Working in the food industry is so much fun. It's educational, it teaches you to be independent while working among others, and it gives you the opportunity to develop an entirely new sense of the word "patience." However, there are just some things -- good and bad -- that every server comes to acknowledge and accept as they spend a small eternity working in the restaurant industry.
1. You probably have a caffeine addiction
It's the only thing that can help you be cheery and excited for 8-12 hours every day.
2. Your Friday is actually Sunday
Bring on the lazy Monday shift, I am ready to sleep.
3. The awkward struggle of being ignored when you greet a table
Hi, I'm here and I want to feed you, please stop having your conversation for a moment.
4. You cringe a little when someone asks "What's your favorite thing on the menu?"
Sometimes this doesn't hurt too bad if the food is actually good.
5. Or says, "Just surprise me."
I am not a mind reader. I do not know what you will enjoy. Please do not make this difficult.
6. Or the worst of all, "What do you have here?"
You could check the menu in front of you, but I guess I'll take 45 minutes to give you a guided tour of every single one of our options.
7. When people say they're ready to order when they're definitely not
As much as I love awkwardly standing over you while you contemplate five different items on the menu, I have six other tables that need my attention.
8. When guests seat themselves
Typically they need to walk directly past the host stand to do this, too.
9. Or when they play musical chairs
For the love of Pete, sit down.
10. Getting yelled at for food not coming out in time
I'm not wearing a chef's coat, but if I could cook the food and bring it out in a timely manner I would.
11. When you really want to make money and be busy but you also hope that the hostesses forget to seat you.
Dreams of being able to go home early and relax dance through your head.
12. Or when you get sat 3-22 tables at once.
*Begins to sprint*
13. When the rush hits and everything becomes really intense
REMAIN CALM, REMAIN CALM, REMAIN CALM.
14. Running out of silverware/glassware/plates
Theories of mysterious black holes sucking up every bit of silver and glassware continue to flood restaurants worldwide.
15. Being out of every single food item that your guest wants to order
You feel bad and it's awkward going back to them three times with the bad news.
16. That one party comes in to eat five minutes before the restaurant closes
You pray that it's not in your section because that will force you to stay for an extra hour.
16. Bad Tips
It's okay, this is only my livelihood and means of surviving financially in this cruel world.
17. Doubles
Will it be 9 hours, or will it be 18? The world may never know.
18. Side Work
It. Never. Ends.
However, it's not always that bad...
19. Kitchen leftovers are basically heaven
If they're not plotting your slow and agonizing death, sometimes the kitchen will throw you a bone.. literally. Anything tastes good after sprinting around a restaurant and starving for so many hours.
20. The feeling of finally being done with a busy shift is the best feeling ever.
*sits down*
*cries*
21. And having a work family to rely on is also something not to be taken for granted
You spend most of your week with them and they are now your family. They are a lighthouse in the sea of a never-ending shift and it is wonderful.
22. Especially when everyone hangs out after a long shift
Three cheers for being done! I can finally sit down! Has anyone seen my glasses?
23. Then you all show up the next day to do it all over again.
Nothing quite compares to the life of a server.
