CrazyWaiter
26jan/100

McBye!

Everybody knows that you shouldn't eat food or beverage meant for the clients nor should give away to friend, families or colleagues in their break or off. Last year a girl working at McDonalds in Holland is fired for giving a slice of cheese to her colleague. The colleague ordered and paid a normal hamburger, but at the last moment she asked the poor girl for a slice of cheese. Thus the burger became a cheeseburger which is a little bit more expensive. And that was considered as theft. McBye! (and the girl asking for the slice of cheese wasn't punished at all)

Ridiculous of course and luckily also in the opinion of the court. McDonalds is order to pay 5 months of pay (the duration of her contract)

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12jan/102

The Butterfly Circus

Of course, sometimes we're almost like circus artists, but that's not why I posted this film. I know it has nothing to do with our work, but nevertheless I wanted to share it with you because it has everything to do with life in general and it's simply beautiful.

Although I didn't do it always like that, I start to believe that you are the only key to success. Life is what you make of it. This very inspirational film is all about that. You can only be a happy and successful crazy waiter when you believe in yourself and live life in a positive way!

During his travels a showman of a circus discovers a man without limbs at a carnival sideshow. This man is travelling along with the circus and becomes driven to hope against everything he has ever believed.

The Butterfly Circus - HD from The Butterfly Circus on Vimeo.

You can also buy the DVD at Amazon.com!
(via)

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9jan/101

Worthless Waiter!

I'm a worthless Waiter because:

  • without any doubt I put two cups of tea (€ 5,40 each) on the bill when somebody asks for a glass of hot water (twice of course) to use her own top of the bill tea
  • I say almost 'shut up' to the Big Brother (8 years old) when the Lovely Little Sister (4 years old) doesn't dare to anwer when I ask how old she is and what she wants to drink
  • I understand and speak 4, 5 or even 6 languages (depending how you define 'speak') but no one perfect, even my mother tongue is getting worse
  • people have to wait when four tables want to pay and four tables arrive at the same moment. And I'm not even having small talk in this situation!
  • I forget the little presents which we have to give to the kids
  • I don't clear the table when such called travelling-around-people sign with there finger to their empty plate  to say they have finished eating without saying a word. Pff, I'm understanding at least six languages, you bet that they speak one of it
  • I don't cover the table with napkins, sweets and roses when there's a famous person or a royal family member (nevertheless unfindable at Wikipedia) is coming... everybody is VIP!
  • I neglect people without any pain when they are wavering or shout Hi!.
  • I'm whistling and singing always in the restaurant. And believe me, I don't have the X-factor!
  • I always forget to ask whether the guests want an aperitif at the beginning and coffee at the end. Especially when it concerns mystery guests :) Another 2 points lost...
  • And last but not least: I don't say to English and American guests that my fabulous service is "included" when they tip me very, very well. It's written in all the travel guides, isn't it? isn't it?

But I hope all the other things and sides of me are not that bad....

3jan/102

Can I have a jug of water? NO!

Now I'm going to share you my frustration of the day: guests who are eating in your restaurant and when you're ready to take the drink orders (all the food is on a buffet in 'my' restaurant) the *only* thing they are asking is a jug of tapwater. No wine, no sodas, not a bottle of water but only a jug of tapwater. Aarrghh!!! I hate this phrase! Sometimes I feel my eyes rolling and my chest moving of stress and in my mind are always some horrible scenarios uprising I'll never do with the water but really want to do. (Use your fantasy ;) ) Sometimes it has to be visible to the clients but it's just a reflex, can do nothing about it.

My micros and later the bill shows CARAF D'EAU EUR 0.00 and that hurts because I have to polish the glasses, I have to walk to the bar and back, I have to smile and I have to pour the water in the glasses.. all for nothing! I know, they pay a lot for the food, tapwater is better for the environment and the water quality is average to good (I'm used to Dutch water which is far better than in the place where I live and work, especially in summertime) but it still drives me nuts working for nothing. (read: earning nothing for the boss - yes, I do care about his earnings)

Maybe I shouldn't put ice in it (the cold masks the bad taste) or ask the clients "you're really sure you want to take this?" with a face like they are going to be very sick. But I'm afraid it won't help and hey, it's just my job. I have to deal with it, frustration or not. And tomorrow it will be:"Can I have a jug of water"? "Yes, of course sir". But you'll know better :)

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Tagged as: , , 2 Comments
1jan/100

Swoosh!!!!

Last week there was a five year old boy with a Nike t-shirt with the Swoosh!-text in our restaurant. I say the word and make an swoosh-like-armmovement at the same time. The boy runs back to his table and my colleague heard him saying to his mother:"He's too funny!!" "Who you're talking about, I don't see any character?" "No no, mamma, the waiter". LOLLLL...

Happy 2010 to all the fellow Crazy Waiters! May it be a year full of happiness, love, friendship and delighted guests!

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22dec/090

The secret pleasure of Four Seasons

Every waiter knows the secret pleasure of a waiter: hearing something that is not meant for you and taking action on it. Once on a hot day I heard a guest on 3 meters distant saying to a friend "Oh, I would die for a glass of water'". Several seconds later I stood there with it. The water had cost € 1,50 but her face expression was priceless! (and of course you pretend not to see that reaction;))

Four Seasons, a hotel chain with luxury hotels (in Paris they have the fabulous George V) is also listening to her guests even while they're not really talking to them. On TwitterA guy complained that the music in his room was very dull. I'm sure his face would be priceless when he came back to his room where the housekeeping left a bottle of wine and a kind letter with a list of all the radiostations attached.

Keep the secret pleasure alive! (and enjoy it....)

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7dec/090

I want to have you…

Lessson French number one: You have to know that "I want to see you" (Je veux te voir) in French sounds almost like "I want to have you". (Je veux t'avoir).

I have a very nice and cute looking female teamleader and I needed a void because I made a mistake (even I do ;) ), so I asked 'Je veux te voir'. With lesson 1 above and a terrible accent (even worse than the video below) in mind you'll guess what everybody understood:'je veux t'avoir'. This caused a big hilarity of course :) and the worst part was at that moment that a guest was standing by. But an image of my lovely teamleader would be priceless!

But the same guest asks me some moments later whether I have kids. "No, I'm still searching for a lovely princess." The guest very adrem:"Apparently you found her". Mmm... didn't I work at a place where dreams become reality? :)


I can speak French, nevertheless I don't mind letting the funky music sticking our bodies :p

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2dec/091

You know you’re a crazy waiter when… (part 1)

Dinner

  • you're dreaming about tables, reservations, walkouts, and tips (see here for an explanation)
  • you can explain the buffet or take an order in six languages, but can't chat about the weather in those languages
  • you're looking to the other side of the table when you place your plate (used to synchronized serving)
  • you're checking all those restaurantweblogs before you're going to sleep at 4.00 am
  • you're roommate is piling the plates ("much faster") but you're really gone much faster with the normal technique
  • you're reading the mentality of people on the way they deal with servicepersonel - not only crazy waiters do, even CEO's do ;)
  • you're making the tables in the Harrods, LaFayette or other shops perfect and put the spoons in the right way
  • you have always your wineopener with you
  • you know all the restaurants of the country with one, two or three michelinstars by heart
  • you're asking quickly a bottle of water when the others at the table want to ask for tapwater
  • you're paying the bill of the restaurant with your creditcard (because you hate when they pay seperatly), your friends are amazed that you count their money that quickly and you wait for ages before the others without money pay you back
  • you're putting secretly 10 euros in the checkfolder before leaving - because the other people on the table tip badly

(part two here)

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