Restaurants We Eat & Work at

[Pomai]

I recently overheard a couple young surfers at the beach talking about their job, to which one of them mentioned he works part-time as a waiter at a local restaurant, saying he liked his job. I was rather surprised, thinking "hmmmm..... surfer? Likes his job in a restaurant? Isn't that like the 'Anti-Christ' of the surfers' lifestyle?". lol

With that, here's a thread to discuss restaurants you've worked at, or currently work, and how that reflects where you're comfortable dining out at, how that has affected your work ethic, and overall outlook on the food service industry here in Hawaii and/or abroad.

Personally I've never worked in the food service industry so can't give a personal account, although I have many friends who do or have, and can share their stories, which I'll chime in later.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

Isn't that like the 'Anti-Christ' of the surfers' lifestyle?"

That was true before surfboards cost $500 + !

[Albert]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

Except for a brief career assembling sushi in one of those conveyor belt places, I've not worked in the food industry either.

I have a friend who works at the Outback and judging by the size of his belly, must do a lot of eating there, too.

[Sharilyn]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

food service business is hard work. for my first job, i worked at an ice cream shop in waikiki. i lasted one week. i turned in my aloha print shirt and said bye bye.

awhile back, ten of us went to dinner at the waterfront restaurant on maui. our waitress took everyone's order without writing anything down. we ordered the works -- wine, drinks, appetizers, entrees, and later dessert and coffee -- asked questions, changed our minds, etc. everything arrived perfectly. amazing.

[Pomai]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

awhile back, ten of us went to dinner at the waterfront restaurant on maui. our waitress took everyone's order without writing anything down. we ordered the works -- wine, drinks, appetizers, entrees, and later dessert and coffee -- asked questions, changed our minds, etc. everything arrived perfectly. amazing.

Wow! That's awesome! I always take notice when servers write or don't write stuff down. And more times than not, the servers that work strictly off memory get my order correct than the ones who write it down!

food service business is hard work.

Indeed. Just preparing one complete meal at home has me beat after I'm all done cooking and cleaning. Now to repeat that process for 8 or more hours a day as a job? I'd be clobbered!

Can't wait to hear TATTRAT's take on this subject.

[leashlaws]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

Wow! That's awesome! I always take notice when servers write or don't write stuff down. And more times than not, the servers that work strictly off memory get my order correct than the ones who write it down!

Indeed. Just preparing one complete meal at home has me beat after I'm all done cooking and cleaning. Now to repeat that process for 8 or more hours a day as a job? I'd be clobbered!

Can't wait to hear TATTRAT's take on this subject.

My friends own that restaurant

[Honoruru]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

While attending the UH, I once worked part of a semester and a whole summer at the Ilikai as a busboy at a restaurant called The Coffee Shop or The Coffee House or something like that. It served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was quite a little adventure. The pay was good, mainly because of the tips, and I became quite good at it. I also sometimes filled in at Pier 7. At the end of my stint, they wanted me to be a waiter at the Top of the Ilikai or one of the new restaurants that was about to open, but I declined.

Also, one of my distant relatives, who owned and operated a lunch wagon near campus, wanted me to work part-time there, but I was too busy.

So many opportunities!

[surlygirly]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

My first job was at Jason's Deli. I came home every night stinking like pastrimi and sauerkraut. It wasn't too horrible, but that smell just got into your clothes and hair...bleh. And it was challenging learning to make all those different types of sandwiches, in a hurry, and remember the codes for them and what gets which sides, etc. I'll still eat there, though. And they have free ice-cream.

[acousticlady]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

awhile back, ten of us went to dinner at the waterfront restaurant on maui. our waitress took everyone's order without writing anything down. we ordered the works -- wine, drinks, appetizers, entrees, and later dessert and coffee -- asked questions, changed our minds, etc. everything arrived perfectly. amazing.

We were just there a couple of weeks ago. Took advantage of their anniversary deal - buy one entree, get one free.

Back when I was a teenager, I took a job at a local restaurant as a waitress. After about a week, the boss took me aside and told me that while I may have many other talents, waitressing wasn't for me and that I might want to consider other career options So, I did..........

My husband was a chef at a casino in Atlantic City when we were first married. He gave it up when I got a full scholarship to go to grad school.

[Kimo]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

No recent experience, but "worked" at two or three campus dining halls while away at college. Lots of walking - was definitely in better shape in those days.

Daughter is a server - tips alone more than pay her rent, plus she gets hourly (minimum). Good clientele - good gig.

[tutusue]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

My one and only food service gig was during and for a year after high school at a wonderful, little ice cream parlor in my home town. It helped that the guy I had a crush on also worked there and, eventually a guy who I dated worked there, too! I found the former on Facebook earlier this year and we've had a lot of laughs over our Scoop Deck time. All good memories except one when I served an African American family. A couple of tables away a caucasian woman and her 2 elementary school age kids jumped up and ran out without paying. I was shocked when she, without the kids, returned later that afternoon to settle the bill. And I was more shocked when she told me the reason, without apologizing, that they left...

...they saw me "serving a n***** family" and couldn't "stand the sight" of the situation as it "turned their stomachs". I was 17 (important to note that this was 1961), still living at home and my parents and the owners of the Scoop Deck were best friends. Didn't matter at that point. I saccharinely thanked her for paying then took a deep breath and, in front of a full restaurant, ordered her to get out and never come back...and that I felt sorry that her kids were stuck with a racist mother.

I then went to the back room and broke down; I was that furious. The owners, to my surprise, had returned for the evening shift, had witnessed the exchange from the back room and called my parents, who arrived about 15 minutes later. By then I'd composed myself and was taking orders again. When my folks arrived I was called to the back room again and...

...given a bonus. I. Was. Stunned. I fully expected to be fired as my behavior really was unbecoming for an employee dealing with the public. Still losing my job would've been ok with me. Not honoring and acknowledging how I felt about that rotten racist's behavior would've haunted me for the rest of my life.

Other than that...great memories. Got to serve Rock Hudson. And, who remembers Tom Hatton from the old Popeye cartoon show? Got to serve him, too. Oh, and I made a really mean banana split!

[Sharilyn]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

Nice story, tutusue.

...and you served the great Rock Hudson. Oh my. I would've died.

[Walkoff Balk]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

And, who remembers Tom Hatton from the old Popeye cartoon show? Got to serve him, too.

Was he the voice of Wimpy? Did he gladly pay you on Tuesdays for the hamburgers?

[Pomai]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

And I was more shocked when she told me the reason, without apologizing, that they left...

UN-BE-LIEV-ABLE.

Thankfully good won over evil and rewarded you with a nice bonus!

Great, great story. Thanks for sharing it.

Lucky we live Hawaii

[tutusue]

Re: Restaurants We Eat & Work at

Was he the voice of Wimpy? Did he gladly pay you on Tuesdays for the hamburgers?

Daws Butler was the voice of Wimpy. I don't think Wimpy ever paid for a hamburger...Tuesdays or otherwise!