I don’t know what I was thinking when accepted the job … I was a happy, easygoing, perfectly satisfied hostess at a busy restaurant with a crazy Chef. Those 5 hours a day I used to spend there were boring for the most part … then there was the weekend with overbooked restaurant full of angry customers expecting to be seated on time. ha! That’s a concept! Rude at times, understanding, although antsy to get seated guests were nothing comparing to the Chef 's and Owner’s outbursts. But it was alright. Many tears shed, many punching urges tamed, many curses mumbled under my breath … but it was great!
Then came August and I got the call … We need you! It’s a tragedy! If you don’t fill in we’ll crush and burn – not in that many words though.
Like I said I don’t know what went through my mind when my boss asked if I was willing to try out. Mind you – I have never worked at the restaurant business before. I’m not counting the hosting gig, as it really has nothing to do with the business itself – it’s more of a people skill job – you interact with guests, deal with their temper tantrums, make them feel welcome and wanted, although, as you may imagine, it’s not always the case. Anyways, I felt compelled to help. You see, the hostess job saved my life a year prior. I had been homeless and jobless. I was sleeping on friends’ couches, surviving on Subway sandwiches and water. Then I got the phone call from a friend of a friend – “listen, there’s this place, they are looking for a hostess, $8 an hour plus tips. You have an interview on Monday at 4pm, but you are pretty much hired“. And I was. From that point on my life was quite improved. I got an apartment, made enough money to socialize with my friends again. Had enough free time to read, see movies, visit the museums, parks, etc…
Like I said I don’t know what went through my mind when my boss asked if I was willing to try out. Mind you – I have never worked at the restaurant business before. I’m not counting the hosting gig, as it really has nothing to do with the business itself – it’s more of a people skill job – you interact with guests, deal with their temper tantrums, make them feel welcome and wanted, although, as you may imagine, it’s not always the case. Anyways, I felt compelled to help. You see, the hostess job saved my life a year prior. I had been homeless and jobless. I was sleeping on friends’ couches, surviving on Subway sandwiches and water. Then I got the phone call from a friend of a friend – “listen, there’s this place, they are looking for a hostess, $8 an hour plus tips. You have an interview on Monday at 4pm, but you are pretty much hired“. And I was. From that point on my life was quite improved. I got an apartment, made enough money to socialize with my friends again. Had enough free time to read, see movies, visit the museums, parks, etc…
Then the call came and changed my life. For better or for worse I’m not quite sure. I guess the purpose of this blog is to establish that.
It was ok at first. The previous manager has been there to guide me and teach me the basics of the business. The accounting procedures, vendors, maintenance schedules, staff, kitchen management, deliveries, wines and beers, oh it was so much!!! I was working 15 hours days, it was brutal! But I pulled through.
Then Alison left for good and I was left alone with "the boss". I cannot tell you how many times I locked myself in the bathroom to cry and wale and curse his ass out! I felt a total failure and moron and idiot and the most stupid person in the world. Sometimes because the "paid" invoice was placed in the box with "to be paid” invoices, or a fork on the table in the dining room was crooked, or the water glass wasn’t perfectly polished - annoying ocurances, yes, but not annoying enogh to bring down the Jerycho walls I say. Oh it was fun! It got better with time. I got a hang of it all, the newsletters, the menus, the emails and the books. Everything that makes a restaurant go – I got it! And then I started noticing how rude and stupid customers are. How they feel entitled to put me down every time they got a chance because they paid $20 for a plate of eggs and a glass of OJ. I m not sure why but American customers (I know - I shouldn’t generalize, not all of them) think that just because I work at a restaurant I must be stupid and not able to get another “better” job. I’d like to see those prissy lawyers work 14 hours a day with customers that will never be satisfied, always grumpy and expecting you to be nice and cordial no matter what! Catering to them and making sure everybody has good time, while dealing with volatile outbursts of the boss. I have quit this gig so many times. They always sucked me back in though. Apparently I am really good at what I do. Off course everybody thinks I’m sleeping with the boss since I come back every time and am treated better and better every time I do. That’s not the case, but I guess they’ve got a point; no other business would allow an employee to leave cursing and screaming in a middle of a meeting and then be welcomed back with open arms.
