Comments on: The Look

By: Lucinda

Lucinda — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 23:32:51 +0000

Wow, I’m inspired. I have a bad tendency to trying to reason with unreasonable people. I’ve been working for some time now at responding with silence. Thanks.

By: Patron Guy

Patron Guy — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:35:08 +0000

Well, Kira, when they conclude that the Gal is dim at best or rude and slow at worst, these customers are usually making an unwarranted assumption. And trust me, The Look is at the upper echelon of standard for behavior in dealing with unruly people. There’s a long way to go before you hit the lowest level of your rudest customers.

Love the blog, Restaurant Gal. Keep it up.

By: Corrina

Corrina — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 05:17:29 +0000

That was fabulous.

By: Kira

Kira — Wed, 31 May 2006 04:23:28 +0000

I hate to point this out, since you’re so happy with the outcome, but in the first two interactions you describe, it really just sounds as if the customers concluded you were dim (at best) or just rude and slow at your job (at worst).

And is the lowest level of your rudest customers really where you want to set the standard for your own behavior?

By: Lobster Boy

Lobster Boy — Mon, 29 May 2006 03:16:21 +0000

The silence is a great freeze tool. They are snapping at you rudely while you interact with another guest (or in my restaurant with another table) and you just turn and look, the hard stare, the Clint Eastwood do you feel lucky today punk stare, and then go back to what you were doing. Very rarely do you ever have to go beyond that, with the most likely exception being stoners who are baked. The second move is the stern finger with a linger glare (the finger being the POINTER finger, though it’s tempting…) that indicates you will be with them when you finish. On the rare event that I have to go to the second level I will usually step over to the table and not say anything. By this point most people who weren’t raised by wolves are shamed, and while avoiding eye contact will mumble something that wasn’t really all that important. Short of an emergency, I’m never in a hurry to get back to that table with whatever they wanted unless it moves them out of the store more quickly. Rude patrons are rarely good tippers. Generally, if they are ignorant of how to behave in public, they missed the lesson on tipping as well.

Lobster Boy

By: ex-waitress

ex-waitress — Fri, 26 May 2006 01:41:09 +0000

Aah, The Look. My mother was a master at it. I’ve never quite lived up to her fame, but I have had moderate success with my own version. It’s served me well throughout the years; no matter what job I had, or what unpleasant social situation I’ve found myself in. Now that I”m a teacher I employ it on a fairly regular basis…kinda makes the little nippers sweat a bit. It’s a great tool.

By: Restaurant Gal

Restaurant Gal — Thu, 25 May 2006 23:07:57 +0000

Phil–Call me.

–The Gal

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 25 May 2006 18:16:03 +0000

Will “the Look” also work over the telephone?

By: Bass Player

Bass Player — Thu, 25 May 2006 18:10:49 +0000

Jimmy Stewart used to call The Look “The Lazy Eye”.

Erma Bombeck used to call it her “Passport Picture Face”.

But a rose by any other name still puts ignoramuses in their rightful place.

Natalie, that’s an excellent idea, except that Jedi Mind Tricks don’t work on bass players

And Leesha, to do The Look, just make your face as blank as possible, with maybe a hint of bugeye No need to frown, glare, or pout. Just stare blankly and don’t say a word, like RG did. I tell ya, it works wonders. The best/worst part is, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to practice

By: wendykat

wendykat — Thu, 25 May 2006 16:55:15 +0000

see my look tends to say “you are a moron, if you do not vacate the premises my foot will inhabit the space where your groin currently resides” regardless of the situation. it seems to work.