Dining out on Thanksgiving?

While reading my daily blogroll, I stumbled across an article in the Consumerist about people eating out on Thanksgiving.  In my server days, I can recall a few Thanksgivings (not all) where I was stuck working and really felt like punching the idiots who came in to eat that day.  Money be damned.  

Frakking hostesses.....

Ok, I know the hostesses job isn't as easy as some may think.  In fact, it can be quite stressful at times -- imagine standing on a small island with man-eating sharks surrounding you and you get the idea of what its like at times at the hostess stand.  But I digress.  This isn't an "in defense of" story.

Oh, FFS!

First of all, sorry for the delay in my posting, I have been very busy lately with some real life projects and as such, have neglected several of my side projects, including this one.  This post is about 3 stories summarized and posted in one long post so I can make room in my head for more stories.

As you all know, I hate corporate restaurants like one hates syphilis, and now I have even more disdain for them.  Last week, in addition to having 0 weekend shifts scheduled, 3/5 shifts were closing shifts and 1 opening shift.  While most people would welcome the opportunity of an extra hour of tables without having to share with the rest of the staff, closing where I work is a right pain in the arse.  Basically, we close the entire restaurant, from the dining room, to half the kitchen -- all for $2.63/hr.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not that lazy, but still.  I resent having to clean up after 15 other servers, and then the kitchen as well.  They get paid more than we do, so let them do the physical work.  It's bad enough they are all treaded like gods anyway.  Which reminds me...how did we get to that system in our industry?  The SERVERS make the restaurant money, so why are we always the ones shafted?  Opening is just the exact reverse....we have to do more than any other restaurant I've ever worked at to open and close...all so management and the kitchen can be lazy.  God, I need out of this business fast!

I've had better pasta at the Olive Garden!

Last night was horribly, horribly, and I mean HORRIBLY slow.  I had three tables.  Two 5 tops, and one 2 top.  My first five top was the junior execs from some corporate law or financial firm.  You know, dressed all fancy(ish), spending money on the company card, bragging about the new promotion, spend $300 and tip 15%...just like the blokes in the video here (skip to 13:25)

I wish every (nice) restaurant had this sign.

Evidently, a restaurant in North Carolina did what many a server wishes they would all do:  ban screaming children.

Asshats.... (rated PG-13)

Well, today had to be the most odd night I have had in a while.   Started off SLLLOOWWW, which was to be expected as it is the night before labor day and we have been having some AWESOME weather lately, so we all figured that people would be out at the lake rather than sitting in the restaurant trying to shove fish down their mouths.  We figured wrong.

More Bread, Please!

Despite the awesome numbers I did last night in my smallish section, I feel like I got hit by a freight train this morning.  There is something about getting home at 11:30 and waking up at 6:30 the next day that just doesn't mesh.  Last night, I didn't feel all that tired physically -- even after running around for the same table 500 times in an hours span,  but this morning...man.  That mack truck really hurts.