Waving Your Glass And Some Red Flags
I work at a restaurant in a hotel. We close the restaurant at 10:00 and set up for the next day’s breakfast — cocktail menus replaced with coffee mugs and sugar caddies, etc.
There was a family finishing up, and everything else was set for breakfast, so I thought I’d be out, but no. At 9:52, a couple of guys came up. We were obviously about to close, but of course, heaven forbid we stop serving food before 10:00 pm and get a bad review. So, I let them know:
Me: “It’s last call, and food and drink orders must be in before 10:00 because we’re closing.”
But I was nice to the guys. They both ordered my favorite dish, and they even got homemade bread. I apologized to the kitchen. Thankfully, they ordered the same dish — less reopening things and cleaning. I checked on them while I was cleaning, closing taps, etc.
Another couple came in and asked for drinks, but I let them know it was after 10:00 so we were closed, and like rational humans, they went to explore the downtown core with plenty of options open until 2:00 am. I know the two men heard the interaction because we were the only people there.
Cue this guy waving his wine glass at me. I know this is the dou**e way of asking for another glass of wine.
Me: “Sir, why are you waving your glass at me?”
Guy: “Clearly, I’d like another Pinot Grigio.”
And I’d like to go home, but that ain’t going to happen now, is it?
Me: “Sir, you sat and ordered your meal and wine when we were at five minutes before closing. I asked for your full order because we closed at 10:00, and I can’t serve anymore. Not you, and not those other hotel guests, either.”
Guy: “But why can’t I get another glass of wine?”
Me: “Sir, what part of ‘we’re closed’ do you not understand? I let you know when you sat down to put in your full order. There are several other options you could have chosen, but you chose the one that is now closed.”
I could have sent wine upstairs with him. But no. I legally can serve until 2:00, but no.
Never come in five minutes before closing.
