Rating: 
Summary: very funny and poignant book
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author did a wonderful job of taking the reader on her life's journey. Although I thought this book would be only about waiters and waitresses, I found it to be much more. As a memoir and a coming of age story I found it first rate. Ginsberg's prose wss easy to read and she is at her best when she details the incredibly humourous experiences she had as a waitress. I especially enjoyed her accounts of the sexual exploits in one of the restaurants in which she worked. I laughed out loud many times throughtout this book. I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: a day in the life
Review: I'm a little surprised at the level of vitriol in some of the customer reviews for this book. It hardly seems to justify such extreme reactions. As a longtime waitress myself, I found it to be quite an accurate account of life in the restaurant. Perhaps, in a way, this explains some of the reactions here. As a waitress, I've often waited on people who just didn't like me, no matter what I did to please them or without any apparent reason. On the other hand, some customers like you even when you're not on your best "behavior." It seems Ginsberg has had the same response here -- in a way, I guess this means the book is quite successful in its view.
Rating: 
Summary: Thank Goodness She Has a Day Job
Review: Quite simply, the extent to which this book reeks is astonishing. Debra Ginsberg, should be slapped in the face with leather gloves for ever thinking she was entitled to put pen to paper. Not until the last chapter does she realize that her life has been without consequence. I could have told her that after reading the first couple of pages. Do yourself a favor: If you're in need of some good waitress stories, go get yourself a job at a local restaurant. You have my guarantee that your experiences will be better than the slop Ginsberg slings. Her writing, full of cliché and nothingness, is unforgivable. Even the most casual reader can play a remarkably crowded game of connect-the-dots with her use of the word "singularly." Well, Debra Ginsberg has written history's singularly most unimportant book.
Rating: 
Summary: Serviceable, but not much flair
Review: This is a very informative, detailed and sometimes humorous look at the world of waiting. It's just too bad that the telling of this potentially rich and textured tale doesn't sparkle a bit more. Ginsberg's prose is competent, but ultimately flat-footed. It's a pleasant enough read, and very educational to those not familiar with the world of waiting, but don't expect an abundance fresh or probing insights.
Rating: 
Summary: Well written & interesting
Review: I thought this book gave food for thought. A littl pun there. Nevertheless, I found this book to be very entertaining, and I don't think I will be sending any food back.
Rating:
Summary: A WEIGHTING EXPERIENCE
Review: I must disagree with summerfield2 in a major way. I feel the author did a good job of telling her story though I skipped the last 20 pages as I wasn't interested in the subject matter of comparing the job of waiting in various movies.The author did not complain about her job, but detailed the raunchy "goings on" in most restaurants among the help and then again the strange "goings on" of certain patrons while at the same time getting out the orders and trying to please the customers. Actually the rate of pay for waiting is quite good compared to the hours worked, but, of course, depending on the restaurant of choice. The hours can be most flexible and the job, though taxing physically, can be very interesting and satisfying. A good read!
Rating: 
Summary: Negative and a bit whiny
Review: While the author claims to like her work as a waitress, enjoys the flexibility and money, the book is full of complaints about restaurant managers, cooks and customers. And the story wanders in many places; she may be telling a story about a current and yet again unsatisfactory job and start talking about something unrelated and then come back to the present. My head was swimming. There is an undertone of indignation through out the story. I did develop a great appreciation of wait staff, however and do realize how hard they work.
Rating:
Summary: Agrees with Bruce Henderson...
Review: I thought Bruce's book of the same title was much better, and truer to my own experiences as a server. I would suggest others might want to look at that book if they're seeking "the original" chronicle of what servers go through.
Rating:
Summary: The negative reviews are quite accurate...
Review: One of the basic axioms of a writer is "Don't tell me, show me." Don't say you're funny. Don't say you can write well. And don't say you have an insight to the basic human experience. Especially when you don't. There was an opportunity for some good stories in this book, and Ginsburg may be a good observor of human nature, but her writing is not particularly compelling and the stories don't grab you.
Rating:
Summary: Been there, thank God, someone else has done that...too!
Review: Debra Ginsberg wrote my story! Having waited tables for many years in Oregon and in New Jersey I felt so in touch with what her book had to say. I wish everyone would read this book to see how tough waitressing really can be. It also shows that you can do this job and still hold your head up at the end of the night. I loved the intricate love story descriptions in every place she worked. It is such a life consuming job that you are never out in the "real world". The only way to meet people is in your workplace. Debra Ginsberg captures how it becomes Soap opera city in many restaurants. If you have never waited a table, or bartended in your life, this book will be either an eye opener or a snoozer. It is your choice. I loved this book. Good Job, Debra!
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