It was ok at first. The previous manager has been there to guide me and teach me the basics of the business. The accounting procedures, vendors, maintenance schedules, staff, kitchen management, deliveries, wines and beers, oh it was so much!!! I was working 15 hours days, it was brutal! But I pulled through.
Then Alison left for good and I was left alone with "the boss". I cannot tell you how many times I locked myself in the bathroom to cry and wale and curse his ass out! I felt a total failure and moron and idiot and the most stupid person in the world. Sometimes because the "paid" invoice was placed in the box with "to be paid” invoices, or a fork on the table in the dining room was crooked, or the water glass wasn’t perfectly polished - annoying ocurances, yes, but not annoying enogh to bring down the Jerycho walls I say. Oh it was fun! It got better with time. I got a hang of it all, the newsletters, the menus, the emails and the books. Everything that makes a restaurant go – I got it! And then I started noticing how rude and stupid customers are. How they feel entitled to put me down every time they got a chance because they paid $20 for a plate of eggs and a glass of OJ. I m not sure why but American customers (I know - I shouldn’t generalize, not all of them) think that just because I work at a restaurant I must be stupid and not able to get another “better” job. I’d like to see those prissy lawyers work 14 hours a day with customers that will never be satisfied, always grumpy and expecting you to be nice and cordial no matter what! Catering to them and making sure everybody has good time, while dealing with volatile outbursts of the boss. I have quit this gig so many times. They always sucked me back in though. Apparently I am really good at what I do. Off course everybody thinks I’m sleeping with the boss since I come back every time and am treated better and better every time I do. That’s not the case, but I guess they’ve got a point; no other business would allow an employee to leave cursing and screaming in a middle of a meeting and then be welcomed back with open arms.
The boss situation got better, he stopped yelling at me every time he wasn’t feeling 100% satisfied and when he did, I just nodded and smiled. But I have noticed that the more time I spend around the guests the least patience I have for people.
Majority of our clientele are the neighborhood habitants. Those are usually the nicest, most understanding and friendly guests we get. I love all of them. I love when they come in, even if they came in during the biggest rush and without reservation – we always find tables for them. Always! And they always appreciate it. At times when they do happen to make a reservation and we don’t have tables ready for them when they arrive it’s never a big deal – like I said – very understanding and usually happy that the restaurant does so well. I don’t have a problem with any of them. Even when I am so tired and sick of human kind (which is every time I work dinner shift or brunch) that I don’t want to say anything to anybody – I will always have a smile for them, maybe a strip of bacon for their dog too. They make my day better every time they come in.
Then there are those righteous, self entitled and self important ones that make my life a living hell. I guess that's the reason why I have decided to start writing. i am about to pour all my frustrations onto paper ... well ... laptop screen? what is it that they say again? out of sight out of heart? hmmm that won't work though ...
Majority of our clientele are the neighborhood habitants. Those are usually the nicest, most understanding and friendly guests we get. I love all of them. I love when they come in, even if they came in during the biggest rush and without reservation – we always find tables for them. Always! And they always appreciate it. At times when they do happen to make a reservation and we don’t have tables ready for them when they arrive it’s never a big deal – like I said – very understanding and usually happy that the restaurant does so well. I don’t have a problem with any of them. Even when I am so tired and sick of human kind (which is every time I work dinner shift or brunch) that I don’t want to say anything to anybody – I will always have a smile for them, maybe a strip of bacon for their dog too. They make my day better every time they come in.
Then there are those righteous, self entitled and self important ones that make my life a living hell. I guess that's the reason why I have decided to start writing. i am about to pour all my frustrations onto paper ... well ... laptop screen? what is it that they say again? out of sight out of heart? hmmm that won't work though ...
