A Story About Being Nice to People in Food Service

Last night, my roommate Allison and I met up with some of her friends and co-workers at the grand opening party of River Cafe’s new Wine & Beer Bar. We showed up and the partay was in full swing - music, kids running around, string lights, heat lamps. There was a pretty long line for food but we stocked up on libations (I stocked up on libations, actually - Allison was driving) and happily settled into line. We ordered, and then we hung out for an hour and forty-five minutes without food. I didn’t really mind, since I had wine, and because I knew their kitchen normally handled 20 people maximum, and there were about 180 people there that night.

Still, after an hour and forty five minutes and after checking with one of the waitresses, I got up and said something. “Heeeey guys, it’s been an hour and forty five minutes - no big deal, just want to check in and see what’s up.” After a brief round of shock/dismay/apologies, they were like, “Can we get you another glass of wine?” and I said “Sure, whatever’s your favorite!” and I went to sit back down and they came out with OVER A LITER OF FANCY WINE and a BOWL OF AVOCADOES and then BOWLS OF POZOLE. And then my order: quesadilla with cilantro pesto and red snapper taco.

“Did they apologize?” asked one of Allison’s friends. “They are usually not in the business of apologizing.”

“Yeah, but all I did was be nice,” I said, shrugging in a falsely modest manner. “I work in customer service, too.” Then I drank all the wine.

JK, we all had a glass and gave it away to another table because red wine hangovers are awful.