Where are my fellow restaurant workers?

[TrudyCampbell]

Who has worked in a restaurant or bar?

I feel like it takes a certain type of person to be able to work in a restaurant. My husband, for example, could NEVER. He would have died. 

I started out bussing tables with my best friend at age 14 in a little Italian restaurant. I worked for many years as a server at Legal Seafoods (do they have those beyond the east coast?) and in a popular restaurant/bar in college. 

I really loved working in restaurants, despite it being really hard work. 

[katfco]

In high school I was a server for a banquet hall. I got to drive home reeking of booze at midnight praying I didn't get pulled over.

In college I did some waitressing for an Italian restaurant. I enjoyed it for the most part, except the time a guy ordered "Sex on the beach" for his wife just to embarrass me.

All through college I worked in the school cafeteria, which wasn't bad except for dealing with entitled college students.

I liked the hard work, but I don't have the outgoing personality to do it well.

[bebeetmoi]

Resident bartender extraordinaire checking in:)

[chasbride07]

I worked at McDonalds and then as a server at an Italian restaurant in college and then at a steakhouse after college for some extra cash. I wasn't very good, but I always really liked the people I worked with. I was a TERRIBLE hostess. It annoyed the crap out of me when people were picky about where they sat.

[puppylove64]

I waited tables for a few years at a Mexican restaurant. It was really fast paced. I was just bitching in my head this morning, that I hate my current job and would love to go back to waiting tables. There, everyone knew what they were responsible for, so there was no blame game. if something wasn't done, the person responsible was addressed.

[mumegs]

I was a hostess and I hated it! No matter what you did the servers were always pissed at you.

[irishsara]

My first job was a hostess at a little diner. Then a server there and then I worked at a popular chain restaurant for years and all through college. I also worked at a sports bar in college.

My husband also could never do it.

[lolaburns]

Me! I loved it. It was hard work and really stressful sometimes, but it was also a good experience.

[Deleted]

I was a hostess at red lobster and also did fast food at Quizons.

I only lasted 3 months at Red Lobster. Smoking was still allowed back then and I couldn't handle the smell of the restaurant everyday. Also, no offense to waitresses, but oh my the ones there were so bitchy. They'd bitch to each other about work in front of the customers!

[sunshineluv]

I did! I worked at a family owned restaurant. I loved it, (I worked there while I was a teacher to supplement my income). I would work 3-4 hours, and come home with an average of $100 cash. And I liked my co-workers. Plus the food was awesome.

[devonpow]

I waitresses for a summer on the Cape - it was in the bar area of a restaurant, so mostly cocktails plus the more limited bar menu. It was fun! I don't think I would have the energy for it now, though:)

[laurack]

I could never do it. Not only because I find a lot of people to be annoying shitheads who think the world revolves around them, but also because I don't like high stress situations, I have a poor short term memory and I don't write fast. Also I try to only carry one plate at a time, two plates is risky for me.

"umm is that cooked in butter? can I have no butter on that? and can I get a side of butter? I ordered a drink two and a half minutes ago and I don't have it yet"
"excuse me? its been three minutes now and I still don't have that drink?"
"are you sure this steak doesn't have butter on it? it looks.. shiny?"
"excuse me, wheres my side of butter?"

[lolaburns]

Aug 8, 2013 9:12:24 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Who has worked in a restaurant or bar?

I feel like it takes a certain type of person to be able to work in a restaurant. My husband, for example, could NEVER. He would have died. 

I started out bussing tables with my best friend at age 14 in a little Italian restaurant. I worked for many years as a server at Legal Seafoods (do they have those beyond the east coast?) and in a popular restaurant/bar in college. 

I really loved working in restaurants, despite it being really hard work. 

I'm going to think of you every time we go to Legal Seafood now!

[TrudyCampbell]

Aug 8, 2013 9:37:08 GMT -5 lolaburns said:

Aug 8, 2013 9:12:24 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Who has worked in a restaurant or bar?

I feel like it takes a certain type of person to be able to work in a restaurant. My husband, for example, could NEVER. He would have died. 

I started out bussing tables with my best friend at age 14 in a little Italian restaurant. I worked for many years as a server at Legal Seafoods (do they have those beyond the east coast?) and in a popular restaurant/bar in college. 

I really loved working in restaurants, despite it being really hard work. 

I'm going to think of you every time we go to Legal Seafood now!

I helped open the Huntington location! I feel like it's gone way downhill... it used to have a wait every night and the last time I went it was empty and we got shitty service. I also worked at the one in Roosevelt Field for a long time. 

