Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter

This is a very fun in depth look at the world of 5 star restaurant servers and the way the industry shapes their lives. Phoebe does a great job of weaving the personal and professional experiences of her life into an enjoyable read that anyone, especially professionals in the industry, can appreciate.

I'll admit to owning all of Thomas Keller's cookbooks, and that one of my favorite recipes is the special dish he created for the movie Ratatouille. My son's roommates from college were able to get reservations for French Laundry last summer, and invited us along. To eat food that is conceived, prepared and served with such love is something that is for me at least a once-in-this-lifetime-it's-worth-it experience. So i was prepared to enjoy Phoebe Damrosch's book. And I did. She's obviously a very spunky woman, who likes to eat. This is her first book. No, she is not yet the perfectly polished writer that is Ruth Reichl or MFK Fisher, but neither were they right out of the chute. I think there's lots more good writing to come from Ms. Damrosch. Just as she used her powers of observation of the restaurant, and her own personality to master a difficult job, those observations and her sense of humor make the book fun for foodies and former waitresses.( Oh yes, I forgot to mention my try at waitressing, at the old La Terrasse in Philadelphia, where I flunked out when the customer refused the bartender's third try at a banana daiquiri.) So read it! You can say you knew about her before she hits the big time!

I highly recommend this book! i laughed and I cried. Her voice and writing style are intimate, which makes it feel more like a conversation than a one-sided story. This also provides for a very quick read. Which is sad, because I didn't want it to end.

Like a lot of people, I expected something different from this book than what it delivers. I've worked in the restaurant industry, and so I know there can be a lot of drama behind the kitchen doors. For this, I don't blame the author entirely; the marketing department at her publisher is probably a better target.What Damrosch was attempting was as difficult as balancing five bowls of soup on one arm. Part behind-the-swinging door tell all, part romantic tale, part foodie book, part memoir, etc. The biggest issue is that while it reads well and I found it entertaining, the narrative itself is somewhat uneven.On the up side, I did learn a lot about the training of a high-end waiter, and Damrosch did a good job in developing scenes. I enjoyed her descriptions of the food, and the overall feeling of Per Se. The parts about Frank Bruni's multiple meals, the whole "single cow" cheese incident and other anecdotes were well drawn. I liked her, and I wanted to see her succeed in figuring her life out.On the down side, I was disappointed that there's nothing truly salacious in the narrative, and I didn't feel that I learned anything about Thomas Keller (although I was surprised to learn he was doing dishes one night). I wanted more about the diners. Who are these people spending hundreds of dollars on dinner? I wanted more behind-the-scenes stuff. After Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, there's a lot of interest in the sexy underbelly of the restaurant industry. But there was really none of that. (Maybe Per Se doesn't hire those people?) Her build-up to the arrival of the New York Times review felt a little forced. I didn't really feel there was any climax to the story.I'm agnostic about her "tips;" I thought they were pretty obvious, but maybe they were revelations to some people.The romance seems to get other reviewers, and I can see their point. It is not a heart-stopping romantic tale, they didn't run away to Paris or anything dramatic. But then getting the balance of romance in a book like this is pretty hard to get right. Even experienced writers don't always get this right; I thought Comfort Me With Apples by Ruth Reichl was too intimate, while Judith Jones' Tenth Muse could have used a lot more romantic tension, for instance.I would recommend this book, with the caution that it is not a big tell all. I think Damrosch is a talented writer, and I enjoyed her style and voice, even if I felt that the book has some flaws. I would pick up her next title.

This book was shipped quickly and in even better condition than advertisd. I loved the book and wish she had more, but congratulations for finally hanging up your apron and writing this book!I'm intersted to know if you are still with Andre and are you are working on another book?Darlene

I couldn't put this book down. There were a few times that I laughed out loud because the situations were similiar to my own. The author was able to tie in love, family, dreams and the crazy customer stories so well that I was done before I knew it. Great book.Little do people know that aren't in the industry is that this stuff really happens. Everyone dates each other, hates each other, forget their family, forget what its like to have a "real life" and know every late-night spot in town. One thing that we all learn is "passion". You can't work in this industry if you don't love it.The author was in love with her job. Her determination in learning how the little things count such as product knowledge, service and covering for a customer when they don't know what the hell they're talking about was little in an outsiders eyes ...but major in ours.

Enjoyed the book when I read it several years ago. This was a purchase for a gift.

Extremely hard to put down. Great prep for dining at Per Se. Only wish it was longer so I could still be reading. :)

Witzig. Ehrlich. Interessant