Off Menu is our tribute to the service industry. It’s where we cover restaurant openings and bar closings, industry rumors and inside dirt. It’s where we cheer on our favorite chefs, servers, and nightlife superheroes. And the best part is, it comes from those of us that live that life,

Dear Parents: You may not be aware of, but when you walk into a restaurant with your beautiful baby in your paisley Baby Bjorn wrap or with your MacLauren stroller and your gracious host walks your six top over to your table – your servers eyes may scan the insides

Step into a world of adventure with the San Francisco Beer Passport. There’s no better way to explore San Francisco than to literally drink it in. This passport is amazing! Each one contains 27 coupons to buy one beer, get a second beer FREE at 27 of the finest locally

Last week, I read a thoughtful article on this site by Jamal Frederick entitled “Tipping While Black- The Struggles of a Black Barman.” I encourage you to read it. It offers keen insight into the racial attitudes and discrepancies characteristic of tipped service work. It also reinforced the strong opinions

The service industry: where dick jokes never get old Living and working in the performing arts usually means I spend more time behind a bar, (or in front of one) then I do on stage, or sitting at a desk writing my masterpiece. In fact you can end up spending

Hi GUYS! It’s been a second. Sorry about the delayed finale to this series, but I’ve been travelling/hungover most days in the past month and I just really didn’t feel like doling out recommendations to you because there’s a part of me that thinks maybe I should clean up my act and calm down and put a halt to this raucous, unstable, indulgent, satanic party of a lifestyle.

Visitors, even natives, to the city are constantly searching for the right place for special occasions. Where’s the perfect lighting for a proposal? Which brunch restaurant have children’s menus? Can I get a birthday reservation at that Indian restaurant for Saturday?

I don’t mean to make this an angry rant…buuuuuuuuuut…. One of my table I served tonight at work gave me $110 on a $107.09 tab…that’s 3.65percent tip! It took all of my willpower not to throw the money back at them, or snap a sarcastic remark about them needing the $2.91

Though Sue Smith’s case on Brokelyn for being a server in New York restaurants was pretty on the money, I’d argue that sometimes, having a low-status office job can have its advantages as well– especially if you’re a freelance writer who hates physical activity and kids and cleaning gross things