As the Plate Spins - Cramped Spaces.
Sunday evening, normally relaxing, smooth sailing and various other descriptions fit this time of day in a restaurant. My shift begins right after the Lunch rush ends, which gives me time to roll silverware and helping servers catch up before shift change. I check my reservations - two today! I love when I have reservations, it gives me time to plan ahead and I don’t have to force a large table onto a server. With about an hour and a half to spare, I check with my server M to see if he can take the 13-top (which he says Yes). I get a bit into the silverware, not worried about any rushes past the reservations that would result in not having any, so I roll half a basket. Oh, how wrong I was... 5:30pm strikes. The unexpected rush hits. I’m unprepared and my half basket is immediately depleted as tables of five, six, and seven′s enter the restaurant. My seven servers who are normally relaxed and pacing are now racing around the restaurant setting up tables and picking up orders. I still have my tables reserved for the reservations - absolutely not to be touched. Luckily I am able to save them, reservations arrive and are happily seated with M (13-top) and K (11-top). I get a call-ahead for a party of eight. Alright, I can work with this. The 13-top finish just in time as the party of eight arrive in combination with a walk-in six-top. M takes the party of eight, and V takes the party of six. I’m desperately rolling forks as fast as I can, catching breaks to eat in between. Another hour passes - my restaurant is packed to the brim. I reached max capacity twice so far into my shift. My coworker A comes to me and begs me not to seat her anymore because she’s overwhelmed, which I agree and continue rolling forks. 7:30pm - A party of nine. No call-ahead and I have no silverware rolled and three To-go orders to ring up. A is less overwhelmed, and I ask her to take the table if she can separating them between a table and booth. The rest of the restaurant I am seating based on what is available. A is being treated horribly by the nine, the eight are camping, and the eleven-top has been there for two and a half hours at this point. 8:30pm - I still have a waiting list to break through, and only now do my large parties start to get up freeing up much needed table space. I was schedule to be off at 8pm, but I guess not tonight! I finally get through the waiting list after 15 more minutes, roll as many forks as I can and I was out for the night. Definitely unexpected... *Camping - When a table stays past paying / For longer than expected.














