Restaurant Regulars-everyone has a story

At UES Restaurant, it has this homey feel to it, so there are quite a few neighberhood regulars. One thing I notice about them is that they have money. They have enough disposable income to come in several times a week just to have dinner at the bar. UES Restaurant isn't cheap. The regulars tend to be a older. Our one bartender, I'll call him Zack....is great with the regulars. He knows them, they know him.

It's amazing with the way the economy is these days I observe the regulars eating at our restaurant quite often. To be honest, I think they are a little lonely, so the familiar setting is great, food is awesome, Zack is a great bartender, and people at the bar section tend to be chatty and social. And hey, they have the money, so why not.

One woman...let me call her Jane...I see her every time I work my shifts. She's very nice, orders a full entree, wine, appetizers...her bill must amount to $30-$50 each time. I must ask what she does. Another woman, let me call her Elba....huge chain smoker, skinny as a bone...I know she's divorced...probably in her 50's....definitely has the $ to spend every week.

Another gentleman who creeps me out though, let's call him John....he's friendly with the restaurant bartender, manager, etc....waiters even say hi to him. he's probably in his 70's. One night he was eyeing me the whole time and offered me a ride home...I'm like..."No, thank you!" Again, another person with a ton of money to throw down. I mean, in a recession, what tends to go first is eating out. My co-hostess told me she knows John and he frequests another restaurant she used to work with and that he takes waitresses and hostesses out quite a bit and pays. However, he won't reject any advancements if you get friendly with him...know what I mean.

The world is a lonely place, and I observe it in one of NYC's busiest restaurants.