29 October 2021 12:10 am
We then got talking of how we have witnessed many ugly scenes at hotels and restaurants in Colombo, especially the vulgar display of money and the demands for special consideration even though what was being already enjoyed were at extremely discounted rates. The tendency to talk rudely to the staff and treat everyone who works in such places like dirt are also very much on display. A please or thank you is rarely heard and as for tipping the staff, one lot will not tip at all whilst the others who do make it a point that not only their table but the neighbouring tables too hear the amount of the tip given to the staff. When reservations are made at restaurants, they turn up an hour later and expect to have the table waiting for them. If not, there is a huge scene. Most kitchens close at a set time but they cannot as the latecomers will threaten to call the owners of the establishment or the senior management. Manners certainly are not what they have, even animals behave better than most clients.
Family clubs are another nightmare. To well-known clubs, adults come along with their children and request for two tables, one for the adults one for the kids, where the children behave as if possessed by some evil spirits or like hooligans, whilst the parents continue at their table oblivious of the behaviour at the children’s table. They do not seem to consider that such bad behaviour could be disturbing to others who have come to the club to enjoy a quiet evening.
The tendency to talk rudely to the staff and treat everyone who works in such places like dirt are also very much on display.
All the above happenings allow the service staff and other employees in the establishments to form their opinions on such persons based on their uncouth behaviour. They have all sorts of pet names for such uncouth types and though they bow down and are polite to them as required, they are cursed and a lot of banter goes on about the lot in the kitchen. Always remember that the back of the house who run the show can get even in many ways and derive some pleasure serving and cooking for such uncouth ill-mannered people doing the rounds in this city.