Restaurant Antics: How To Secure The Good Table

So there's that scene in those movies where the guy walks into a restaurant (usually a diner), sits down and says to the person at the counter, "I'll have the usual."

I can't be the only one who grew up thinking that was cool. Like, how do you get to that point where they know what "the usual" is? What an ultimate luxury -- not even having to speak your order. They just know what you want.

Certainly there are higher aspirations in life, but this one seemed inexplicable to me back then. "The usual," you say.  And they knew what that meant. Imagine!

In real life, there are a few ways to help along this notion of being the Regular who comes in, sits down and gets his or her "usual" sent over without having to even order it.  NYMag.com shares the secrets for scoring the best table, getting the best service and greasing (the palm of the maitre d' usually) the wheels for a great time out every time. Have you ever bought a round of drinks for the kitchen? You might now!

A note of caution though: do any of these manuevers with too much swagger and they could have the opposite effect. Sort of like the dude smoking the cigar in the corner with his shirt unbuttoned to there, taking himself way too seriously talking loudly on his blue tooth. There's a name for a person who overdoes it like that and it rhymes with "swoosh-tag"... Just saying. The point is to get better service, not to be refused it completely.

Read more here.

Photo courtesy Holly McClellen@sxc.hu