All it takes is for one guest to be late, having taken longer than expected to send that last e-mail from the office, to kiss the kids good night, or to finally get a taxi in the rain or cold. One party’s tardiness may cause us to be as much as twenty minutes behind for the next reservation. If two or more tables are running late, we may end up with a pileup at the front door—causing our standards to appear less than excellent. Our job is to adjust to circumstances, and keep the dance flowing with technical precision and artful grace.
