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Late night at the diner
February 4, 2008
I went out last night, apparently to celebrate the victory of a lesser of two evils (hi, New England!), when we headed to the local 24-hour diner. Many of you know this about diners, but when it’s that late, and you’re that hungry, and you can’t possibly go to bed without eating because you will die, the food you receive is the best-tasting, most satisfying meal since Thanksgiving.
We had a waiter, and I loved him. He had that sort of quiet kindness, not obviously excited to be working tables at midnight, but mellow enough to have a calm smile on his face when he approached us. And he really knew his crap about pie.
He looked like a student, dark hair and glasses, and managed to make us smile despite his situation of needing to be at work at that moment, when the football crazies wander in and demand water. HEY! WATER!
We discussed the possibility of him being a lifer, of maybe having worked there for years, but decided he was just really good at his job.
And so he made us laugh, and we finished our food and met him at the register to pay our check. As he rung us up, three kids walked in, a weasel of a boy and two girls yelling vulgarities at who knows what. Our waiter looked up at them, and said in his quiet voice, “Hey, give me one second and I’ll seat you guys.”
Weasel boy looked at him as he strolled past the register, laughed, and replied, “We’ll sit where we want.”
There was a minuscule, but recognizable, flash of sadness in the waiter’s eyes, and I hoped he didn’t have to work there much longer.
Categories: Daily
February 4th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Waiting tables is a hard job.
It’s rare to see someone who seems like they’re OK with being there.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I hope he doesnt either.
Eat ‘N Park?!?
February 4th, 2008 at 10:13 am
God, waiting tables sucked. I used to spend half my tips on alcohol just to dull the memory of shift — otherwise, I would never have gone back the next day. And diner work is the worst.
Hope you tipped well. And don’t worry about the cutie, in six months at the end of his third double of the week he’ll throw his apron down and storm out. It’s the circle of life.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Poor honey. That guy is practically why overtipping was invented.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Ahh, the Squirrel Hill Eat n’ Park…many a memory reside in those blessed booths!
I always overhear the weirdest conversations there. One time Gretchen and I were there and we overheard the couple behind us breaking up…probably one of the most awkward things I’ve ever been witness to.
February 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I worked a stint as a waitress. It’s a tough job. I hope he gets out if he wants.
February 4th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
When stuff like this happens to me, I end up thinking about that person for, like, the rest of my life. You should visit! Future crush, maybe?!
(P.S. I’m looking at the daily photo with Ashley. People [i.e., you] who write so well should not be that pretty…) ;)
February 4th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Wow, you are so perceptive in your craft here. What a great tribute to the Working Man you put together with this article. Great job!
February 4th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I really, really miss late night trips to Eat ‘n Park.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:21 am
I love waiters who are nice and make you laugh. I once had one who asked if he could play cards with us and gave us Starbursts when he left the check.
I feel bad when cool people like that have to deal with shitty customers.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I know! This damn city is out to get us.
AND of course I didn’t bring my umbrella today.
I hope that poor waiter gets a better job soon.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:54 am
That picture of pie is making me hungry!
And as for the waiter, hopefully he will get out of the food service industry, it really is the place to have your soul crushed.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
aww I love how this is written. It’s such a privilege to run into great customer service these days. Hope that guy doesn’t have to stay there much longer either.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
aww i really like that. i feel sad for the waiter, though. hopefully he will move on to bigger and better things
February 5th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I’m pretty certain that’s one of the nicer diners I’ve ever seen. The ones in Chicago (that I’ve been to) are so much more…dumpy. But I suppose that’s part of their charm.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
It’s a shame that people don’t know how to treat others. Darn shame.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I fucking love diners.
…except the one in time square where the waiters sing horribly right up in your shit.
but diner food is always. fantastic.
ps: good story. ;)
February 5th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Nice post…and I wish the same for that waiter. I wish he get to this site by any chance! ;)
February 6th, 2008 at 2:08 am
Late night trips to the diner are the BEST.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:38 am
That was torture. Posting up pictures of delicious comida Americana!!! Oh God I want pancakes and apple pie so baaadddd!!
February 6th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
That’s a great snapshot of a diner after dark! There’s always a quiet desperation, either on the part of the patrons or the servers.
K.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Poor guy. Being a server sucks, I’m sure you made his night.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Great post, but Eat n Park is not a real diner
February 11th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Bob - I’m not sure if it would warrant a “restaurant” title either. I would go with diner, even though it doesn’t have the lovely grunge aspect.
What would you call it?
February 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Rachel - good point, I just not have that diner feel, you know