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.
So jealous. Explaining water ice to other people is not possible. It is not the same as "Italian Ice" with those little wooden spoons!
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.
I did! I started as a busser when I was 16 then was a hostess until 18 then a waitress and bartender. I worked at a country club (busser, hostess, waitress, beer cart girl, snack bar, bartender, banquet waitress) for a long time. I also worked at Olive Garden for a few years in college and at another country club doing banquets when I was in college
I loved it, it was a great experience. My husband wouldn't last 2 hours.
Post by juliamastro on Aug 8, 2013 11:03:34 GMT -5
I am currently going to school full time, so I work part time at Godfather's Pizza. I think everyone needs to work in the food industry at least for a little while!
You really don't realize how horrible some people can be until you work in the food business. But I do love my job, I love how busy it is, and getting to interact with people.
I've worked front and back of house. I preferred back.
When I was working at a small Italian cafe here in Portland, I had a table with two women and a 3-ish year old child. The woman across the table from the kid ordered soup. I was very careful, when serving it, to keep it out of reach of the kid. After giving them their food and walking back to the kitchen to pick up another order, I hear one of the women start screeching and the kid wailing. Apparently, they decided that the mom wanted the soup and passed it across the table. While doing so, the kid put his hand in it and then yanks his hand back, getting soup everywhere, including on himself, his mom, the walls, the table and the floor. He wasn't badly hurt and I helped clean him up. The non-mom then asked to see the thermometer for the soup carafe, because it was obviously too hot (bitch, you ordered hot soup) and the mom was threatening to sue. The Russian owner, who came here from the Soviet Union, basically told her to gtfo.
There was an ex-pro basketball player that would tip me $10 to keep his coffee full and not talk to him, at the same place, though. I liked him.
I've worked front and back of house. I preferred back.
When I was working at a small Italian cafe here in Portland, I had a table with two women and a 3-ish year old child. The woman across the table from the kid ordered soup. I was very careful, when serving it, to keep it out of reach of the kid. After giving them their food and walking back to the kitchen to pick up another order, I hear one of the women start screeching and the kid wailing. Apparently, they decided that the mom wanted the soup and passed it across the table. While doing so, the kid put his hand in it and then yanks his hand back, getting soup everywhere, including on himself, his mom, the walls, the table and the floor. He wasn't badly hurt and I helped clean him up. The non-mom then asked to see the thermometer for the soup carafe, because it was obviously too hot (bitch, you ordered hot soup) and the mom was threatening to sue. The Russian owner, who came here from the Soviet Union, basically told her to gtfo.
There was an ex-pro basketball player that would tip me $10 to keep his coffee full and not talk to him, at the same place, though. I liked him.
People suck. I am cross-trained front and back, but i definitely prefer delivering. It amazes me how ungrateful some people are.
Yeah, I've got stories beyond stories. Good and bad. I started working in a taco shop at 14 and have worked almost every front of house position from bus girl to bartender to manager. I currently bartend 2or 3 nights a week at a hang your hat sailor type bistro bar. I worked through my pregnancy up until about 34 weeks. Nothing like a big ole pregnant stirring your manhattan. I've worked in a few very well known NYC hotspots and with some very prestigious chefs and restauranteurs. I love the business, and although the work is exhausting and people can be so fucking clueless sometimes, the $ is great and I'm great at what I do. I've never ever ever seen any kitchen employee do anything unsanitary to anyone's meal, and if I ever did I would quit that job immidietly. I take my job very seriously and have major qualifications. I could walk into almost any restaurant (even French Laundry) and qualify for a position on staff. I don't take that lightly, and worked hard for my experience. Now that I'm a mother working part time is even getting to be too much for me. I've been thinking about transitioning into wine rep sales. It's hard because restaurant work is literally the only thing I'm qualified to do, but I can't sacrifice my entire life to the business. And I also can't quit it because I love it so much! Oh but I would never, ever want to own my own place. No thank you, too much trouble.
Post by livinreality on Aug 8, 2013 12:13:28 GMT -5
I worked as a server over the 2 summers during college, I was not very good because I am so introverted and lacked the friendly part of talking to the people but it was a great experience and I learned a lot.
I was a server at restaurants from 19-30. A few small places, then Carrabbas for 4 years, then The Melting Pot for 4 years, where I also managed while I was doing my student teaching. I do miss being able to make mad cash in a short amount of time. Or going in to pick up a shift when I was broke. I made more serving at the Melting Pot than I do teaching. A LOT more. But, I couldn't handle the hours now that I'm done with it. I did enjoy it though, and I was pretty efficient.
I used to be a hostess at Sushi Samba (near Union Square) and a waitress at Olive Garden. I hated working at Sushi Samba. You weren't allowed to talk to other waiters and had to keep your hands down at your sides at all times. It sucked. This one busboy had a huge crush on me though and used to sneak me chocolate lava cake and leave it in the coat closet for me to eat.
Olive Garden was actually a lot better. The managers and customers were way nicer and they gave health insurance too. But the tips sucked.
I used to be a hostess at Sushi Samba (near Union Square) and a waitress at Olive Garden. I hated working at Sushi Samba. You weren't allowed to talk to other waiters and had to keep your hands down at your sides at all times. It sucked. This one busboy had a huge crush on me though and used to sneak me chocolate lava cake and leave it in the coat closet for me to eat.
Olive Garden was actually a lot better. The managers and customers were way nicer and they gave health insurance too. But the tips sucked.
I worked at Burger King for four years. I actually really liked it. I loved being in the kitchen, but they would almost always put me on drive-through since I was better than almost everyone at that.
I could never serve! I don't handle stress well and I am not a people-person. I think I would be throwing stuff and pulling my hair out after one shift.
I live in Sacramento now. I so miss the NYC restaurants. Although, Sacramento has actually gotten a lot better restaurants in the 10 years I was away. There is a big emphasis on "farm to fork" foods here now and so a lot of more creative local farmers' market type fare. But I miss me some sushi samba.
I did and I'm still friends with a lot of my old coworkers. I'm not sure how some of them are still working there. You had to bust your ass and not make the best money because college kids suck at tipping. I have a friend who is pregnant with her second and still works there after 8 years. I could never do that! Maybe if I moved on to a nicer bar.
I live in Sacramento now. I so miss the NYC restaurants. Although, Sacramento has actually gotten a lot better restaurants in the 10 years I was away. There is a big emphasis on "farm to fork" foods here now and so a lot of more creative local farmers' market type fare. But I miss me some sushi samba.
You could not pay me to live in Sacramento. My sister hated that city with her entire being when she lived there. Food is so good in Cali, though.