The Case of the Flying Beer Glass - TGI Friday's @ Millenia, Orlando, FL
What happened on this visit to Friday’s was something that nobody expected and absolutely uncalled for.
“Boom!” The noise jolted me from my preoccupied activity as well as getting the attention of everybody else hanging out in the cocktail lounge of the local Friday’s I frequented with my friends. Who says soap operas were reserved for daytime television? The drama unfolded in a matter of minutes and my friends and I had front row seats. Had the irate patron laid his hands on his girlfriend for the alleged affair, my companions and I would had to flee the area as to not get mixed up in the possible bar fight. Thankfully it ended as quickly as it started.
Apparently, as it became aware to the rest of us, a very upset male patron threw a heavy based beer glass, quite possibly a schooner (a narrower, taller version of a pilsner glass), due to the alleged news of his girlfriend having an affair with one of the bartenders. A young female server got hurt, bleeding, due to one of the shards cutting her on the leg. She was an innocent bystander going about her business. As noted by one of my companions, the patron’s friends were very nonchalant about the incident and it was made to look like it was a regular occurrence or they accepted his anger as part of his personality.
However, any person in their right mind would find such an action to be unacceptable restaurant etiquette, particularly with the male staff that was on duty that night. Within a matter of seconds, two of our favorite male servers looked like they were about to wring his neck along with the rest of the male staff and other male patrons as well. We have never seen them so upset and angry before. It really showed that the staff cares for their patrons and want to make sure everyone is safe. Luckily, the beer glass did not break the POS or worst yet, gone through the liquor cabinet behind the young, female server. Unfortunately, the local PD was not called upon the irate guest, but was escorted out of the restaurant instead and given a trespassing notice instead.
A day or so later after the incident, we found out the young lady decided to press charges against the male patron. It also was confirmed that he uses steroids therefore suffering from ‘roid rage causing him to be overly irate.
The moral of the story, which there are a few: No one likes an irate guest, it’s disruptive to the guest and staff at the establishment. Also, people will talk behind your back such as those who were witnesses like myself. Yes, you have a right to be angry should your significant other is having an affair: however, make sure the information is true first. Last, but not least, no throwing restaurant property. Period. Someone can get seriously hurt and lawsuit may be coming your way. So please, there is no need for violence in restaurants.
