Sunday, February 22, 2009

Not so HOT!

I do not have any pictures to display at this time, but it has been quite a week. I have felt the itch to clean and clean and then clean a little more, maybe it is because the weather has been so nice lately. I have to remind myself that I can do only so much at one time and to not expect too much of myself and every time I do I stress myself out... and that's exactly what I did! I made myself take it a little easier yesterday before I went to work for 9 hours. I had a pretty good night until my last round and I had a table that I wish I could forget.....

I have to start by saying that people can be ridiculous and they must think I am stupid or something, or else they wouldn't have tried their little escapade.

These 2 couples came in and ordered alcohol and I asked for id from one of the ladies and she didn't have it, so I couldn't serve her alcohol. Her husband said well I have id. I told him I cannot serve her now that I have verbally asked for her id and I know she doesn't have it and it is against the law and we can be fined even though you say she's 28 years old it.

This couple happened to be from out of the country (Sweden) and she didn't even have her passport, which is illegal to be out in public without any form of id on your person anyway. The other couple was American and should've known that there are state laws that are cracking down on drunk drivers. Well the husband "happened" to order the same drink his wife was going to have at dinner, I knew exactly what he was trying to do, like no ones tried to pull that one! So the guys order LIT's and their dinner comes out and he asks for his beer and I told him he had to drink down his LIT. He was frustrated and I explained that I couldn't give it to him yet.

So I came out a couple minutes later to check on the food and again he asked for his beer and I said you can't have 2 alcoholic beverages in front of you at the same time according to WA ST. liquor laws and they are very strict and that his drink would have to be almost gone for me to get it for him. He was not all that happy about it. I waited a little while more and they would mention everything would be good if we got our beer.

I saw them flag down another server and asked her about the 2 drink rule and she agreed with all that I had told them, apparently they thought I was making it up. They were very rude to her so she was blunt and rude back to them.

I was very annoyed and I watched his drink and waited until it was 3/4 gone and then I told him I was getting it for him. So I bring it and they were polite to me. So I watched him drink it here and there and when I would go back and forth from the table they would laugh, so ridiculous! Then they complained about the beer because it had ice in it and I explained that it was a very frozen mug and as it warms the ice gathers and collects at the top of the beer. They said they'd had frozen beer mugs and it never did that and my reply was, ours are extremely chilled and thick glasses, but we will surely fix it for you and all I want is for you to be happy with everything. So I took it and the bartender dumped the top of the beer and added the more to it to get rid of the ice at the top. I brought it back and they said oh, this is much better and it's a frozen mug. I said yes, it's still frozen, but she dumped the top and added more to make it more room temperature.

They seemed good after this, until every time I went by they would laugh noisily making a scene and being embarrassing. I had a couple across the other side from them and they made noises and facial expressions that made it known that they thought these people were stupid, needless to say I felt really bad for them that they got stuck next to these people.

They last straw was me going up to the table and asking if they would like any desert and they cheered their mugs right in my face making sure that I saw the husband drinking the beer. I got mad and came back and told my manager, which had already been informed that she didn't have id. He saw how affected I was by this situation and how I felt they were compromising my job and the restaurant's liquor license. He decided to go out to the bar and watch them even though he was off the clock. He sat there for about 10 mins. and called me over and said he hadn't seen anything and I told him to go home, because I didn't expect him to stay only for me. As we were ending our conversation he bolt it to the table and I knew exactly what that meant. I went straight for the kitchen and wouldn't come out.

The lady bent down and drank the beer!!! How stupid is she? As she did this they all turned and looked at the manager and as he was walking to them. He grabbed the beer from her and told her how Sarah had already informed you that you could not drink without id and that it was illegal. The other lady there freaked out and interrupted him. It all went down hill from there and the husband asked if he could drink the beer and my manager said no because you knew the situation and you gave it to her and now your cut off too! It was quite a spectacle and the other lady was still yelling and going crazy. The people were forced to pay their bill and escorted out of the building. The other lady said you can keep holding the door because we're not coming back!

I don't understand why people act like this! LIKE WE WANT YOU BACK!! Of course there was no tip on $130.00, but the manager comped my tipshare so I was happy with that. I came out when they left and went to the table across from them as my manager was apologizing up and down for the scene and gave them a free bloom card. I heard the lady say, Oh! that poor server! I said I am so sorry and I was not going to come out until they left. They were so nice and tipped me generously which was nice, but it made me feel bad because I didn't expect them to tip me better because of the crazy table across from them that left me zero. It goes to show you how nice and caring some people are and how not others are too.

6 comments:

Erin Dooley said...

That's crappy. Sorry you had to deal with that. I'm happy your "manager" was there to witness what was going on.

Jill said...

Holy cow! What a mess! I am glad your boss saw what was going on and nailed her! :)

Rob French said...

Hey Sarah, I was a server too and hated the tricky alchoholic beverage thing. I am glad you have an awesome boss though!

Aaron said...

Sarah, why do you always ask for ID when I order my booze at Outback? YOU KNOW I AM 38 !!

Love, AJ

manders said...

That is so crazy girl. In all my years of serving I have never had to deal with that type of situation. Sorry that stinks. You handled it really well, I would have been in tears or just really upset. Good job!!
luv ya

Swangerlings said...

Good one Aaron, but it's 40 and under.