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Waitress: a memoir
Thirty years of hefting trays full of food, warming the muffins of strangers and dealing with cranky customers has brought this waitress to the edge. From ice machine shenanigans to children running amok, you’ll experience the restaurant business from an insider’s view and guaranteed, you’ll never look at your fellow diners the same again.Alternately hilarious and horrifying, Waitress is sure to pull you in, one bite at a time.
- GenresNonfiction
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 22, 2022
As a former waitress, this book caught my eye on Unlimited. I started reading it this morning and cackled loudly multiple times... this gal's got a gift for short and sassy stories.
April 22, 2020
Waitress: A Memoir is an entertaining collection of anecdotes and thoughts gathered over 30 years in the restaurant industry by the world’s most cheerful, and sarcastic, waitress.
Though rejecting the traditional format of a memoir, the stories and thoughts presented by Woolery’s sharp wit are alternately funny, disturbing, uplifting, and shocking. If you’ve ever been a waitress, you will identify completely with her tales, and I suspect they may induce flashbacks of times when you were so stressed you could cry. Content warning: waitress stress.
If you have never been a waitress, like me, then you will benefit from reading about the perspective of a server. Some of the things Woolery shared about the habits of people and diners were eye-opening! Perhaps there are few things you could learn from this book to change about yourself to make your waitress/waiter’s job a bit more pleasant?
In any case, you’ll enjoy reading these short little tidbits, each of which are rarely longer than a page. I personally loved Woolery’s casual tone, sarcasm, and general proficiency at expressing herself. I felt like by the end of her book, I really knew who she was. It was almost like I’d met her myself!
I will admit that when I purchased this book, I had been hoping for something in more of a narrative prose style, which is about the only thing that disappointed me about it. It feels a bit more like a collection of Woolery’s Facebook statuses than a traditional novel. And yet, in spite of the unorthodox formatting of the memoir, she used some very descriptive language and her comparisons were very colorful, indicating that she does indeed have talent in prose and poetry. So honestly, you get a little bit of both worlds in this book!
In the end, if you’re looking for a complex, beautifully written, deep and meaningful narrative memoir about maintaining one’s sanity as a waitress and the struggle to make ends meet on a wage supplied by tips, you won’t find it in Waitress: A Memoir. But what you will find is some good-humored, witty stories from someone who’s been around the block and back again, several times over. And it’s very entertaining to read in that format, too!
Though rejecting the traditional format of a memoir, the stories and thoughts presented by Woolery’s sharp wit are alternately funny, disturbing, uplifting, and shocking. If you’ve ever been a waitress, you will identify completely with her tales, and I suspect they may induce flashbacks of times when you were so stressed you could cry. Content warning: waitress stress.
If you have never been a waitress, like me, then you will benefit from reading about the perspective of a server. Some of the things Woolery shared about the habits of people and diners were eye-opening! Perhaps there are few things you could learn from this book to change about yourself to make your waitress/waiter’s job a bit more pleasant?
In any case, you’ll enjoy reading these short little tidbits, each of which are rarely longer than a page. I personally loved Woolery’s casual tone, sarcasm, and general proficiency at expressing herself. I felt like by the end of her book, I really knew who she was. It was almost like I’d met her myself!
I will admit that when I purchased this book, I had been hoping for something in more of a narrative prose style, which is about the only thing that disappointed me about it. It feels a bit more like a collection of Woolery’s Facebook statuses than a traditional novel. And yet, in spite of the unorthodox formatting of the memoir, she used some very descriptive language and her comparisons were very colorful, indicating that she does indeed have talent in prose and poetry. So honestly, you get a little bit of both worlds in this book!
In the end, if you’re looking for a complex, beautifully written, deep and meaningful narrative memoir about maintaining one’s sanity as a waitress and the struggle to make ends meet on a wage supplied by tips, you won’t find it in Waitress: A Memoir. But what you will find is some good-humored, witty stories from someone who’s been around the block and back again, several times over. And it’s very entertaining to read in that format, too!
