10 bizarre requests from hospitality staff
It’s always fun when hospitality staff spill the beans. About what they snack on themselves after closing time, what they can’t stand about guests, or disgusting drinks they have to make. Or, as now, when they talk about the bizarre requests they receive from guests. Get a grip!
Diapers? No, no.
Recently, a guy asked if I could help change the diaper of the child he was babysitting. He had only done it a few times himself, and never without help. The customer is always right, but this really went too far.
An exception should be possible
Lunch had been over for a while when a woman asked if we could please still make something to eat for her son. All right, an exception should be possible—we could certainly fry an egg. When we said we’d sort it out, the woman came up with an entire list of requirements the sandwich had to meet. Yeah, no! That’s not how it works.
Can I sleep at your place?
A mother and daughter were eating at the café where I work. The daughter was shamelessly flirting with me. When they had been gone for a few hours, the girl suddenly came back, without her mother. She had missed the train and her mother had her phone. A vague story, which ended with her asking if she could sleep at my place. Being the gentleman I am, I didn’t say no.
I’m not a photographer
It’s fine to ask if I can take a photo of you. But you can see I’m busy, so I’m not going to do an entire photoshoot with you. The woman struck 34 different poses as if she were posing in the branding campaign for a sunny holiday destination. “Sorry, ma’am, I really have to get on now.”
A trio of chocolate and a trio, please
I had a lovely couple at my bar all evening. Really pleasant guests, and the drinks were flowing generously. After dessert, a trio of chocolates, they asked if I could also help them with another trio. I politely declined.
“I’ll just have an empty plate”
I hate it when people say, “I’d like the pasta, but without the sauce, vegetables—and oh, I don’t want the meat either.” So all that’s left is dry pasta. Or people who want a burger without the bun, pickles, sauce, or other toppings. What are you doing in a restaurant then?!
“Are you hungry?”
I’ve had people tell me several times that I can eat their last leftovers. Sometimes they even push the plate under my nose: “Go on, take it.” Do I look like I don’t get anything to eat at home?
Dog food
There was once a woman who regularly came to our café with her dog. Every time, we had to prepare a steak for the dog. Pretty decadent.
Bitch, please
Someone asked if I could walk “a little less gay.” I politely asked the homophobe to leave the premises.
No requests
Many guests don’t realize that we think about the music we play in our restaurant. The menu, lighting plan, interior, and therefore the music too: it all fits the concept. And yet I often get song requests as if I were DJing at the local fair. Just recently, we played jazz all evening. A guest asked if I could put on Hit me baby one more time because his girlfriend liked that song so much. No way.
Also read:
- 8x bizarre and disgusting behavior from hospitality staff
- 10x filthy – delicious #3
- How to make the bartender your best friend
