by waiter | Jul 5, 2006 | Uncategorized
It’s four o’clock and the Bistro’s empty. I’m up front drinking espresso and sharing the newspaper with my coworkers Beth and Celine. “So when we getting our first customer?” I ask Celine, our occasional weekend hostess. “Not ’til six,” she replies, peeking over The...
by waiter | Jun 30, 2006 | Uncategorized
It’s Saturday night and the Bistro’s packed. I’m managing to keep my tables under control but Saroya, whose section’s just been triple sat, isn’t so lucky. “Can you help me?” Saroya pleads, “I’m going into the weeds.” “Whatcha need?” I ask. “Can you tell table 23 the...
by waiter | Jun 26, 2006 | Uncategorized
HOW TO USE A CELLPHONE WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE AN ASSHOLE I don’t own a cell phone. I used to but I got rid of it. It never worked during those “emergencies” mobile carriers try and convince you are survivable only if you own one of their phones. Has anyone done a study...
by waiter | Jun 21, 2006 | Uncategorized
It’s Friday night. The dinner rush is starting and the Bistro’s half full. I’m up front training Holly, our new hostess. She’s a pretty twenty year old redhead. “You were born in 1986, right?” I ask. “Yes,” Holly replies, “Why do you ask?” I take a deep breath....
by waiter | Jun 18, 2006 | Uncategorized
It’s a warm summer evening. Beth and I are trudging towards Café American for a post shift cocktail. We’re both exhausted. The dinner rush was brutal. We did, however, make a lot of money. “I need a drink,” Beth says, sounding shell-shocked. “Me too,” I reply, equally...
by waiter | Jun 15, 2006 | Uncategorized
I apologize for the lack of posts recently. I’ve had a busy couple of weeks inside and outside the Bistro. So today I’m letting the Daily News do my job for me. On Tuesday they ran a nice little article about tipping in their business section. I’ve...
by waiter | Jun 13, 2006 | Uncategorized
The kitchen bell rings. A salmon and filet mignon’s up for the couple on 26. I grab the plates and deliver them with a hearty “buon appetito.” “What’s this?” the wife asks, jabbing a bony finger into the mashed potatoes propping up her filet mignon. “Mashed potatoes...
by waiter | Jun 8, 2006 | Uncategorized
At six o’clock a neatly dressed older man sits in my section. His table has four place settings. I figure his friends are running late. I let thirty seconds pass before I make my approach. “Good evening sir,” I say, greeting the man. “How are you this evening?” “I’m...
by waiter | Jun 5, 2006 | Uncategorized
“How old are you?” I ask incredulously. “Twenty,” the willowy brunette replies. “Twenty?” “Actually,” the girl says sheepishly, “I’ll be twenty in August.” I stare at my new hostess. A college student on summer vacation, she’ll work the front desk until school starts...
by waiter | Jun 1, 2006 | Uncategorized
Its 6:00pm and The Bistro’s been overrun by the Memorial Day rush. Fluvio’s down the Jersey Shore, I’m missing a waiter and the new hostess quit. The phone’s been ringing non-stop. The cordless is on the fritz so I’ve been rushing up to the hostess stand every time it...
