The Modern Waiter Podcast

Top 10 things guests do that tick off your server. In the restaurant the challenges seem to fly in from every direction. Eventually they come in similar forms but just because they are familiar doesn’t relieve the fact that we get ticked off at these 10 things. (And more)… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...

In this restaurant industry podcast we explore the alternate universe of breakfast. It can be as foreign to us as the dark side of the moon for those of us who work night shift. Danny’s favorite meal is breakfast and he happens to work a couple of breakfast shifts a week, not his favorite. Should a full service restaurant dive into the breakfast world. Do the margins justify the stretching of reso...

In this week’s restaurant podcast, It’s just one of those days. Just a crappy day  One of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. This show also follows in true fashion, awkward, discombobulated and I try to keep it together. Danny throws a grenade in the show with a couple winding stories describing some of his frustrating work events. I hold in my frustrations and soldier on to complet...

In this week’s restaurant podcast, we learn to order like a boss.  It seems like a simple concept that everyone instinctively knows how to do; place an order.  Not so fast.  How to order in a restaurant effectively, like most things, requires knowledge of the basics and attention to the natural flow of things.  What are they?  Let us find out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca...

Applying for a new job is this week’s restaurant podcast focus. What are the small details that will help separate yourself from the pack and get you hired? Thanks to our listener Linsey Joy who inspired this episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

{2009} The Slammin' Salmon is the movie we are featuring in part two of our restaurant movie series.  Absolutely ridiculous and hilarious The Slammin’ Salmon hits more restaurant notes in this comedy than most.  We look past the outrageous and pick up on the many details that we deal with in the service industry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at http...

In this restaurant podcast episode; let’s talk separate checks. Most of the time it is unnecessary. If you must.  There are some guidelines. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Fun With Co-workers” podcast episode discusses classic pranks and hijinks which has become a classic right of passage to initiate or to break tension. Restaurant co-workers fall victim to many fun and seemingly mean spirited hazing. We do it for the laughs or secretly to see if someone would cry.  Most of all we do it because we care. Danny and I reminisce about some games we played in the restau...

Sparked by National Ice Cream Day, this restaurant podcast episode explores ice creams place in our home and our desert choices when we are out to eat.  What is your favorite flavor of ice cream.  Now that it is make into unimaginable flavors it is tough to agree on one.  What we do know is that vanilla is king. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https...

The cash-out report is not unique to the restaurant industry. The paid-in/paid out receipt is the last obstacle in a gauntlet of trials a server goes through before being allowed to leave the restaurant post shift.  This weeks restaurant podcast discusses the ubiquitous cash-out and what it means to the server. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

The best American holiday… July 4th is great for the beach, the lake, the park and for back yard cook outs. For the restaurants you are most likely super slow or closed.  Fireworks are a big attraction for most people.  Not so much for me.  We take a look at how we spend this special holiday and we speculate how things will go this year with social distancing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

Back to work pt. 2. This week’s restaurant podcast episode takes a further look into the mechanics of working with social distancing and enhanced protective measures. I must admit I have found it a bit cumbersome. I am however happy to add another layer of purpose to my life. Let us see where it goes from here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

Uniforms. Functional? On trend? In this week’s restaurant podcast we look back at the different uniforms we have had to wear or endure. Some fit the thread of our workplace and some were a mismatch.  Uniforms should be an aesthetic extension of the theme of the restaurant, all the while allow the staff to work optimally. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice...

A truly fun episode… In this week’s restaurant podcast we are going to the movies. This episode discusses the movie Ratatouille as it relates to real life restaurants. We draw parallels between the characters and their restaurant counterparts. A brilliant restaurant movie worth the rewatch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...

For some restaurants things may be business as usual; a few procedural quirks aside.  For others survival relies on the pivot.  How can we remain profitable without using the bar space? How can we lean into our strengths and ride the wave of change.  We hash out some ideas of how to monetize services previously untapped. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice...

In this week’s restaurant podcast we face the prospect of going back to work. For the select people plucked from unemployed nation going back to work raises more questions than there are answers. There are several misaligned interests. Are we safe? Are we underemployed? Will we survive? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-no...

Most of the world is in time out. You can call it quarantine, in this restaurant podcast we call it Taking it a Break. Danny and I recap our feelings from the beginning stages of shelter in place till now.  I draw a parallel between our collective range of feelings to the Five Stages of Grief. We also voice our frustration with unemployment.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...

Author and Restauranteur Brandon Bradley joins the podcast. Starting out Brandon shares how he adapts to the new way of keeping safe while delivering service during the pandemic. We talk about some of his experiences in the restaurant industry and even gives us an unreal preview story from on of his Restaurant Diaries, which will become a series. His book A La Carte - The Restaurant Diaries are hi...

The inspiration for this show was, drum roll please, my birthday. Full disclosure my birthday was two and a half months ago. This episode got bumped to do the Quarantine Life series. Restaurants handle birthdays differently. Are you expecting free stuff when you go out to dinner on or around your birthday? Do you have to round up the cavalry to sing? Later on in the show we debate what is the best...

Sharing is Caring. We reach out to our listeners in this week’s restaurant podcast. We are one community and friend of the show Jerry Melgoza shares a slice of his story pie.  From layoffs to home-schooling, Every state, every country is doing their own thing during the COVID-19 pandemic, so everyone has a story… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at http...

This weeks restaurant podcast closes out with the last of the Quarantine Life series. Drinks. There is a reason why liquor stores are considered essential business during COVID-19. We drink to entertain ourselves and pass the time. Yes we are at home but is it even fun? Danny describes how restaurant people drink. “We work nights so when we when we go meet friends at the bar that have been out alr...

This is truly a very informative episode. In this week’s restaurant podcast we get a lesson in disaster preparedness, Our quarantine life series continues with our guest Kurt Fanaro. We learn a ton about being prepared for any eventuality that you can plan for. In fact that is first in the four categories of preparedness that Kurt describes. Having a plan. One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has...

This week’s restaurant podcast continues with part 3 of our quarantine life series.  Personal Trainer Jennifer Rosidor talks fitness.  She shares the impact social distancing has on her business as well as the importance of keeping fit during a health crisis.  “The amazing thing about fitness is that it is a goal that is attainable instantly.  If you wake up and you go walk or jog for thirty minut...

Managing partner Fred Graham joins this weeks restaurant podcast.  He outlines some challenges he and other restaurants face remaining opened during the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. “Trying to keep six feet apart is certainly very challenging on a cook line...  We’ve marked the floor so everyone has and area six feet apart from everyone else."  We are very appreciative of all the restaur...

The Modern Waiter Podcast series Quarantine Life continues with Pt. 2, which focuses on food.  Author Jack Kohout (www.instagram.com/restaurantjunkie) joins the show.  How can we make food last longer?   Are you able to step outside your comfort zone and pick up that chocolate hummus?  We talk about experimenting with food combinations for the sake of hard to find ingredients.  “I am trying to sho...