Breeding, if not parenting skills and overall common sense, is going well.
I told them that the strollers had to remain outside the building, that we had hi-chairs and slings for the little ones and we would take care of everything. The daddies collapsed their strollers and placed them on the floor of the entry foyer (you read that right - 'entry foyer') and returned as I was seating the rest of the party. Then I spotted the strollers next to the front door and couldn't believe it. Are New Jersey residents that stoopid? Don't answer, it's only a rhetorical question.
I returned to the table, apologised, and told them again that the strollers had to be outside the building, they had to be moved. The mothers jumped to their feet almost in unison and yelled that they had heard about me from their friends in New Jersey and I was nothing but a "mean, nasty son-of-a-bitch!" While the dads looked bewildered, the women grabbed, yanked, dragged their broods out the door and down the street. Clearly heading for another restaurant where strollers aren't allowed, and small children are avoided like the plague.
The entire staff had a field day calling me a MNSOB all day. Hey! It's August! The month of the worst tourist attitudes of the entire year. The other night, the doslocos guys had to call the police to remove a group of 20 who refused to wait 45 minutes for tables then blocked the entryway in protest.
Two more weeks until it is all over...but who's counting?
More later.
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No pictures? C'mon!
ReplyDeleteYou need to carry a camera, boy. m.
I love it. Apparently the "ladies" heard that you were not to be trifiled with. If you have this reputation, I would consider you successful in the job that you were hired to do, create and maintain an enjoyable atmosphere for ALL THE PATRONS of your dining establishment. Job well done. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteSo, they heard about what a MNSOB you were, even in New Jersey -- and yet, they couldn't figure out the correlation between their behaviour and your request. Unfortunately, I lament that both their density and aggrieved sense of entitlement will be passed down unto the next generation.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that some patrons cheered silently as they left.
I don't envy you your job, this.
ReplyDeleteYou need to take your Flip video camera and surreptiouslyy record these "encounters." Jolly good fun what eh?
ReplyDelete@Mark: I have a camera with me every day, but, as you can tell, both hands are full when dealing with these lovelies.
ReplyDelete@Will: The question is why did they choose to test the law in the first place. And, yes, the other diners were a bit vocal about the scene and we all had a good laugh.
@Ur-spo: It isn't so bad. I am simply amazed by how stupid and arrogant some people can be.
@Ron: as mentioned above, both hands full. Not possible to video these moments of the stoopid.
Thanks for the comments, all.