Rating: 
Summary: Want A Tip? Read This Book!
Review: I was truly suprised by this book. Working in the customer relations industry now, I can truly relate to Debra Ginsberg's incredibly accurate depictions of the the public customer.This book was an incredibly fast read, as Ginsberg's candidly witty writing style jumps out at you and brings you right into the stories with her. Sometimes, I could clearly see myself sitting at one of the tables in her restaurant, just taking in the scene (I hope I wasn't at "Table 50"). The book chronologically takes you through her career as a waitress. Through her wonderful stories, you get to see her develop as a waitress, and more importantly, mature as a person. Over her twenty-year span of waitressing, you get to live through her struggles, financial woes, and life awakenings. It is one truly remarkable ride. In essence, Waiting is a nice readable memior that hits close to home to everybody on a certain level. It is extremely well written, and the humorous, colorful tones make the flow incredibly smooth. This book is worth reading for the mere fact that it will open your eyes and make you reflect upon your own attitudes when it comes to dining out. Ginsberg wrote a cogent book about a life story that was a real pleasure to read. Waiting will not disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put it Down
Review: Debra Ginsberg's "Waiting..." perfectly complements Anthony Boudrain's "Kitchen Confidential." As a former "food service professional" myself, I laughed, I howled, I wet my pants at her spot-on tale of life in the restaurant business. At the heart of Ms. Ginsberg's book runs the theme of working at a profession that she enjoys, even loves (well, mostly), while questioning whether to continue or get a "real job" that takes advantage of her college degree - a job that's more "respectable" but pays less. (I remember the withering looks I'd get from people when I told them I was a waitress --- I could see my reflection in their eyes instantly morphing into Flo from Mel's Diner.) I had a hard time making the transition from waiting myself --- it was years before I was making more money at my "respectable real job" than I did as a waitress working a 25-hour week --- and I've never enjoyed another job as much. Her descriptions of the hellhole waitress jobs are vividly painted and absolutely hilarious (been there...), as are the portrayals of the restaurant guests. Ms. Ginsberg's breezy prose makes for a quick and engaging read, and if nothing else, serves to clue the restaurant patron in on how to behave (or perhaps, how not to misbehave) when dining out. Although the book is a "must-read" for anyone who's ever "waited," I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to take a peek at life on the other side of the order pad.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good. There is a better book about waiting tables.
Review: I'd recommend a book by author Matt Lehman called "Clam Chowder: A Server's Field Manual". This book is much more realistic, funny, clever and insightful. I couldn't put it down. I'm not sure if it's available on Amazon, but it is online at www.clamchowder.biz I haven't worked in the restaurant for years, but Clam Chowder brought back a flood of memories for me. I have read it twice since I first got it. My book has now been passed on to at least 7 other people. They all agree, Clam Chowder is the best restaurant book ever - told from a server's perspective.
Rating: 
Summary: So true!!!
Review: All I can say is that if ever I questioned the universality of the "waiting life", I don't anymore. I have waited tables now for years as an easy way to get myself through school and everything Ginsberg talks about has happened to me and the various coworkers I have had over the years.
Not only is it a way to laugh at your own follies in the business but also a guide to unskilled diners who think "tipping is a city in china" and that their servers are merely uneducated peons there to accept their personal abuses.
I highly recommend this book as it is the only memoir I have ever seen that deals strictly with the trials of being a waitress. In short, it is a quick read and all around good fun. If I could afford it, I would buy a copy for every single person I work with. If you've ever waited tables to make ends meet, this book is a must!!!
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Summary: Great Insight to the Restaurant Biz
Review: *This review is for the hardcover edition* I bought this book for my wife a couple of years ago and forgot about it until I recently saw it on my bookshelf. I'm certainly glad I read it. I've been in the restaurant business for over 25 years, except during an 8 year stint in the Navy. I identified with the lifestyle that she lead and also was amused by her stories, many of which I lived myself, only the names and places changing. I loved the chapters on "tipping," "the back of the house," and "food and sex." They really hit home with me and I found myself nodding and laughing through most of it. The only chapter I didn't care for was the chapter entitled, "hello, I'll be your postfeminist icon this evening." Personally, I thought it was out-of-place in the context of the rest of the book, but as I see in other reviews, many liked it. It could be because I'm a man, and only a woman might really understand what she is saying. If you've ever been in the restaurant business, this book is a must read. I'm sure that you will be reminded of good times and bad, but will finish this fasting-reading book with a smile on your face - even if you're still in the business. If you've never had the pleasure of waiting tables, read it to become informed. That person who is waiting on you is not some heartless android, but a real person who deserves respect. Cheers!
