“I have to tell you about my experience making a reservation,” Mr. Restaurant Gal said when I called home to see what was up in the late afternoon, knowing I wouldn’t be home before 10 p.m.
“Oh, okay. What?” This is not a usual topic of conversation for us. “I have to tell you about the [...]
At one moment today, sometime between 11:32 a.m. and 6:27 p.m., I realized I was subsisting on a handful of soggy French fries soaked in malt vinegar and a nibble of Sweet Tarts stashed in my briefcase. Yes, that’s right, my briefcase.
Restaurant Gal had to bring a briefcase to work? Restaurant Gal actually owns a [...]
Ten days ago I told my managers I was looking for my next opportunity.
Monday, not even a week later, I was riding the bus to another part of town to say goodbye to one of my favorite bartenders who also works part-time at my restaurant. I wouldn’t see him again before I left. Before I [...]
I took the job.
The assistant manager job at the fine-dining place.
In the words of Ricky Ricardo, “Lucy, what have you done now?”
Well, I am confident it’s going to be great, terrific, unbelievable. That is, after I have read all the wine books, learned layers of fine-dining lingo, crammed for martini menu class, and remembered [...]
“Restaurant Gal, you’re the maitre d’ here, right?” asked the mother of a family of three who I had just seated in a booth in the bar area. Dad was reading a map; Mom was marveling at how we still had a smoking section and taking full advantage of it; Daughter was looking over a [...]
I don’t know which question slammed me more:
“Why are you applying for the host job and not the assistant manager position?”
-or-
“Am I talking to Restaurant Gal?”
Yeah, no contest.
Am I really ready to be a manager?
Ha Ha. Only kidding.
What I mean is, am I ready to work for someone who knows I am The Gal?
Ha [...]
Quick–what do 2:30 p.m., Friday, and August add up to?
That’s right, an afternoon off.
And with that exact combination in place last Friday, a party of nine ladies ladies was clearly enjoying every minute of TGIF.
“Say, Restaurant Gal, you’re here every day, right?” asked the most jovial of the bunch.
“Well, every weekday.”
“Right, right. Every day. So [...]
It’s done so smoothly on screen. The maitre d’ of a fine-dining establishment acknowledges a last-minute, important customer and provides the perfect table for him and his guests. A subtle, brief hand shake is exchanged. The maitre d’ nods once more toward his guest and wishes everyone a nice evening–with a 20-spot or higher in [...]
I have lead a double life these past few weeks.
Yes, I have worked the podium from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Before and after, however, I have been operating under another identity: Private Event Planning Gal.
And I love it.
Love it.
You see, the full-time private event manager took an impromptu vacation. I had always wanted [...]
I have a love-hate thing going with my pagers.
I hate them because they resemble mutant stun guns. Eight out of 10 customers joke about this, and I have heard that joke one too many times to smile at it with real sincerity.
I love them because they resemble mutant stun guns and customers spend a [...]