” Part 1 Of 5 The Challenges Of Working In The Restaurant Industry, Just Because You Had A Miserable Day, Don’t Take It Out On Us.”

November 29, 2022, 8:11 A.M. ET By Richard Webb: Englebrook Independent News,

MANHATTAN, NY.- Welcome everyone to Part 1, of my five part educational piece on Dining & Entertainment. In this series I will bring to you the many challenges that various staff members face each and everyday throughout the food service industry.

     I have been in the Food & Hospitality Industry for over 25-Years, working in numerous restaurants throughout the tristate area, from a Dishwasher, all the way up to a General Manager in settings from Fast Casual to Fine Dining atmospheres.

     I firmly believe that every person should have to work in a restaurant environment for at least 1-Year, before they embark on their career paths. Potentially, a mandatory credit requirement at the High School or College Level. The amount of multi-tasking and social interactions that are required would be significantly beneficial in shaping the way they look at Life in general. The skills that you learn can be utilized in basically every industry you may choose to embark upon.

      From safe food handling, to prioritizing tasks, to correct verbiage when speaking with people, and to personal professional appearance, etc. The flip side to all those great aspects of working in a restaurant environment are the numerous interactions you will encounter from a large variety of guests each and every day and that have different needs, personalities, bad habits, minimal to zero manners, and are sometimes seriously difficult to make happy. There are multiple levels to this ongoing conversation, and I will be proactively addressing all of them, beginning with when guests enter the restaurant through the front door.

     For many, the first interaction we have with you is when you say “4.” We assume by your rude nature that you mean, ” You Would Like A Table For 4 Guests.” We are just baffled by the fact that you can’t for 30-Seconds be a normal human, and be respectful and polite. Is your vocabulary that underdeveloped that you don’t have the ability to say,  “Hello, and How Are You Doing ?, And Can We Please Have a Table For 4,” It is just that simple. If you are having a bad day or fighting with your significant other, PLEASE stay at home and fight over a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. 

     Why would you ever think it would be a good idea to be miserable and come out to spend your hard earned money ?

     That being said, We can absolutely put you on the waitlist, considering you walked in with no reservation on a Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Why do you have that puzzled look on your face? Any well established and respected restaurant is seriously busy at that time slot. It is not our fault that you and your guests did not plan accordingly, ahead of time. You are welcome to get a beverage at the Bar or just wait 30-minutes in the Bar Area until your table is ready. “There are tables open right there.” Correct. Those tables will be shortly sat with guests that know how to dine out. 

     They either called earlier in the day, or potentially 4 to 5 days in advance. Back to the original question, “Would you like for us to put your name on the Waitlist ?” ” I don’t think we want to wait that long.” I completely understand. Good luck in your search for any established restaurant that does not have a wait at this hour on a Saturday night.

     While you continue to look puzzled, “Can you please just slide over a little bit, so we can accommodate the guests that understand the logistics of going out to eat on a Saturday night.

     Have you decided yet?, Ok Great. The wait time will be 45-minutes. ” Wait, You said the wait time was 30-minutes.” Correct, That was before you were shocked at even needing to wait for a table at all, by then another 30 or 40 Guests that walked in after you, put their names on the Waitlist while you were arguing with your significant other trying to make a decision.

     Now, at the 30-minute mark, you will come to The Host Station, and ask “How Much Longer Will It Be For Our Table?” I was never great at math, but if we quoted you at the 45-minutes, then it sounds like it will be 15-minutes more. At this point, It seems now you are running a joke at The Host Station, and with the Managers in the loop.

     The only other scenario that is worse than yours, is the guest that comes in at the same time slot looking for a table for 15 guests that also did not attempt to plan their Life accordingly, and make a reservation in advance. 

     Just, a simple phone call would have alleviated all of your stress and would have made our life easier, so we could have provided you  with outstanding service in order to make your dining experience a pleasurable one.