The Midwest Dipping Sauce: Ranch
Ok. So today doesn’t start out to bad. It’s about 6:30pm,
and it’s time for the evening rush.
Thankfully I already have a full section. That means I can’t get sat
anymore until one leaves. Yes, breathing time—or not. Table 15 needs their
check, table 14 needs refills, table 12 needs their food I should check the
window. Walking to the window I still see table 13 that needs napkins and I’m
sure they’ll ask for their check so let’s print that out while I have a second.
So now I’m carrying out table 12’s food with table 15 and
13’s checks in my book, napkins in right hand for table 13, and a follower with
a drink tray for table 14 behind me; oh man I forgot about table 16. I should
go check on them after I drop this other stuff off.
“Can I get you some more ranch?”
“Why sure thanks. Can we get a… 3 water refills, a stack of
napkins and a to-go box?” Replies the kind guest.
“Sure I’ll be right back,” I say with gumption.
Ok. So now table 15 and 13 are leaving so I need to go bus
those so I can have a new table because, like in any job, this is about making
money. The more tables, the more money you make. I can’t forget the ranch.
I run to bus the tables and on my way back from the dish
station I grab the pitcher of water, napkins, and the to-go box.
“Here we are folks,” I say with a cheeky smile and hand them
their things. I run off to my new table to greet them with a smile.
About 10 minutes go buy, and I’ve checked on all my tables.
Table 16 is ready for their bill. I hand it over and bam, another dirty table
to clean so I can make that money.
It’s about 10:00 and I’m walking out the door. Purse in
hand, keys, phone, and apron so I can hop in my Chevy and take off for the
evening. As I am opening my car door and ready to crank my radio, I realize I
forgot to clock out. Running back in the restaurant, tripping over the carpet
in front of the doors with the big red and yellow “Denny’s” logo on it, I
realize, “I FORGOT THE RANCH!” I can’t believe it. I am so mad at myself. I
feel terrible. If I were them I would have taken off 2 dollars from the tip.
Table 16 left me $6.00 though so everything else must have been alright. It happens more often than not. We forget
things when we are tied up and busy. Sometimes customers forget we are human
and we make mistakes too. Luckily for me that day, the customer was very
understanding.
I wanted to write this post because I found a hilarious MEME
on “the book” aka: facebook, and it is one of the best memes I ever saw in my
life. It’s the equivalent of what I wrote above but way more funny. I’ll post
it below.
Have you ever been forgotten at a restaurant and taken it
personally? Or have you been the lucky staff member that forgot the poor guys
ranch?
This is such an accurate depiction of server life oh my god! This was my favorite, "Can we get a… 3 water refills, a stack of napkins and a to-go box"? Whats even worse is when they ask for the water refills, you bring them, THEN they ask for the napkins, you come back with those, THEN they ask for a to go box. Meanwhile you have 5 other tables glaring at you waiting for your attention. It so nice to have someone understand that you're busy and doing your best when things don't go so well during their dinning experience.
ReplyDeleteAside from being to relate so well to this post, I also really enjoyed reading this. It was well written. Through your use of dialogue and vivid details about the restaurant I was able to really see all of this happening as if I were in your shoes! I'm excited to read more about server life!
Maybe one of these days I'll write a response blog post about my own server life (if Dr. Taylor lets me).
Bobby, I would sincerely enjoy that! I would love to have a "blog off" about server life. #weknowthestuggles
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