[Regina Philange]

I worked at a diner. The owners were greek and HATED me. Which doesnt make sense because i am Greek.

Man, people are mean when they are hungry.

[Deleted]

I worked at a restaurant from 16-23! I loved it and miss it sometimes. My H definitely could not do it.

[lolaburns]

Aug 8, 2013 9:38:42 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Aug 8, 2013 9:37:08 GMT -5 lolaburns said:

I'm going to think of you every time we go to Legal Seafood now!

I helped open the Huntington location! I feel like it's gone way downhill... it used to have a wait every night and the last time I went it was empty and we got shitty service. I also worked at the one in Roosevelt Field for a long time. 

Yea, it really has gone downhill. The last time we ate there was when I was 8 months pregnant or so. I ordered the stuffed shrimp and they were horrible. It wasn't worth the price at all. It's a shame because we need the variety around here ( too much Italian). I'm excited for the new places opening at the mall and the cool huge development project along NY Ave. you might want to move back home Trudy!!! Hahahaha

[Deleted]

Aug 8, 2013 9:40:03 GMT -5 @pcloadletter said:

@lindy I was a host at Red Lobster too. In Topeka. I had a seizure almost every day that I worked. Red Lobster was a trigger for me I guess.

When did you work there? I think I worked there in 2004.

I wonder if it was the smoke or all the activity or something?

[mala]

I did. I'm in the minority, it seems. I don't have any truly crazy customer stories.

[bebeetmoi]

Aug 8, 2013 9:44:49 GMT -5 Regina Philange said:

I worked at a diner. The owners were greek and HATED me. Which doesnt make sense because i am Greek.

Man, people are mean when they are hungry.

LOL I love you.

[jfh]

I bussed tables and filled in for waitresses at a sit-down pizza place in high school. I liked it ok - no crazy stories here.

[breezy8407]

Yes. I served and then bartended. 

I started out as a golf course beer cart girl - GREATEST JOB EVER. I was paid over minimum wage plus tips. I was young, thin, tan, and blonde at the time. I think that helped my tips. 

Next I served and bartended at Chilis. My favorite things were when people called salsa "sauce" or ordered BOWLS of ranch with everything. I hate ranch dressing to this day. I actually never got sick of the food. There were some decent options when I worked there. I always came home smelling of tequila, smoke, and fajitas. 

After that I bartended and cocktailed at Buffalo Wild Wings. I hate wings still to this day. Never been a huge fan, but cleaning up piles of bones sort of did it in for me. 

My H also bartended for all of his college years, but we didn't work together. When we have the right liquor in the house, we can make some mean cocktails. I am mostly a beer drinker now though. We definitely lived ALL of this movie:


Attachment Deleted

[Regina Philange]

I started being really nice to restaurant workers after i saw that movie. I don't want a pubecheeeburger!

[breezy8407]

Aug 8, 2013 10:19:17 GMT -5 Regina Philange said:

I started being really nice to restaurant workers after i saw that movie. I don't want a pubecheeeburger!

To be fair, some of it is just over the top. I never saw anyone in a kitchen do those things. But, just because I didn't see it....

[Regina Philange]

Oh i am sure it was exaggerated for the movie.

But i still haven't ordered from Domino s since that video went viral of them making the pizza. yuck.

[creamsiclechica]

I never served, but I worked at a Rita's Water Ice (what's up Philly and Jersey people that know how awesome this is) every summer from age 15 to 20. And I worked at a Wawa making sandwiches overnight when I was in early college. The Wawa was in West Chester and it was when Jackass was really popular. Those guys can in all the time. Bam Margera is an epic douchebag.

[Regina Philange]

Wawa is the shit. THE SHIT!

[creamsiclechica]

It is. I miss it so much. It's unnatural for it to not be nationwide.

[kkfeb04]

I have! I've worked at the touristy restuarants that you find in Lancaster County because tips were great in the summer. I've done it all up until I was 22. Never again will I go back in the service industry. But it was fun.

[kkfeb04]

Aug 8, 2013 10:44:33 GMT -5 creamsiclechica said:

I never served, but I worked at a Rita's Water Ice (what's up Philly and Jersey people that know how awesome this is) every summer from age 15 to 20. And I worked at a Wawa making sandwiches overnight when I was in early college. The Wawa was in West Chester and it was when Jackass was really popular. Those guys can in all the time. Bam Margera is an epic douchebag.

What year were you at Wawa in West Chester?