December 11, 2017
Amazing
As someone who has been in the restaurant business for my whole life this book is bang on . I have read it 4 times and talk about it often.thank you
As someone who has been in the restaurant business for my whole life this book is bang on . I have read it 4 times and talk about it often.thank you
August 12, 2015
I was a waitress (waitron) for the same restaurant chain as the author.
You could served tables anywhere and love this book, or even if you never have served tables.
Angel takes story of bad children, cute old people, bad tippers etc and rolls them into a funny book of blogs that bring back memories.
One thing I would have added is the “family” I felt with the other serves. The funny contests we did to pass the time (throw in a dollar to kitty and at the end of the night different contest: Biggest breasts in your section, the most overweight people, hottest guys, worst comb over)
She also did not say much about the management.
One of her chapters was on customers who hit on her. I had a “cowboy” make the most vulgar comment to me (and I am tough) and when I told my manager he asked him to leave. Gary Buetcher had my undying respect ever since.
Wish I would have written it first!
You could served tables anywhere and love this book, or even if you never have served tables.
Angel takes story of bad children, cute old people, bad tippers etc and rolls them into a funny book of blogs that bring back memories.
One thing I would have added is the “family” I felt with the other serves. The funny contests we did to pass the time (throw in a dollar to kitty and at the end of the night different contest: Biggest breasts in your section, the most overweight people, hottest guys, worst comb over)
She also did not say much about the management.
One of her chapters was on customers who hit on her. I had a “cowboy” make the most vulgar comment to me (and I am tough) and when I told my manager he asked him to leave. Gary Buetcher had my undying respect ever since.
Wish I would have written it first!
July 25, 2019
Waitress
Having been a waitress for 35 years I could relate to much of what Angel experienced and expressed (good & bad). One of my biggest pet peeves was the parents that insisted their children "tell the lady what you want" which they either refused or preceded to speak in their child language that only the parent could understand.....of course during the lunch rush!
Having been a waitress for 35 years I could relate to much of what Angel experienced and expressed (good & bad). One of my biggest pet peeves was the parents that insisted their children "tell the lady what you want" which they either refused or preceded to speak in their child language that only the parent could understand.....of course during the lunch rush!
November 21, 2015
I loved this book!
As a former waitress I can tell you that I believe I waited on some of Angel's customers. This is a witty, fun, laugh out loud, look at the customer service industry.
Thank you Angel for taking us into your world and letting us people watch!
As a former waitress I can tell you that I believe I waited on some of Angel's customers. This is a witty, fun, laugh out loud, look at the customer service industry.
Thank you Angel for taking us into your world and letting us people watch!
November 12, 2021
Bitch, moan, bitch, moan - that is what the author does throughout this poorly written tale chronicling 30 years of misery. I gave this "book" a chance, but after half of the way through I put an end to the torture and walked away, something the author should of done with her career.
May 13, 2015
Funny!
An entirely amusing peek behind the curtain of a waitress' life. Hilarious commentary and witty anecdotal stories make up this read. I wish Angel were my waitress!
An entirely amusing peek behind the curtain of a waitress' life. Hilarious commentary and witty anecdotal stories make up this read. I wish Angel were my waitress!
July 11, 2019
A good read
A very funny book. I had a good laugh all through the book. The things some people do you wouldn't credit it.
A very funny book. I had a good laugh all through the book. The things some people do you wouldn't credit it.
June 23, 2021
Don’t read this book at work
Especially if you are, or have ever been, a server. I laughed so hard tears were streaming down my face.
Especially if you are, or have ever been, a server. I laughed so hard tears were streaming down my face.
March 17, 2024
Just ok....a collection of odds and ends...
March 22, 2025
As a waitress, I was looking forward to relating to some funny anecdotes. Unfortunately, she missed the mark for me. It read as a list of sarcastic complaints with no real context or story.
December 1, 2025
A quick, humorous, and sometimes heartfelt must-read for any server. If you've served any amount of time, you will relate to most if not all of her quips pertaining to all things server-life
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews