A tall order: The challenges of being a state dinner waiter at the White House

From The Washington Post: White House State Dinner Waiters Dish On Hospitality Under Pressure By Robin GivhanWashington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, May 19, 2010  To be a waiter working amid Washington’s power brokers means having one’s Social Security number screened weekly, if not daily. It means not flinching in dismay when lawmakers — more concerned [...]

Nashville server’s lawsuit says guns in bars create unsafe workplace

Nashville server’s lawsuit says guns in bars create unsafe workplace Complaint says firearms in bars create unsafe work environment By Nate Rau • THE TENNESSEAN • August 31, 2010 A Nashville server has filed a complaint with the state alleging that the mixture of guns and bars creates an unsafe work environment. The server works [...]

If you come in with a big group and are a totally hammered 55 year old woman…

…it won’t matter to anyone, especially my manager on duty, the hostess, or me (or even the rest of your party) when, after I tell you that I can’t serve you any alcohol, you yell, “I’m never coming back here again!” as you storm out from your party.  In fact, the rest of your party will [...]

New link added – More Bread Please

Here’s a new promising blog from someone who is documenting his move from one restaurant to another.  It’s well-written and it’s obvious that this person has a lot of restaurant experience, so we can learn much from this blog. The blogger isn’t afraid to directly document what’s going on during his or her shifts, unlike myself. [...]

Uniform check

Well kids, it’s the end of the month. Time to give your uniforms a really close look. Use the eye you don’t use every day. Try not to ignore that nagging stain or frayed cuff. Do your polo shirt’s collars refuse to lay flat anymore? Is your white shite noticably yellow around the neck? Has [...]

Restaurants go to the dogs in Nashville

In a new trend, restaurants are allowing dogs to accompany their owners on selected restaurant  patios in Nashville. This isn’t a new thing for me to experience, as it’s quite common in Europe for patrons to bring their dogs with them in restaurants. It’s probably even pretty common to have al fresco Fido dining in other [...]

If you want to sit and sit and sit and keep your servers hanging around for an extra hour after you’re finished with your meal…

…it’s probably not a good idea to drop your credit card on the floor, because your server will probably watch you walk out the door, watch the valet bring your car and see you get in your car and drive away before they turn the card into management. I’m just sayin’…

The death of “www.tippingsucks.com”

http://www.sedoparking.com/search/registrar.php?registrar=dotsterexpired&domain=TIPPINGSUCKS.COM&site_id=4798 This was a virulent little site run by Canadians (of all people). It advocated the elimination of tipping and allowed you to order little tip cards that you could present to your server in lieu of a tip that explained that you were against tipping. the comments were often hateful and nasty and I, for [...]

Blind waiters and dining in the dark

This interesting story about a restaurant where the waiters are blind and diners dine in the dark: http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/blind-waiters-serve-diners-dark-restaurant/story?id=11431202 What an intriguing idea!

Could this be in your future?

VIDEO: iPad touting waiters, is this the iPad’s killer app? May I take your order please 11 May 2010 12:07 GMT / By Stuart Miles Apple might have sold 1m iPads in the US and expected to show bumper sales around the world when it launches at the end of the month everywhere else, but many [...]