We’d Feel Bad Writing A Funny Title For This One
I’m working an early dinner shift at a fancy, fine dining setting. A four-top reservation comes in — two older married couples in their fifties. They get a table by a window, watching the beautiful sunset. The place is still empty, the piano is just starting up, and it’s a calm, lovely scene.
While they’re being seated, [Husband #1] is intent on the wine list and wants to order before I’ve left the table after my first greeting. He picks out a decent $80 cabernet for the table and I signal to my back waiter to switch out glassware while I head down into the cellar for the bottle. I come up and go through the pouring and tasting and then serve each guest.
As soon as I put the bottle down, the man takes it and empties it among the four glasses, so each of them has a red wine glass that is super full, and everyone at the table is clearly not amused. I watch as [Husband #1] chugs his glass in a desperate series of gulps. His wife is saying his name quietly while the other couple just sits awkwardly with their fifty-gallon wine glasses, trying to sip them without spilling.
I come back to see if they are ready to order. Everyone is, but [Husband #1] wants to start with another bottle. I sort of agree, noting everyone’s glass is full but his. Everyone orders food and he mentions the second bottle.
Me: “Would you like to wait for it to be served with the food, or should I bring it straight away?”
Wife #1: *Suddenly blurting* “[Husband #1], you’re an alcoholic.”
The man immediately gets red in the face and doubles down on the order.
Husband #1: “We’ll take the second bottle now.”
Then, the other woman looks up at me.
Wife #2: “He drove us here. If you serve him, he will be putting our lives at risk.”
Husband #2: *Flatly* “Our lives are in your hands.”
[Husband #1] is about to blow a gasket, his face is purple, and he’s sputtering. I just pick up the wine list and channel my best blackjack dealer.
Me: “I apologize, but I am not serving any more alcohol at this table.”
[Husband #1] slammed his butter knife into the table, making a ruckus, but his wife kind of calmed him down.
They ate three courses, totally silent the entire time. They didn’t say a word to each other or anyone. The tension was unbelievable. In the end, they let [Husband #1] pay, and he tipped me zero on $400.
But hey, I saved their lives.