Tonight ( In my opinion) was a night laced with red flags. Please read the
following story and let me know if I'm off base and over-reacting.
I started working at this downtown restaurant about two weeks ago. Nice
place- not four star, but probably three star. So far so good-except my gut
was going off tonight like crazy.
It all started when we ran out of Jack Daniels. I had a bottle on my shelf
with about 1 oz left in the container. I poor a Jack and Coke, and my
waitress needs another. I told her to ask the customer if they'd like another
brand, because we have NO JACK LEFT.
So then one of the owner's comes out of her office( convieniently timed), and
starts going on about how it's my job to tell her that we have no Jack Daniels
left. Um... first of all, I only work two shifts during the week for 10 hours
total. You're telling me that it's my job to come in during your weekend
crazy fest, and tell you that you have no Jack Daniels left in your bar?!?
Sounds like a lazy ass to me- that Jack had been bone dry for a long time.
Then she tells me that it's my job to let her know when we're running out.
WTF?!?!
So far, all of the other waiters and waitresses know to stay the fuck out of
the bar. Most of them politely ask for what they need, and boom I produce it.
Mutual respect, and they recognize the borders.
But then, I had ONE waitress start acting like a shit head.
First, she gave me a drink order for three mixed drinks and then walked away.
As I was pouring the order, she came back around and said " Ooh.. that's not
the order I need, in an innocent floozy dumbfuck waitress type of fashion.
Thanks you dumb fucking hoe, now I have to dump an extra glass of smirnoff and
sprite down the fucking sink. I had two customers sitting at the bar watching
the whole thing- and both of them just shook their heads at this chick- they
witnessed the whole thing.
Then, she comes behind the bar and starts pouring shit like she knows what the
fuck she's doing. Just from watching her, she is semi-clueless. Getting the
wrong glass size, etc. When I'm behind the bar, I am the bartender. I mix
the drinks and you serve them. Capice? Her excuse? " I thought you were
leaving for the night". To which I said " Umm.. I'm still behind the bar,
what makes you think that?!".
So I decided to get somewhat confrontational with her. I asked " So all of
these drinks that I mix for you, how are we going to divide up the tips?" I
mean, after all, I AM THE BARTENDER, I AM MIXING THE DRINKS YOU SERVE. AND
YOU ARE KEEPING THE TIP MONEY?!?! I AM THE ONE BEING PAID TO MIX DRINKS. AND
WHEN YOU GET ORDERS WRONG, IT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A JACKASS!
RED FLAG #2: I had to ASK the owner about getting tipped out. She mumbled
something like " The people who close at the end of the night get tipped out".
Okay.. so give me my tip money! The point is that I had to be pretty damn
assertive about getting my measly five dollars( I actually got three more
lousy bucks, but didn't tell her about it).
So my question to all you fellow tenders- Are these early red flags a sign of
disaster to come? Should I forget this job and move on to a joint that KNOWS
THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF LIQUOR, and HIRE WAITRESSES that have a clue?
I need some advice. Thanks
Dallas.