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Liked It “Interesting read about the service industry.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “First couple of chapters were hysterica! The rest of the book just seemed to put me to sleep. Didn't bother finishing.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“againstthetide said; 3 stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review 6 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This book is an insider's view of the restaurant business from the point of view of a career waiter. Apparently, Steve has a very popular blog, which I have not read. In so far as a book goes, I'd say that Steve's account of life as a waiter was a quick, engaging read, but not one that especially moved me. There's interesting stories of difficult customers, and that was probably my favorite part of the book. But I guess Steve felt there needed to be a bigger theme, and the theme was Steve "finding himself". Frankly, I didn't care if Steve felt bad that he was wasting his life as a waiter at the beginning of the book, and that didn't really change for me at the end either. I did come away with the knowledge that being a waiter definitely is hard work, and I appreciated the fact that Steve had deep empathy for some of his customers. All in all, an enjoyable expose, but nothing more.
rowanthea said: 3 stars
Steve Dublanica wanted to be a priest. While in the seminary, he changed his mind. He moved from one job to another, in the health care industry, over several years. After getting laid-off his brother helped him get a job as a waiter. A few years later 'Waiter Rant' was born. While venting online his friends convinced him to write a book. If you are expecting this story to be like the webpage, I know I did, you may be disappointed. It's well worth the time to peruse, witty stories and insight into the restaurant life.
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“Steve Dublanica wanted to be a priest. While in the seminary, he changed his mind. He moved from one job to another, in the health care industry, over several years. After getting laid-off his brother helped him get a job as a waiter. A few years later 'Waiter Rant' was born. While venting online his friends convinced him to write a book. If you are expecting this story to be like the webpage, I know I did, you may be disappointed. It's well worth the time to peruse, witty stories and insight into the restaurant life. ”
rowanthea wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Interesting read about the service industry.”
cagrowngirl wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting & insightful.....
Auntie Nanuuq . wrote this review 13 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
He was especially clear about his own foibles, which tend to mirror my own.
”“A funny, articulate, and at times surprisingly deep account of working as a waiter. ”
Jonathon B wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“It is a memoir of sorts. It attempts to educate the average restaurant-going public about the issues in the restaurant business like bad management, illegal immigrant labor, ideal and not-so-ideal customers, as well as the struggles of a waiter's life living on indeterminate and unpredictable income which heavily relies on the whims of the consumer.
rarelythere wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The Waiter has been anonymously chronicling his experience in his blog for a while. The book reads like a collection of his posts, with a good effort to maintain continuity and interest, narrating his life experiences in an easy-read style, like a cohorent story. Anecdotes about his college life, his stint in medical service industry, and his entrance into food service industry seem honest and prosaic enough to be true.”“First couple of chapters were hysterica! The rest of the book just seemed to put me to sleep. Didn't bother finishing. ”
Cindy M wrote this review Saturday, December 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It was ok. The writing is incredibly wordy, and the narrator is unreliable and unrealistic.”
Ayisha wrote this review Sunday, November 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“You probably once though, "how can the job of a waiter be hard?" Have you ever wondered what it's like being one? The writer, Steve Dublanica shows a unique point of view of his life, as a typical waiter. Experiencing many customers, he gives advices of how to get proper tips, getting good services and what to bring at all times. Waiter Rant offers many hilarious and outrageous tales of his past experiences and keeps its readers stuck to the book until the very end. Once you read this book, you will never think the same when you enter the restaurant doors. ”
kayo y wrote this review Tuesday, November 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I’ve had this book on my list for quite a while, and finally thought to look for it at my library. There it was. I was an occasional reader of the well known blog called Waiter Rant, and was aware that the author was working on a book. Having enjoyed the blog, I was looking forward to the book.
Marilyn L wrote this review Tuesday, November 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This is a combination autobiography/comment on the restaurant business. The Waiter, who worked on his blog and book anonymously, but has since revealed his name, came into the waiter business a little later in life than is normal, after a stint in the seminary, and the health care field. Needing work after getting laid off, he took advantage of this temporary way of earning his keep. He never intended that he would work as a waiter for years.
It’s an interesting and enlightening expose of the personalities often involved in the restaurant business, and the way that they work, including a chapter on wait staff’s method of revenge on difficult customers. There are tips on getting good service and insight on tipping.
This book was, I confess not exactly what I expected. I anticipated more stories of outrageous customer behavior and less of the autobiographical aspect. That being said, I still enjoyed the read, and have rediscovered the author’s blog, which he still writes.”
