Overheard a dishwasher say 'the chef's just mad because the steak came back' and it hit me different

I was plating during dinner rush last Friday when one of my dishwashers, a kid named Marcus, muttered that to the guy scraping plates. He was right. I was mad, but not at the customer. The steak was a perfect medium rare on my end, but I checked the fire that order hit and realized my new guy had the grill way too hot on one side. I took Marcus aside after service and thanked him. Has anyone else gotten a real reality check from someone way lower on the line?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade7381mo ago

Maybe it's just me but this is exactly why I always tell people to listen to the dishwashers. They see everything without the ego that comes with being on the line.

drew9061mo ago

What 'hit you different' about it exactly? The honesty?

oscarb711mo ago

Yeah, the honesty hit me for sure. When someone just lays it out flat without sugarcoating, it makes you stop and think. I've been in that spot before where a buddy told me straight up I was making excuses for not starting a project. It stung at first but then I realized he was right. That kind of blunt talk can actually help you snap out of it and get moving. So when you hear something that cuts through the noise like that, it's worth paying attention to.