The Bitchy Waiter: Tales, Tips & Trials from a Life in Food Service

By Darron Cardosa

Millions of people have, at some point in their lives, waited tables. Some only did it in college, or got out by sheer determination, good luck . . . or suicide. Others took it on as permanent employment. And many remain haunted by nightmare scenarios where they are the sole server in a restaurant packed with complaining patrons. For all those disenchanted current and former food service employees, Darron Cardosa has your back. His career began at a Texas steakhouse in 1984, and since 2008 he’s vented his frustrations in the popular blog The Bitchy Waiter. A snarky mix of David Sedaris, Anthony Bourdain, Erma Bombeck, and Mo Rocca, Cardosa distills 30 years of food service into dark, funny tales—about crazy customers, out-of-control egos, and what really goes on in that fancy restaurant—that anyone who worked in the industry will recognize and relate to.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sterling
• Release date: Jul 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781454922612

Reviews for The Bitchy Waiter

[chazzifrazz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this as a surprise from my youngest. What a fun read!Working as wait staff is not a picnic...I haven't done it but I know people who have. Patience, tact and a sense of humour seem to be some of the requirements needed besides being coordinated. In this book you get the view from the server's side as Darron Cardosa relates a number of events during his many years serving.His responses to diners remarks and questions (the ones he can't say out loud) are presented in this book. Does he really care that you are a wine connoisseur and are trying to impress your friends by your choice of wine? Nope. Is he impressed with your parenting skills of letting your four-year-old choose what they want while the rest of his stations sits waiting for their orders? Nope. He is there to provide good service and hopefully get a 20% tip for it.Diners that order a burger with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun and vegan patty instead of meat may find they get a couple of carrots wrapped in lettuce instead. The kitchen doesn't have vegan patties. But then the diner wasn't listening when the waiter tried to tell him. So much for the customer is always right.There are sections where the bitchiness is put aside and an instance is told of serving a diner who appreciated what the waiter did to make the meal special. A moment that makes the waiter remember what it is that made him want to work this job.Darron Cardosa started writing this on his blog The Bitchy Waiter. A place where he could let off stead and show the humorous side of waiting tables. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is for those who want to see the other side of the order pad.