Working in the restaurant industry is possibly the most fundamentally challenging occupation I have ever experienced when it comes to hospitality and customer service. When you go to a five-star restaurant you expect the time of your life, a two hour getaway, a walk through another time period (rustic Italy, France, Spain, etc), or simply a honeymoon undergo. What you don't see are the behind the scenes scut work: carrying trays, polishing glassware and silverware, kitchen chaos, the list is endless. Now, I'm not saying being a host, server, or bartender is the worst thing in the whole wide world, there are definitely worse things. But the fact of the matter is that it isn't always sunshine and rainbows. In the two years that I have spent in restaurant and customer service, I have spoken my share of expletives, yelled at kitchen staff, and dealt with not-so-happy guests. It isn't easy to keep a bright and shiny smile on your face when all you want to do is choke every person who walks near you. Anyone who has spent even two weeks working in a restaurant understands the rigor and stress that comes with it. Restaurant culture is a tiny world in and of itself that operates on its own principles and creates its own society. It even has its own language. The sayings "runner", "corner", and "on a bus" wouldn't make sense to anyone otherwise. My mother and I both work in a restaurant and the best advice I can give someone going out to eat is to treat us like people. Yes...believe it or not we are people, people. Say "please" and "thank you", or stack your cleared plates before a busser gets to the table. Trust me, the gesture goes a lot farther than you may think.
So, if you work in a restaurant, you can relate with the following points. If not, check out how the brain of a restaurant service (or any customer service) worker actually works. See if you can identify any crazy weird habits your friends have a tendency to partake in.
Anytime you turn a corner the words "corner!" without you even realizing.
You just wanted to be very aware of your surroundings when entering the bathroom at your own house...no judgment.
People are amazed at how professional you are when speaking to strangers, or on the phone
The words "absolutely" and "certainly" are the only acceptable words to use, while using "dude" and "you guys" are like committing the unforgivable sin.
When we say "table 17 is on a bus", table 17 isn't LITERALLY on a bus.
Table 17 is on a bus? Where is it going??
You understand the frustration of the functions of another existing restaurant when going out to eat.
Silently criticizing my server's mannerisms, and verbiage is something I often do. Most of the time it is inevitable.
When you repeat the same spiel 40 times you start to sound like a lifeless robot.
Why don't we just stand on a chair and announce it to the entire restaurant instead of saying the same thing a trillion times?
The rush of prime dinner service. The chaos is riveting.
The rush of constantly being on your feet is unbelievable. There is never a dull moment in the restaurant business. You know you work in the restaurant business when you can multitask four tables, their orders, and still find time to go pee.
You have "that guy" at a table that makes you want to pull your hair out.
And you know exactly who I am talking about. The guy who wants everything, and wants it RIGHT NOW. Then proceeds to run their server in circles.
Getting stiffed an entire tip is worse than dealing with a difficult human being.
I gave you immaculate service and you left me how much on your $100 check??
When you're sitting in a restaurant you don't dare interrupt your servers table presentation.
We work really hard to please our guests, please do. not. interrupt my money-making process.
At the end of the night, you take the first opportunity you get to take a seat.
The feeling of your body weight coming off of your feet after an eight hour shift is heavenly. We take that feeling for granted until we can't sit down for eight hours at a time.
If you related to any of these above points, you have probably worked in a restaurant setting at some point in your life. Working in a restaurant can be the best, and worst moments you experience, but you make the most of it. You can complain about the pay, the hours, and the labor quality, but someone has to do it. I have learned quite a bit working in customer service as a hostess, and am thankful for the opportunity to grow as a person functioning in society. Restaurant culture is its own entity, but definitely worth the chaos.
