if ya don't like it, then don't eat it!

So my first night back wasn't so bad. I was on my best behavior all night and I was mostly on top of everything. It was just like riding a bike--it all came back to me.

Well everything was going smoothly until Forbes arrived.

Let me explain. Since the Irish Democrat is not a chain and it's locally owned, we get a LOT of regulars. Some people come in 2 or 3 times a week. It's just a friendly atmosphere.

Let's see there's...

Pat- the slightly creepy but genuinely nice middle-aged man that sits at the bar.

Bob- the super creepy Elmer Fudd look alike that steals all the coasters and tips 50 cents per drink.

Dave- the terribly awkward middle-aged man that will talk your ear off and tell every server how pretty she is.

Foxy- everyone loves Foxy. I mean, he goes by Foxy.

And Forbes- the pickiest man alive. He usually comes in about once a week and has the most specific order. Of course, every single time, he has a complaint. My thoughts? If you're going to complain EVERY SINGLE TIME you come in, how about you stop coming in? One time, he made me reorder his Cheesesteak because there wasn't as much meat as usual...even though the meat comes prepackaged for the Cheesesteak. He usually orders some kind of beefy sandwich and adds sautéed jalapeños, mushrooms and green peppers or something. It changes regularly. The cooks, of course, hate this. Usually the mushrooms aren't sautéed enough, or the fries aren't steaming hot. This time, I made sure to get everything perfect. His complaint? The appetizers came out too close to his actual meal. OOOOOOKAAAAY. However, he did tip me 20%. So, a job well done for MJ.

Now what can you take from this? Pick your battles. Yes, if your food is cold, complain. You deserve to get your money's worth. Now, remember it's not always the server's fault, but sometimes it is. But if the cooks misunderstand your extra modified order, maybe you should just let it slide. Remember, I'm not doing the cooking. The cooks are.

Until next time,

MJ

aaaaand...i'm back.

Hey all,

On August 15, 2009 I officially quit my life as a waitress at the Irish Democrat, a non-chain restaurant/bar located in Cedar Rapids, IA. I was ecstatic. I could not WAIT to walk out the door and never come back. I thought my job as a receptionist at a salon was the job for me. Wrong. $8 an hour? Not so much.

So, I made the difficult decision to come back to the needy customers, the creepy drunk men and the long, mysterious hours of never knowing when you'll finally be off work. However, the money is good. At least $100 a night? Yes, please. Except, I'm only allowing myself to keep $20 from each shift. The rest has to go to my funds for my 8-week trip to France this summer. This is mostly the reason I decided to come back to serving. And, since I have a terrible shopping problem (no, seriously, come check out my closet) I have to give the money to my boyfriend to hide away from me. Otherwise, I'll spend it. I know, what could I possibly want to buy in Cedar Rapids? Well, I can justify ANY purchase

So why is this such a big deal? Well, the managers were a little skeptical to hire me back. I'm already very impatient, but this past summer, I was REALLY impatient. Sometimes I tend to roll my eyes at people, and I really just don't notice. Seriously, I don't. Well, my managers did, and so did my customers. Luckily, they were kind enough to give me a second chance. So, I now have to be on my BEST behavior at all times. We'll see how long this lasts...

At the ID, I go by MJ. So, for this blog, I shall be referred to as MJ. MJ at the ID.

Peace and lots of tips,

MJ