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: I was totally surprised by this book. I first had no intentions to buy any book about waitresses or waiter. I am not a big fan of tipping and I am from somewhere tipping is not customary, rather an unusual situation (tips are already included in checks). However, I could not drop the book since the moment I started reading it.
Ginsberg does not try to make "big-wise" statements about world, yet she does not try to criticize her life or justify it in front of readers. She just loves to write and she is incredibly good at it.
I loved the way she tells the little, ordinary stories behind her customers, descriptions and observations. Her peace with herself and her talent for writing are two things make this novel special.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good. There is a better book about waiting tables.
Review: I'd recommend a book by author Matt Lehman called "Clam Chowder: A Server's Field Manual". This book is much more realistic, funny, clever and insightful. I couldn't put it down. I'm not sure if it's available on Amazon, but it is online at www.clamchowder.biz I haven't worked in the restaurant for years, but Clam Chowder brought back a flood of memories for me. I have read it twice since I first got it. My book has now been passed on to at least 7 other people. They all agree, Clam Chowder is the best restaurant book ever - told from a server's perspective.
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Summary: I was surprised at how much I liked this book.
Review: Though hesitant to purchase it at first, I really enjoyed this book. I've never been a waitress, but it made me feel as though I had. Admittedly, it's a bit self absorbed. You might think, Who is this woman? and Why should I care about her life story? But Ginsberg is a natural storyteller who drew me right in. This slice-of-life book illustrates the warm relationships the author shares with her family and (mostly transient) friends, as well as the sometimes bizarre, funny, and horrifying interactions she has with her patrons. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, and yet not wanting it to end. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Waiting, The true confessions of a waitress
Review: In Waiting, The true confessions of a waitress, Debra Ginsberg talks about 20 years working as a waitress. She takes you through the journey and adventures of dining. Throughout this book, she has a range of waitressing jobs; she works in Italian restaurants, dingy diners, and a five-star dining clubs. She has trouble with keeping a job, but every waitressing job she gets is a new experience for her. One particular restaurant that Debra was a waitress at was Molto's. Debra especially loved Molto's, she enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere of this restaurant, and she loved her co-workers. Her co-workers all worked together as a team and that is what she enjoyed so much. Also, throughout her experiences with many different restaurants, she has had various relationships with men, but she only has one problem, commitment. She can't commit to anyone because every time she begins to fall for someone they break her heart. Debra takes you on a ride through many of her bumpiest relationships. She then comes to the conclusion that she has accomplished nothing in her life and she is a failure because waitresisng isn't considered a "real" job. She decides to move to California where she begins life over again for herself and her son Blaze. Her new life in California unravels before her eyes and she is now able to put the most important things in her life first.
Debra Ginsberg was very creative when writing this book. She was able to explain in full detail about her experiences at the diners she worked in. It seemed like every diner that she waitressed at was a new adventure with new people. Sometimes the diners that Debra worked at were very soap-opera like. It was very interesting when she kind of psychoanalyzed the customers that she served. She writes, "His date is pouting smugly. She is really enjoying this. He is a bit of a parody wearing a gold pinkie ring, a heavy bracelet, and enough gold neck chains to choke a horse." Her explanations made me think of what waiters and waitresses think of me when I go out to a restaurant. By reading this book, I have a new respect for servers.
I thought this was an interesting a different book that I usually read. The title of the book immediately caught my eye because I had never heard of a book about a waitress's life. I had wondered how interesting of a book it was going to be. It was not what I expected it to be, her life was intriguing to read about and made it easy to relate to. When she explained that waitressing wasn't a "real" job and that she needed a "real" career I kind of felt sorry for her. She felt that in her whole life nothing had been accomplished, but she was too busy thinking about the things she hasn't accomplished then to look at her success over her lifetime. This book was a good example of realizing what is important to you and what decisions have to be made in order to get there.
Rating: 
Summary: hello?
Review: I have worked in restaurants for more than 10 years. This book is a big pile of steaming monkey poo. A fairy tale book complete with a happy ending. This is not at all what waiting tables is. I appreciated some of her clever quips, but for the most part I felt cheated as a waiter. For a true confessions of a waiter go to clamchowder.biz and buy Clam Chowder: the Server's Field Manual. You'll laugh, crym and feel relieved that finally someone has done an honest job.
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