tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1762456850983937730..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Weekend PostBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60920911440415615212021-07-28T15:38:10.610-07:002021-07-28T15:38:10.610-07:00I despise when a server starts to remove plates be...I despise when a server starts to remove plates before everyone is finished eating. Even if he/she asks, it isn't the point. Unless requested by the diners, all plates remain on the table till all seated guests at the table have put down their utensils. To do otherwise, makes slower eaters feel rushed, etc. Plus, etiquette.Necconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41972028618680655982021-07-26T20:13:03.852-07:002021-07-26T20:13:03.852-07:00It's been a while since it's happened but ...It's been a while since it's happened but a real deal breaker for me in a table service restaurant is when a waiter or waitress sits down at the table to take your order. It drives me crazy and immediately away from what I leave for a tip.Ron Havenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10653709293554653514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2320192712719689302021-07-26T13:07:28.643-07:002021-07-26T13:07:28.643-07:00Like to eat with you to see this, never hear any o...Like to eat with you to see this, never hear any of that at McDonalds. I go to 3 different ones, no perfects.<br /><br />Gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33653215497449216772021-07-26T08:47:32.502-07:002021-07-26T08:47:32.502-07:00The deja vu is strong with this one.
(NTTAWWT, of...The deja vu is strong with this one.<br /><br />(NTTAWWT, of course!)purplepenquinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17985523216476971244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37697067158798409872021-07-26T07:02:34.259-07:002021-07-26T07:02:34.259-07:00"Hi, I'm Anton, and I'll be taking ca..."Hi, I'm Anton, and I'll be taking care of you tonight." Later, "Are you still working on that?"Lou Gravityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394807604348747085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86193839555174661432021-07-25T17:39:00.356-07:002021-07-25T17:39:00.356-07:00For years in Toronto and environs, I've been a...For years in Toronto and environs, I've been annoyed by two phrases frequently used by waiters and waitreeses around here: One is "Excellent choice!" which pretty much corresponds to your "Perfect!". <br />The other one (mainly employed by the females): "Mmm,yummy! My favourite!" What...a...coincidence... I think, and wonder if I should propose marriage, we have so much in common. I also am irritated by the ones who ask me what book I'm reading, or see the package I've brought with me and ask what CDs I've bought. None of your --- business, I manage not to say.<br />Brian MacIntyrenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32962504234326941632021-07-25T13:22:14.626-07:002021-07-25T13:22:14.626-07:00FRIDAY QUESTION:
Could "Frasier" have e...FRIDAY QUESTION:<br /><br />Could "Frasier" have even been been done had he and Lilith not split up already? I have to imagine it would have been tough starting the spinoff with their break up. Would the show have worked with Martin living with the two of them?Bob Gasselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04748728107349857332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14295073640227567952021-07-25T08:59:00.896-07:002021-07-25T08:59:00.896-07:00I wonder if something a single waiter says that go...I wonder if something a single waiter says that goes down well with a diner (who, say tips heavily), then other waiters see it as a successful strategy and copy it.<br />"And for yourself?" would be a common thing to say in Ireland, and here I wouldn't bat an eyelid at it. So maybe an Irish waiter used that phrase and it went down well so other, non-Irish, waiters just copied it.DublinerIRLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20298456460852524602021-07-25T06:37:19.958-07:002021-07-25T06:37:19.958-07:00The "I have..." routine always makes me ...The "I have..." routine always makes me smirk. "Tonight I have the creamed spinach soup, chicken noodle...." Some store employees do this also when you ask if they have a certain item. "I have...." I guess it makes them feel important rather than just admitting they're just an employee. Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04552947897995643289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7802836385404613422021-07-24T22:04:28.669-07:002021-07-24T22:04:28.669-07:00People also don't talk in exposition; "Ge...People also don't talk in exposition; "George, as your analyst, I am obligated to tell you..."Todd Everettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79681054899817570652021-07-24T18:41:17.976-07:002021-07-24T18:41:17.976-07:00Ken, have you heard of the Dating Game Killer? Goo...Ken, have you heard of the Dating Game Killer? Good thing he wasn't selected at the time: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/24/us/dating-game-killer-alcala-dies/index.htmlBrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00760229533287495672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66099003474857252672021-07-24T17:03:42.840-07:002021-07-24T17:03:42.840-07:00Not like that near Boston!Not like that near Boston!DanMnzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14793250372495588926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50286578912100565822021-07-24T15:07:49.427-07:002021-07-24T15:07:49.427-07:00I have not heard any of those out here in Albuquer...I have not heard any of those out here in Albuquerque, but everywhere I eat, when they think I'm done and want to take my plate, they all (ALL!) ask, "May I get that out of your way?" Every time I hear that, I want to channel Sam Kinison. It's not in my way! In fact, it's exactly where you put it when you brought it out in the first place. If you think it's in my way, I find myself wondering: why did you put it in my way?Joe Waltersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88984485406293848312021-07-24T13:59:54.356-07:002021-07-24T13:59:54.356-07:00I don't experience that in the PNW to the degr...I don't experience that in the PNW to the degree you do in La-La Land. I also get a lot of my food at drive throughs so maybe it isn't an apt comparison. Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28679481701503956282021-07-24T13:47:17.864-07:002021-07-24T13:47:17.864-07:00It's a little OT but I recommend Calvin Trilli...It's a little OT but I recommend Calvin Trillin's essay about way-upscale restaurants to be avoided. The menu usually has a tassel and long, involved descriptions of the food, and it's called something like "Maison de la Casa House." <br /><br />How's the dim sum in LA? You just point and they put a dish in front of you. No editorial comments necessary.Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80758292781597998352021-07-24T12:45:29.158-07:002021-07-24T12:45:29.158-07:00Used to be, the deal was to present the food and s...Used to be, the deal was to present the food and say "Enjoy!" I toyed with a skit about a waitperson who'd use the word and then linger to see if the diners were sufficiently excited by the meal. Deciding they weren't, he/she would say, as a command, "I said, Enjoy!" This would be followed by requiring their conversation to be entirely about the dining experience, demanding to know why they didn't try the breadsticks, etc. But the core would be somebody belligerently insisting you display a proper level of pleasure.DBensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01144515471557731622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39334415473758660532021-07-24T12:42:07.787-07:002021-07-24T12:42:07.787-07:00The old Stouffer's Lasagna and a glass of Carl...The old Stouffer's Lasagna and a glass of Carlo Rossi wine is sounding better and better.<br /><br />M.B.Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31322714789057178332021-07-24T12:31:58.434-07:002021-07-24T12:31:58.434-07:00I need to hang out in classier restaurants. The on...I need to hang out in classier restaurants. The ones I go to, the waiter/waitresses usually ask "What the fuck do you want to eat?" "Would you like it raw, barely warm or looking like a charcoal briquet when or if it makes it out of the kitchen?"YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16018437093466748202021-07-24T12:28:18.648-07:002021-07-24T12:28:18.648-07:00Don’t know about a course in Waiter-speak but ther...Don’t know about a course in Waiter-speak but there’s an entire major in not mking eye contact or responding to non-verbal signals by customers.NOT RACHELhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14185952199748797047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76550700288250963352021-07-24T11:55:40.386-07:002021-07-24T11:55:40.386-07:00I was with an associate at Cafe Francais in Toluca...I was with an associate at Cafe Francais in Toluca Lake back in the 80's. I asked the server what the fresh fish was and she replied, in a fake French accent, "that would be the fish that is not frozen." I then asked, "what would that be?" I don't remember the answer but by then it was beside the point. Had great rack of lamb.... Bob Parishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07175050567107026421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88721876802603756802021-07-24T11:10:09.682-07:002021-07-24T11:10:09.682-07:00Dear lord, what kind of Stepford restaurants have ...Dear lord, what kind of Stepford restaurants have they got out there? Thankfully it's business as usual here in the "Hon Belt," as in "What'll it be, hon?"Call Me Mikehttps://www.instagram.com/postercereal/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56691027109285012272021-07-24T11:01:16.145-07:002021-07-24T11:01:16.145-07:00One of many in a long line of brilliant Russell Ba...One of many in a long line of brilliant Russell Baker columns included a reference to restaurant menus. I share it here, for its value and for its tribute to proper English:<br /><br />https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/26/magazine/sunday-observer-the-english-mafia.htmlMichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52428089643074052842021-07-24T11:00:45.899-07:002021-07-24T11:00:45.899-07:00Move to London and eat in Chinese restaurants. The...Move to London and eat in Chinese restaurants. They're normal.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50968736517957008872021-07-24T10:08:02.319-07:002021-07-24T10:08:02.319-07:00I would say blame the restaurant management and ow...I would say blame the restaurant management and owners.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08183606748857332492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9237109809898436602021-07-24T08:28:02.424-07:002021-07-24T08:28:02.424-07:00Apparently, this language must be something that i...Apparently, this language must be something that is now taught at waitstaff school. I hear all the same things at restaurants here in Connecticut. <br /><br />There is a little neighborhood hood place near me that I frequented often before the pandemic. I knew most of the waitstaff and they were all regular people who spoke in every day English. They reopened for indoor dining in June with a whole new staff, except for the manager. I knew I was in trouble right away when the waitress asked me “would we Ike to start with a refreshing beverage?” Through the course of the meal, she used every expression that you described. <br /><br />On the way out, I asked the manager why he had all new people and he told me that they had either found new jobs after he was forced to close or they had moved away. Then he sai, “please be patient. I know they all have learned this new, obnoxious way to serve. I’m tryin to get them to relax and be natural, but they are convinced that they are being professional.” KLAC Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03690658584416340078noreply@blogger.com