunk is too drunk at a wedding?

It's "fun" to know they rented a bus for you since they knew you'd get really, really drunk. So drunk that they knew you'd have to leave your car in the parking lot and let the 'drunk bus' take you back to the hotel.. where you'd drool yourself to sleep in a hot tub or a bed...

How drunk is too drunk?

Tonight, I saw too drunk. People so drunk they forgot how to dance.. People so drunk they forgot to have fun. Instead they just got drunk.

Drunk.
Drunk.
Drunker..
Drunkest.
How's the biggest fool feel now? After the hangover goes away?

The server's will still be cleaning up after you ..

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ALL THINGS SPICE

The hot topic in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is about a waiter and bartender that got fired after speaking to the press about how tips are being affected by changing economic conditions..

Though Pennsylvania is an at-will state, which means an employer can fire without without reason as their discretion, opinions abound about whether the Spice restaurant firing was kind or moral..

Or necessary and right.

Justified or not.. it's legal for the firings to take place.

But the bigger story may be the restaurant world versus everyone else. It's difficult to understand the mindset of a tipped employee unless someone has walked for 10 hours shifts in their shoes.
It's tough to think about living day to day on cash that kind people may leave on a table..

Or sometimes what they don't leave on a table..

Can any rules make it easy? Tip20.com offers some advice.



And the bigger lessen for servers: Never talk to the press. At all. Period... no matter how good of an idea it seems like it will be.

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I hate class reunions, part 2

.. Still don't like them. Maybe now even less.
Lose the haircut.
It's not 1988 anymore..

Who gained weight?

"He doesn't look good"

"What happened to her breasts?"

All the comments can be heard from table to table.. aisle to aisle .. bar chair to bar chair.

And in the end, no matter what person gives out his email addresses on ripped paper, the person on the receiving end will lose them.. throw them out .. or forget who that name and what all those numbers on that paper even mean..

See you in 2018!

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ANOTHER Saturday night at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone

I am completely fascinated with the Hawaiian Tropic Zone as I reported before.. But since it's been a while since I had a Saturday night off, thought I'd check in again..

This time, fascinated with the lack of business on a Saturday night.. And a giant fan.


Is anyone there? Just nod if you can hear me..


And .. no one getting beer tonight!?


And what is with that giant fan!?

Saturday nights just aren't the same anymore..

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The regular crowd shuffles in

The regular crowd can be so fickle.. so two faced. So hard to deal with.

The good days they are nice as can be.. good tips.. great smiles, good conversation.

And in the split of a hair's notice, they can turn their backs on their server.. turn away in anger or protest, angry about the slightest and most meager of restaurant agitators..

The regular crowd.

They demand attention.. They feel that since "their" seat is always there at the same time on the same night, they deserve the world that the restaurant has to offer. The service has to be perfect. The beer is empty? Immediately another one is expected. Food is gone? The server should be cleaning the plate right away. A moment of lapse for the server and the regular customer will immediately and quickly rear the ugly head.

It's tough to deal with .. That regular crowd.

And you put on your fake smile ..

And you just watch for closing time. Even though at closing they expect just an extra few minutes..

And the owner lets them.

After all, they're regulars..

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No matter what they seem like, they are ALL the same..

There are times I truly love to observe people. Truly watch them. Study them. See their every movement..

For example, for me people dancing at weddings is like watching a Discovery Channel special about animals in their habitat. Seeing how the alcohol affects them.. what it does to their motions. Their arms flailing in the air.. By the end of the night the folks that can make it onto the speakers dancing the night away to pop hits like the Macarena or Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy.

But it reminds me, more than anything, that no matter how people seem they will be their wedding ends up being the same.. Double vision.

A few weeks ago, a mom of the bride came into my employment to set her wedding up. This was a nice dig. They rented their own table cloths from an outside company since they didn't like the color of ours.. they rented their own linen napkins.. their own chair covers. But in the end, after their Fillet Mignon and stuffed flounder, they ended up the same as the non-pretentious weddings: Drunk and dancing on speakers.

Yes, indeed, no matter the circumstances behind the party, the crowd wants the same thing: Meat and liquor. And when their primal instincts get 'sassified,' they end up acting and talking the same as every other party..

Egos, I suppose. Maybe it's the ego.

I'd be happy just sitting in a dark corner with my wife or friends drinking an ice cold Coors Light (as I am now at my computer) .. but some folks need speakers to dance [badly] on.

Chair covers or just plain chairs, your crowd will get drunk, too. The lesson to learn: Don't let your ego get the best of you. You're just like the others.. No changes, no differences. Life is short, stop trying to act better than everyone else.

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