Ramblings: The most AWESOME customer
Sometimes things happen at work that I can’t help writing
about… I apologise in advance for the amount of times the word “awesome”
appears in the below – it really did come out of the girls mouth at least, if
not more, times than I have mentioned it.
It was 12:30am on a Saturday night and with half an hour to
go until it was time to close the restaurant I was surprised that we hadn’t had
any real crazies in, especially due to the intense heat and humidity that we
had all been suffering through during the week. The weather was supposed to
break slightly the next day, so I was just pushing through and couldn’t wait
for the last few minutes to go by until we could close and get out of there.
Two six tops of rowdy drinkers remained, as well as two girls who I had told as
soon as they sat that we would be closing shortly, and they both said “oh no
worries, we are just grabbing a bite and then heading home”.
Ten minutes later, I came out of the kitchen to find that
one of the girls was slowly eating her dinner, while the other one had pushed
hers aside and had fallen asleep on the table. Now I don’t mean head on her
folded arms fallen asleep. No, literally sprawled out over onto the table next
to her asleep, mouth wide open ready to start drooling, nearly snoring, asleep.
And her friend was sitting across from her, acting as if everything were
normal, stuffing her face (very slowly) with food while chatting on the phone.
I went up to her and told her that we couldn’t have people sleeping in the
restaurant, and if she wanted I could help get her friend in a cab. Her
response was polite and articulate when she asked me for 5 more minutes to
finish up and get her friend out of there. I granted her the time, especially
seeing as her friend lifted her head and began to pull herself together.
Fifteen minutes later, all the other tables had left, the
lights were up and the music off, the sleeping girl was back in her dead drunk
sleeping position and the other girl was still slowly shoving food in her
mouth, as if everything were normal in the world. Again, I went up to her, and
told her that it was time to leave as we were closed, to which she responded “why
did you question me on the state of my friend earlier? She is absolutely fine
and I am fine too!”
Take a deep breath Jade…
“Well first of all I cannot have anyone sleeping in the
restaurant, and second of all I asked you 15 minutes ago to leave, and you said
you would be done within 5.”
“But we are fine and I just want to finish my dinner.”
Another deep breath.
“I honestly don’t care if you are fine or not, I just can’t
have anyone sleeping in the restaurant.”
“Well based on your outfit and on the fact that this is a
bar, my friend can do whatever she wants here. This IS a bar, and it’s 1am!”
Hold hands behind back so that they do not impulsively fly
out and smack the girl in the face, and take another deep breath.
“This is a restaurant, and we are now closed. Please leave
right now, and get your friend home to her bed, as this is obviously what she
needs. This is actually a family restaurant, and in any case, I would never let
my friend sleep in a bar or a restaurant! There is absolutely nothing normal
about this!”
“Well, in that case, if it’s a family restaurant, and I
brought my child here, you wouldn’t complain if it fell asleep, so I really don’t
know what the problem is here.”
Deep breaths not helping anymore.
“Oh don’t be stupid! Now get up and get out before I
actually have to throw you out. You are completely ridiculous!”
“Oh so now you are calling me stupid? Well look at how you
are dressed! You are just an AWESOME manager, you should be SO proud of
yourself. I work on 5th Avenue and am 100% Mexican and you are
Australian!!”
“I’m actually English and yes, I am an awesome manager. Have
a wonderful night!”
At this point the sleeping girl starts to stumble towards
the door, and her friend who obviously thinks it’s normal to pass out in public
spaces, knocks her bag over, manages to pick it up and follows her friend
towards the door, all the while telling me that I am AWESOME and that I have
now really hurt our business because she is going to tell all her friends how
AWESOME I am not. Scary. Oh and she works on 5th Avenue, and I
really should do something about my outfit, because it’s really AWESOME. Oh and
she works on 5th Avenue and I ONLY work in a restaurant so what do I
care anyway?
Two seconds later we realised that her wallet had fallen
under the table, so I ran out to give it to her. She thanked me by yet again
telling me I was “AWESOME” and by checking that I hadn’t stolen anything.
The best part of the story is that 15 minutes later my
coworker texted me that she sailed past them in a cab and they were still
standing outside the restaurant, begging a cab to stop for them. Maybe next
time drink a little less? Or order take out and eat it at home so your poor
friend can get the rest she obviously needs.
I mean however AWESOME this girl was, she obviously forgot
her restaurant etiquette when she walked through the door. Or maybe my shorts
and t-shirt made her think that she was better than me in some way? Well I
shall remain AWESOME and she can keep her spot on 5th Avenue,
because I sure as hell am happy being AWESOME and working where I work.
Maybe someone can help her diversify her vocabulary too,
because the word AWESOME is very overrated. And really doesn’t work when you
are trying to be sarcastic.
At least quite a few laughs were had after this little incident... I am kind of hoping that she comes back so I can tell her how absolutely AWESOME she is!
