My first few tables were fine, but then one table came in where EVERYTHING went wrong. I totally forgot about their drinks for like five minutes (forever time when you're sitting and waiting for them, I'm sure), and the kitchen took a really long time getting out their appetizer, a small Caesar salad. They asked me for a burger that was pink in the middle, so I suggested medium and sent it to the kitchen. Apparently it was TOO pink when they got it, so they sent it back to the kitchen, and by that time, they just wanted it packed to go. The kitchen apologized to me for that, and I had to comp their salad. I apologized to them many times over, and the woman was very sympathetic and said she knew it wasn't my fault.
Amusingly, a very young woman (early to mid 20s) asked me what the shy-i-take was on a certain pizza. I had to contain myself as I explained that "shiitake" is a type of mushroom.
Another table consisted of three young men (early 20s) who came in and ordered a barrage of drinks, appetizers, and entrees. One fellow asked if he could substitute the vegetables with his entree for the risotto, I said I would ask the kitchen. The kitchen told me it would be a two dollar add-on. I didn't head right back to that table, with three other tables, I had other things to worry about. The young man flagged me down a few minutes later (his two friends were outside taking a smoke break) and asked me about the risotto. I told him that we could do it, and about the add on. When I told him about the two dollars, he seemed very hesitant. "Oh.... okay... uhm... oh." I asked him if he still wanted the risotto, and he said yes. A little while later, one of the more assertive young men called me over, and said that they did not know that the risotto would be two dollars extra. I could tell that they were trying to get it comped, and I was not fazed. I told him that the kitchen let me know that it would be two dollars extra, and I told the man who ordered it. Furthermore, the kitchen was still working on their entrees and hadn't even MADE it yet, so I could take it off now if they wanted me to. They backed off, defeated.
At the end of the meal, they wanted their checks separated by seat (a pain in my ass, since I had to remember who ordered how many drinks, what appetizers, etc.) When I brought the checks over, one man, the one with the risotto add on, said "Holy shit!", surprised by the price. He had ordered a vodka cranberry, crab cakes, filet mignon, and the risotto, and his check was $54.00. The bar is pretty high end, I don't know why he would be so surprised when he ordered the FILET with the prices clearly on the menu.... They then requested that I put some items on different checks and swap things around, which we just can't do. I didn't even look at whatever tip they may have left me.
It would have been nice to have the manager or owner in that evening, as one table got VERY angry. I was thankful the table wasn't my own. According to the customer, the pregnant waitress spilled hot food on them, made them wait an hour for bread, gave them burned food, and didn't apologize for anything. They complained to the bar tender, who called the manager to find out what to do. I'm not exactly sure if the whole meal was comped, or what exactly happened. I know that they stayed for around two hours longer and ate dessert. The complaining man did approach me earlier and asked me if I could bring bread to the table, because he had been waiting for so long. I started to cut it, and told him that I would bring it to him. He responded with "I've been spilled on, and not waited on, I can't trust anybody anymore, I'll just bring it myself!" After all that (and I brought hummus to the table with the bread) the family was very grateful to me and thanked me profusely.
According to preggo, she spilled mussel juice on the ground and it splashed up onto the man's leg. She apologized and asked if she could do anything about it, and they said no. I don't know how that's going to be resolved.
The kitchen is supposed to close at 9:30, but for some reason the hostess sat somebody at 9:45. I don't know WHY I got stuck with this table, a deuce that wasn't even in my section, but I had it. They ordered apps, entrees, AND dessert, and while I'm supposed to be able to go home at around 10, I was at the restaurant until TWELVE. The couple was very nice to me, and said they were so sorry about making me stay late, etc etc. They didn't leave me any phenomenal tip, however. I was the only waitress left, and the bar was cleaning up when I left to go home.
I went home and passed out from exhaustion. Made about 100 in tips. Worth it?
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