Coffee? I can get free coffee. People give me free coffee. I can get all the coffee I want....
Posted on 01/12/2010 1:49:27 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
The old-school way of memorizing diners' orders is fried
By Steve Hendrix
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 12, 2010; A01
Richard Weber can still do the hardest part of his job with both hands behind his back, literally. But maybe not for long.
/snip
All with nary an order pad in sight.
"I've always gone by memory -- it just feels more professional that way," Weber said above the fork-and-knife clatter. "Sometimes you have to go into the walk-in cooler and scream, yeah, but usually I can keep it all straight without too much trouble."
But the days of the waiter who doesn't write things down appear to be numbered, according to restaurant owners and industry experts. As Washington's annual Restaurant Week brings waves of new diners into local eateries, the venerable waiter memory act is in serious decline, a result of increasingly complicated orders -- customers who customize because of nutrition concerns or allergies real or imagined -- people going out in larger groups, and a generation that seems less comfortable with memorization.
Even at an old-school bastion such as the Palm, fewer and fewer servers are going penless. Weber increasingly finds himself scribbling at least a few notes for large or "complicated" parties. And by complicated, he means those who have been watching cooking shows on television.
"Whoever invented the Food Network should be shot," said Timothy Glynn, 51, another Palm veteran and a professional waiter for more than 30 years. "Everyone's a chef now. Everyone wants something special done with their meal. It's getting so you have to write it down."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
If this is an exemplar of a "dying breed", then good riddance!
How dare we that pay hard-earned money to have a good restaurant meal should want it the way we want it?
Why should I have to have capers put in my ice cream or ton of black pepper in everything just because the "chef" wants it that way?
Fine. Let the "chef" eat it then, and let this unwashed plate jockey serve it to him!
People who want fancy orders should have the courtesy to visit restaurants or bars when they are not too busy.
The most annoying thing I had to deal with slinging beer was some hotshot who wanted some complicated mixed cocktail when there were 20 people belly up at the bar, waving bills, just wanting a bottle of their favorite brew.
I suppose the same must be true for restaurants.
They also tend to have nastiest temper.:-)
I like ordering by the number. You uually get what you order.
Don’t people usually go to a restaurant to eat the chef’s recipe? If you want it cooked your own way, stay home and cook it.
Preach it Brother!
“”Whoever invented the Food Network should be shot,” said Timothy Glynn, 51, another Palm veteran and a professional waiter for more than 30 years. “Everyone’s a chef now. Everyone wants something special done with their meal. It’s getting so you have to write it down.””
Yeah, stupid people with food allergies. How inconsiderate! I mean so what if you risk having your tongue swell up so you can’t breath, or don’t want hives to make you miserable for the next 24 hours. Don’t you realize that people you are tipping don’t want to WRITE STUFF DOWN?
I agree. I swear, everyone thinks the world revolves around them -- they go to a restaurant and expect everything to come to a screeching halt while they give pointers to the chef so that he can cook the meal exactly as they want it.
The customer should go to the restaurant because the restaurant offers something the customer wants. If you want something different, stay home and do it yourself.
I guess I am unspeakably gauche, but I never saw the point of the order not being written down.
It always worries me, just a little bit. I’m the type that breathes a sigh of relief when they get it right, which they usually do, but I don’t like to wonder about it. Not that writing it all down eliminates mix-ups 100%.
Had an anniversary dinner in the Bahamas quite a few years ago. This was the way the waitress took the order for 10 people at our table. Hands behind her back and memorizing the order.
We did not believe it, being she took drink, or devours and main course at once. To be cute, we all got up and switched seats. When she got back to the table, she grinned and “I can do this...”
Got everyone’s order right! Very impressive when the wait staff can do this. We tipped her $150....
A couple of years back My wife and I had two of my cousins visiting, both with spouses. The 6 of us went out to dinner. The waitress came and took our 6 very different orders and she had no note pad. She got the order exactly right.
I was amazed, at first wondering what she was doing working as a waitress. Then based on the tip left at our table alone, I got it. She was making quite a bit of money working as a waitress.
In 1990, at age 16, my son worked as a waiter, at Steak and Shake on weekends. It was not uncommon for him to bring home $100 plus, per day in tips.
All it takes is a pleasant personality, good work ethic and the right restaurant.
I hate being in line behind someone at Starbuck's who requires eight words or more to order a coffee.
I hate being in line behind someone at Starbuck's who requires eight words or more to order a coffee.
Agree. About the only "special order" I ever make is that my eggs be "over medium" and my bacon "crispy".
You still go to Starbucks? Jackie thinks that's nuts.
When I go out, I want to eat something better than what I can make at home.
Coffee? I can get free coffee. People give me free coffee. I can get all the coffee I want....
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