Eating out really does help you lose weight!

For those of you in the industry, you know you always have that person come in and say "i'm not eating, im on a diet". Well, according to a recent study, you can actually lose weight by eating in a restaurant....check it out!


From Consumers Reports:

An article published today in the January Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior has given me a glimmer of hope. Researchers at the University of Texas, Austin looked at 35 women aged 40 to 59 years old who reported eating out an average of 5.6 times a week. Participants were screened for eating disorders or health problems that could influence the study.

 So, there you have it.   Thanks Consumerist for the heads up!

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.  

I'm still alive

For those lucky few who still have this site tucked away in a bookmark or rss reader somewhere, I am still alive and kicking.  As you may or may not know (I can't find a post where I told you, so probably not) I left the service industry in December of 2010 to focus on my career.

As I do not really want to do away with this blog, I think this will turn into a restaurant rant and review site.  I do still actively support the service industry in my home town, and have not forgotten the bullshit we you guys go through.  As part of this, imprinting, I still feel the need to educate people on how to behave and treat their server.  You guys go through hell and back to make sure our every need is met.  The least we can do is compensate accordingly.  I have said time and time again I will not tip below 20% unless the service just sucked...and that's after I have taken into account the level of volume the restaurant is coping with.

In any event, I have not left this blog, nor will I in the foreseeable future.  I invite you to read some of the stories your brethren share on their blogs during my absence.  The stories are real, and I'm sure every one of you who read this blog can relate to them as well.

And in the event I ever end up back in the service industry, even for a random gig here and there, rest assured there will probably be a story here...obviously more if I return full time.

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!

Amateur Night

For those of you in the biz, you know that Friday and Saturday, while usually busy, are basically amateur nights at any restaurant -- at least as far as customers are concerned.  These are the days when first dates, family outings, etc usually take place, and they are also the days that people who have absolutely no business eating in a nice restaurant attempt to do so.

So it was no surprise that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY TABLES last night was shitty.  I don't know if the Hostesses are out to get me, or the quality of the people was just crap last night, but I ran around like a redheaded step child for pennies last night -- something I detest doing.  Look, I get it.  The economy is bad.  You are trying to impress your girlfriend by taking her somewhere nice.  You just got paid and you want to show off to some friends.  Personally, I wouldn't dream about going out to eat unless I had enough money to pay for my bill, at LEAST 20% for the tip, and am in the mood to be friendly to a complete stranger.

But these assholes?  No.  Every table I had felt ENTITLED to something free.  Every table I had felt that they had to have some assbackwards modification to their orders -- something that is a right pain in the ass on our computers.  No table, except my first one, left over 15%.  At first, I thought it was something I was doing...perhaps missing a step in the corporate brouhaha that is our job.  But after each table gave me their verbal tip (you know, 'service was great, keep it up, you did well', etc) I knew that wasn't the problem.  People were just cheap last night.

I would love to find out where these people work.  Perhaps take a few of my friends over to their place of employment, ask them for every modification possible on an item or service, tease them into thinking you are a good customer, and then say 'oh, i'm sorry, I don't have enough to pay you for your service.  Can I pay you 80% of what I should pay you?'  I bet each and every one of them would look at me like 'WTF!'  Exactly how your server feels after a shitty tip left by you.  Yes, I would rather have 0 tables than have 5 tables tipping me 10%.  Why?  Because I wouldn't have to bust ass for pennies.  I would actually make more by having less in this case.  After tip share (3.5%), taxes (around 9%), I would walk with maybe 1-2% total.   A waste of my time, IMO.

So to the general public who cannot, or does not, know how to tip, stay home and cook for your significant other.  If you really must go out, and you haven't grasped the concept of proper tipping, then go to McDonalds, or Ihop, or Waffle House or some diner somewhere where a $2 tip is acceptable.  If you really must go out to a nicer restaurant and you cannot afford a decent tip, then order a salad and a chicken...or sit at the bar where they are already tipped out by the servers so your tip doesn't mean quite as much (sorry bartenders, but you know its true) and make an hourly wage.  They can afford to absorb your cheapness -- I cannot.

I look forward to comments about all this in the comments section. 

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)

yuk...

So last night was the first time I've gotten sick at work and it sucks. I had to throw up 9 times before I was allowed to leave. I understand it was a Saturday night and we were surprisingly busy, but still.

The bad thing is, evidently there is a 24h return policy for those that get sick at work...at least thats what the email from hot schedules said. So im off tonight. I need the money, but I suppose a night off is nice.

Speaking of hotschedules...do any of you use it? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.9

edit: changed the spelling and punctuation.  Mobile platforms, however good, aren't that good for blogging :)  Also, apologies for the length.  I did this from my mobile to test an app.

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.

Acclimating

Isn't it funny how fast one becomes integrated with a new staff?  I mean, when you first start out at a new restaurant, you are of course, the odd man out.  Nobody knows you, and you don't know anyone (usually).  This makes for an interesting first few days as you feel out who the 'cool' people are, who is boinking who, and the general pecking order of your new establishment.

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.

Freedom!

"Well, what can I say...I'm just that good."  Thats what I said (to a few friends) when I was told last night that I was officially out of training -- one to two days earlier than most would have been graduated.  In fact, out of the three people who started when I did, I am the only one who got an early release.   Some would call that arrogance...I call it "doing what I gotta do to get the hell out of being a slave."

Oh, how things stay the same...

Well, today was the first day I was following someone.  My trainer was literally me at the other place.  Laid back, to the point, and not trying to dilly daddle on pointless bs.  Yes, the faces are different, the clientel is better, and the tickets are higher, but we still have the same people.

New is good!

So today was the first official day of 'training' at my new job, and I have to say, I think this is going to work out.  I was already offered the opportunity to train

The end of an era....

So tonight was my last night at the steak house.  I have to say I was rather emo about it for a bit, after all, I did spend the last 4 years of my life there.  But what really struck me was the fact at how quickly people had moved on from me being there.  Usually, people were always asking what I was doing after work, or asking me for help on stuff...but not tonight.  Tonight, people were unusually distant...like they were trying not to get emo themselves.

The start of something new....

Well, yesterday was probably the happiest shift I've had in a while at my current place of employment...not because of what anyone did (or didn't do) but because before even walked in the door, I got a call from another restaurant offering me a job -- and we all know how fun it is to be at a place knowing that at any time, you could just walk and not give a thought about it because in just a few short hours or days you will be starting something better.

We are all idiots!

I just wanted to share an article form the New York Times on restaurant menus and their psychological effects on diners.  Most of it you all probably can figure out on your own, but there are a few things that I found interesting, such as: 

Run Rabbit Run....

First, to all the dads out there, happy Fathers Day.

Today, as you all know by now, is fathers day and I was scheduled to work in the AM shift so that I can do other things with my evening, and because last year, most of our business took place between 11am and 3pm. This year, not so much. At noon, I was pacing my section, waiting for a table.