Waiter Rant

Thanks for the Tip - Confessions of a Cynical Waiter

By: Steve Dublanica

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

According to The Waiter, 80 percent of customers are nice people just looking for something to eat. The remaining 20 percent, however, are socially maladjusted psychopaths.

Waiter Rant offers the server's unique point of view, replete with tales of customer stupidity, arrogant misbehavior, and unseen bits of human grace transpiring in the most unlikely places.

Through outrageous stories, The Waiter reveals the secrets to getting good service, proper tipping etiquette, and how to keep him from spitting in your food. The Waiter also shares his ongoing struggle, at age 38, to figure out if he can finally leave the first job at which he's really thrived.

Public Domain (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The other shoe finally drops. The front-of-the-house version of Kitchen Confidential; a painfully funny, excruciatingly true-life account of the waiter's life. As useful as it is entertaining." (Anthony Bourdain)
"I really enjoyed Waiter Rant. The book is engaging and funny, a story told from my polar opposite perspective." (John DeLucie, chef of The Waverly Inn)

Stories to remember while you're dining out

The Waiter was an interesting listen when you're hearing the stories of annoying customers, awful management, and kooky coworkers. The narrator of this book does a good job bringing personality to "the waiter" and also paints a convincing narrative of the customers he encounters. Where the book loses a few stars is the overly stylized dialogue that you'll hear when you're listening to the water recount conversations with his co-worker Beth - it sounds more like a Dawson's Creek script then how real friends would converse. I also could have skipped the waiter's psychoanalysis of customers and co-workers - he seems to think his background in psychology allows him to analyze the behaviors of others. But overall it's a good listen - it is fast paced, funny and leaves you with tips and stories you'll remember and consider the next time you're eating out!

Good but one-sided

I liked this and it certainly gives some real insight into the restaurant world (ugly insight most of the time!) It also justifiably highlights the pretentiousness of people, their demands, rudeness, etc. It even gives 40 ways to be a good customer. But it noticeably includes very little about waitstaff conduct, and therefore, 40 ways to be a good waiter. I'm not one of the jerks (20% is my standard tip) but I've had plenty of pretentious, uninterested, inflexible servers. And yes, the few that have been really bad, I've stiffed them --sorry but that's how it goes! Also, there are a lot of other jobs (in a commercial laundry as a teenager was a great one) that are just as tiring, and filled with rotten management. So my sympathy runs thin at times. Aside from those aspects, it was entertaining. Just wish he'd been a bit more balanced.

If you've ever waited tables.....

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book for those that aren't looking for any earth shattering revelations about the food industry. It was entertaining and reminded me that I quit waiting on tables for a reason. Even though I look back on those times as key to shaping my work ethics and developing skills that have helped me deal with difficult personalities.

Want to B a waiter?

I liked the honesty in this ebook. I love restaurants and always try to be polite and give a good tip. Once someone has worked for tips they will always be generous to others.
This book interested me because I have friends in the food industry. It is Avery demanding and time consuming career. Pay is not so great so better be a calling or desperation.
I enjoyed this narration and story.

Could not turn it Off!

I am a big fan of kitchen confidential and when I saw this book hit the site I purchased it without thinking twice. An excellent listen from start to finish. The author sheds light on the other side of restaurants the front end. In this book the so called face of a restaurant is shown in many lights. The book has grit and glamour and shows you the many joys and evils of working in a high class eatery.

An excellent read/listen for anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant in any capacity or for anyone who is simply interested in seeing a vivid behind the scenes look into this fascinating world.

I wish it was longer!!

This is a fantastic book! It is not a 9 hour whining session like some people may lead you to believe. It is thoroughly entertaining. The waiter is actually a brilliant writer. The only section I had trouble with was towards the end where he states that all waiters do is complain, which some people may think is a bit hypocritical. But I don't think of this book as a rant. I think of it more as a report of what goes on in the food industry. There is a tonne of invaluable behind-the-scenes stories that we really need to know. I don't think I'll treat wait staff any differently after reading it, maybe just tip more. But it is brilliantly written, very funny in most of the book, and the narrator has the perfect voice for this story, very well executed. This is a must read for any food show fans, especially fans of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.
I would listen to it all day if there was more of the same.

Totally Entertaining...

I found this book totally entertaining. The narrator does a very good job. He changes up tones to keep things interesting. Though trying to sound like a female at times was kind of funny. This book did open my eyes to some of what waiters go through when they pick this as a career path. I give this book all five stars without hesitation.

Interesting behind the scenes view of restaurants

Would you listen to Waiter Rant again? Why?

I have read it and listened to it. It is definitely interesting to "read" the behind the scenes world of restaurants and the mindset of people that work as waiters and kitchen staff. Somewhat scary, somewhat an eye opener. Overall the book is great, I felt however that the "waiter" or "author" of this book was blaming the world and the rest of society about his career choices and how tough his life was. I felt that he was somewhat narcissistic and not very honest in some circumstances, which made this book a refreshing read. Nothing that goes on in the restaurant world is sugar coated.

What about Dan John Miller’s performance did you like?

The reading was ok. Wish there hadn't been that much profanity, could have done without that!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, but it is still interesting

Any additional comments?

Would get the book if it was on sale.

I enjoy the "RANT"

I have several friends that are waiters and always wanted to try it, but after listen I will leave it to the professionals. This is a good listen I enjoyed the narator

could not put it down

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes...especially people in the customer service and food industry

Who was your favorite character and why?

i think his name is steve the lead character.....loved how he handled the customers, and managing the restaurant

Have you listened to any of Dan John Miller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

yes i really like him and all the different voices he does....really bring the characters and books to life....

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Restaurant, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly....

Any additional comments?

i literally could not put this book down it was such a great insight on how a restaurant really works make sure to stick it out till the end to get the 50 things every waiter and customer needs to do that was great...the narrator did a great job