So as those of you who know me know, I'm a retired engineer who has been working as a chef in an Italian restaurant for almost 14 years. Many consider us the best Italian restaurant in the state of West Virginia, and that may very well be true.
A constant head scratcher for everyone that works here, waitstaff and kitchen, are the larger parties. We get them all the time. 10, 12, 14 people. It's fine, I'm not complaining, but who the hell has 14 friends they want to take out to dinner? Really? What about dinner for two? That makes sense to me.
I don't get it. None of us get it. What am I missing here? I barely have four friends I might want to take out to dinner together. Maybe.
@ajbobo yes, that does happen occasionally. But usually it's like a bunch of old people who are all friends. Who has that many friends? Lol who wants that many friends? Not me.
@shuttersparks Doesn’t your restaurant have a party room? Why? Family reunion. Wedding. Graduation.
@MrEdgarBass No. The restaurant was founded 65 years ago in a building that was formerly a hotel that was built 123 years ago. We have a small dining room that seats about 50 people maximum, and a cafe/bar with six booths. The dining room has a real fireplace. Very romantic.
Our specialty is the food which is Calabrian Italian style food. People come from out of state to eat at our restaurant. Some of them fly in on a private jet just to eat at our restaurant. We are considered by many to be the best Italian restaurant in all of West Virginia.
We are open thursday, friday, saturday, and the restaurant is packed full every night.
People frequently rent the entire restaurant for special functions, but we have no party room or anything like that.
@shuttersparks I’m confused. To rent out the entire restaurant for whatever event happens from time to time. Not every day but sure, it occurs. However if your affair is smaller with only fourteen diners that throws you off? Of course a party of fourteen must reserve ahead of time. What’s the issue? Oh, and congrats on your successful operation. Sounds wonderful.
@MrEdgarBass Hello. I thought I replied to this but I didn't.
It isn't that the groups throw us off per se. And business groups, and pharmaceutical presentations make a perfect sense.
What puzzles us at the restaurant is who has a dozen personal friends they want to take to dinner? A foursome of two couples, sure. But 12 or 14 personal friends you want to take to dinner, all together? Who has that many friends, much less that many all sitting at the same table? It just seems bizarre to us. But, whatever. We are here to serve.
@shuttersparks On the very rare occasions that my siblings (with spouses) are all together, we'd be a group of 12. Then you add kids into the mix, and we need the full banquet room.