 2008-11-13 - Title says it all
It took me a long time to get through this book and the author's journey as a waiter. A few bits were entertaining, but too much complaining to read about as what occupation does not have its pitfalls and when you interact w/ others of course some won't be saints. He should try to be a hospital staff nurse or an inner city public school teacher for a week. I did not come away from the reading experience enlightened nor did I bother to visit his website. Frankly I wished I had passed on this one, but the premise of the book did catch my eye.
2008-11-09 - Great premise; got bored after first 40 pages
I never finished this book. It would have worked better as a long essay. The author doesn't have enough interesting information to fill up a book, and the writing is workmanlike. I could have done without it.
 2008-11-09 - Waiter Rant - Accurate Account of Waiting Tables
This is a funny, extremely accurate account of waiting tables and the things that happen, people you come across and the hilarity that ensues. I found the areas about how to be a good customer and items to always have with you at the end of the book good for anyone to read - whether a customer that frequently eats at restaurants or a server who works part time or full time. Definitely worth the read - a front of the house Kitchen Confidential!
2008-11-09 - Memories......
I enjoyed reading this book for the memories it brought back of my table-waiting days, even though mine weren't in a fine-dining establishment. It also reminded me that, now as a critical care nurse, I haven't come all that far from those days. The parallels are astounding (and disheartening)! An entertaining read, if a little too much soul-searching for my taste.
 2008-11-02 - Just OK
I had high hopes for this culinary tell-all. Encouraged by some prominent professional reviews, and a review of his website, I began reading eagerly. Unfortunately, the story is only mildly engaging, and intermittently amusing. Although the writer is competent, his style doesn't draw you into his story. I enjoyed Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential more. Perhaps that is because it was the first book in this category for me, but also because Bourdain is more outrageous and bombastic as a storyteller. I wonder if Bourdain is more truthful, or maybe it is just show business, but The Waiter was too mild for my taste. I wondered why he would bother with a pseudonym, since Waiter's Rant didn`t seem very offensive to me. I finished this book only because I wanted to review it, not because it held my rapt attention. Like a meal at a chain restaurant, it was not bad, just bland.
The Waiter does put in some useful tips about how to size up a restaurant, get along with your waiter, what to order or avoid, and when to go, but one doesn't need a whole book to say that. The Waiter also describes some fairly unpleasant ways that he can get even with a rude customer. Nevertheless, even when he describes outrageous restaurant behavior, Dublanica made me sleepy, not hungry.
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