MADreads

Server’s perspective

April 9th, 2009 Mary K. - Central

There have been several good books, such as Kitchen Confidential, written about cooking in restaurants.  And it seems that restaurant food and cooking is a big part of the Food Network.  However, these books and programs do not describe the restaurant business from the waiter’s perspective.  The wait staff are the ones serving an endless stream of customers all with different wants and needs.

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip - Confessions of Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica aka The Waiter does a thorough job of describing life at the front of the restaurant.  The Waiter is a true cynic; his years on the job observing all types of human behavior have had their impact.  Anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant will be able to relate to his stories, even though some of them might be unique to New Yorkers and to expensive restaurants.

This is a insider’s view of the staff and customers in a busy upscale restaurant, called “The Bistro”.  Dublanica describes how he became a waiter and then details his experience working in two different restaurants.  Both have hot tempered perfectionist owners, obnoxious and unreasonable customers, and overworked and overburdened staff.

The Waiter focuses on different aspects of the restaurant business, some of which are very amusing.  His descriptions of The Bistro on New Years Eve and Mother’s Day explain why eating in a restaurant on those days is often a disappointing experience.  Suffice it to say that no restaurant can be at its best when under the pressures described here.  And anyone who states they are a friend of the owner and because of that, are entitled to a special table is lying.  The Waiter knows that the owner doesn’t have any friends.

Waiter Rant was a very popular blog and Dublanica managed to remain anonymous for the first few years.  Interestingly, Russell Crowe was one of the few people to discover his true identity.  The publication of this book ended his anonymity.  This Wikepedia article provides a good background.

For the audiobook lovers among us, this is an ideal listening experience.  Dan John MIller reads it perfectly.  He manages to give the reader the impression that he is telling his own story, instead of reading someone else’s book.

Entry Filed under: Nonfiction