a few nights ago, i had a couple who were sitting outside, smoking and drinking, and just being really quiet about everything. They ordered a well done steak at about 6, when it was all quiet. but the choice of cut they had meant that it would take at least 40 minutes to cook those steaks, despite the fact that it was the quiet bit of the night and things do get cooked faster. This was told to them, as per our practise, and they nodded and accepted garlic bread as entrees while waiting on their mains.

when i took over that section at 6.30, i was told to tell them their meals would be out shortly, as it seems they were in a hurry. they had to be at the theater by 7. i was pretty shocked, but i went and told them exactly what i was told to, to which the woman started bitching at me,

"THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH! WE WAITED AN HOUR FOR OUR STEAK!!" (a blatant lie, because i arrived early for my shift, and i saw them sit down and took their order at about 6)

"i am sorry ma'am, but the choice of your cut, and the choice of it being cooked well done does take a while to fulfill..."

"i don't care! we have waited ages! we have to go to the theater! we were just about to leave."

"ma'am, just give me some time, i will run to the kitchen and hurry them"

i went in, the steaks were ready. When i took them out, they were gone, their 2 bottles of red wine all emptied. the other table got so angry at their audacity and stupidity that they tipped us 50 bux to cover the drinks. i just felt like shit.

in response, i can only say this: Dear customers, when we say it can take about 40 minutes to cook your damn steaks, listen to us. don't come in an hour before your theater or whatever, and order something we told you would take a while, and then run away because of "bad service". it doesn't work that way.

On a similar thread, a group of oldies came in tonight at 7.30, preparing to go to the theater. They were finally only ready to take orders at 7.45, but didn't mention anything about urgency or the fact that they were going to the theater at all. all of them had some chicken and other light meals, which shouldn't take too long to cook for the kitchen, but obviously still need at least 15 minutes because of the sheer amount of food we have been putting through, and the fact that there's 8 of them to cook for.

at 8 o'clock, they waved at me and insisted, angrily, to see the manager.

"we have waited HALF AN HOUR FOR OUR FOOD!!" (so it appears, these are one of those where they included the time they took to walk to the table as part of the ordering time)

"THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!"

"we are LEAVING!"

"we have to catch a drama at 8.30, and we were intending to leave by 8.15!"

excuse me? you came in at 7.30. you weren't even ready to order at 7.40, and you want to be out by 8.15? you shitting me? In the end, they refused to pay for the food, they refused to stay on and wait, and marched out of the doors before my manager could protest or do anything at all. I have always loved the older generation: they are generally a more understanding, polite and well-tipping lot. however, these are the very people i wish i can throw knives at sometimes.

Finally, this is the jewel of today's suckage.

to begin with, the bar people on duty tonight are very responsible people, as compared to some months ago. they will refuse people drinks if they think they can not handle it. this was something i pointed out a few posts ago.

tonight, a couple of boys who were doing the triathlon was up at the bar, in their full country's regalia and stuff, but also obviously semi drunk because they were joking just a little too loudly, but nothing destructive. they were also hooting away at the next table's group of girls, who were dressed... not very modestly. one had her g string hanging out, and the other had the lace of her bra hanging out the front. that's just barely describing it, but these are important to this story.

the girls ignored the guys, who decided they were probably trying to play the field. and one finally walked over and pulled one of the girls' g strings (the one with it hanging out).

obviously this lead to some screeching, shouting, complaints and what not, and my manager went over to warn  the boys not to do it again, to sit far from the girls if they intend to stay on.  They chose to sit in a corner, and moved on, or so it seemed.

Then another one came over. "hi ladies, i just want to apologise for my brother over there for his actions."

the girls ignored him.

he reached down and pulled her g string out and snapped it, laughing hard in the process with his "bros".

immediately, the girl called the police and said that our manager did nothing, that she was being sexually harassed in a well known restaurant, and a whole lot of feminism issue.

the police came over and charged my manager with indifference to sexual harassment, inability to prevent people from being overtly intoxicated and more...

now, i am not trying to take sides. the boys were utter twats, and if i were my manager, i would have thrown them out as well. the thing was, the girls also continued sitting there, with their asses hanging towards the boys. it's like "you can see, but u can't touch hah!" kinda taunting to me as well.

and honestly, some people need to stop having beer money, just because they can't handle it.

anyways, it seems we might get charged too, the restaurant as a whole, so i will see what comes up next. :(