Confessions of a restaurant owner
Running a restaurant is like being in a relationship with the most unpredictable partner ever. One day, you're in love with the buzz, the next, you're wondering why you didn't take up something simpler, like pottery making. If you've ever found yourself playing the role of host, chef, and dishwasher all in one night, then pull up a chair. You're in good company.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room, or rather, the one not in the room because they decided to ghost you thirty minutes before their shift. There's an art to smiling through the panic as you explain to guests why their food might be taking a scenic route to the table. And just when you think you've seen it all, along comes the adventure of finding new staff.
Oh, the options are endless, aren't they? From the latest app that swears it's the Tinder for restaurant staffing (swipe right for your next sous chef!) to the age-old tradition of pinning a "Staff Wanted" sign in the window, hoping it doesn't become part of the decor. We've danced this dance, haven't we? Trying every trick in the book to avoid the dreaded dinner rush with one server, two cooks, and a line out the door.
And let’s not forget the joy of interviews, where you meet all sorts of characters, from the overqualified barista who's just "passing through" the industry, to the wide-eyed enthusiast who thinks "fine dining" means adding truffle oil to everything. It’s a wild ride, and you start to develop a sixth sense for who's going to bail on you when a table of 12 decides to split their bill seventeen ways.
But in the midst of all this chaos, there’s a strange beauty to it. The moments of triumph when a new hire turns out to be a gem, or when your team pulls together like a well-oiled machine, turning a potentially disastrous night into a success story you’ll recount for years. It's these moments that make it all worth it, reminding you why you dove into this crazy world of hospitality in the first place.
Yet, despite all of this, there's something undeniably rewarding about bringing people together through the love of food. The regular who considers your place 'home', or the dish that becomes someone's favourite meal. May our tables always be crowded and our glasses never empty. Cheers!