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Closing Time



I now finally understand where the inspiration came from Semisonic's song, "Closing Time."  They HAD  to have worked in the service industry!   Because where else do people feel compelled to continue to hang out and try to order more things than a restaurant that is ALREADY closed.

Eat, drink, and be merry.  But when the kitchen is closed, it's frigging closed!  And stop with these questions:

"Is the kitchen really closed?  Or can they still make a pizza?"  One customer continued to ask.

"Let me go check."  I say, but don't move an inch.  "I'm sorry, but the kitchen is still closed."

And the people that seem to have the biggest problem with this are the people who are over an hour late for their reservation, don't call, and still expect to be treated like the customers who had actually showed up on-time.

"Can you just give us five more minutes?  We're still expecting six more people."  A hairy guy when an accent asked.

"Unfortunately the kitchen closes in ten minutes, so I really need to get your order in now."

"But we had a reservation for dinner."

"Yes.  But your reservation was for 8:30.  It's now 10:50.  We'll be setting up for breakfast soon."

It's not real-estate.  You don't get to hold the table and kitchen like a rental property.  When the sign says, "CLOSED," trust them that it is, and go home, and next time, show up on-time... please.

Until next time... Server's don't pay their rent with compliments.

"Bitter.  Party of one? Your table is ready."

The Bitter Bistro
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