Forget Downton Abbey, class warfare rages in full color in the dining rooms of the posh enclave of Palm Beach, Florida. Why isn't all that soft, cushioned money making the residents kinder? At a dining club Saturday night some rich dude named John Castle (yes, really, Castle) BROKE A WAITER'S FINGER. What did the waiter, Paul Kucik, do to deserve such harsh corporeal punishment? He dared present the bill as requested by Castle's wife. "You schmuck, why did you bring the bill to the table?" he reportedly snarled, before grabbing the waiter's hand and twisting his fingers.
The waiter declined to flatter the diner with "Oh my, Castle, what strong hands you have." He also hasn't pressed charges yet, but after getting an x-ray to confirm that the non-handshake had broken his left ring finger he retained a lawyer. As you do.
To be fair (I say, rolling my eyes) presenting the bill at the table simply isn't done at a dining club. It's supposed to arrive at your secretary's desk the following morning tied to the tender coral feet of an alabaster dove. Everyone knows that. But the customer is always right, and the waiter was just following her ladyship's orders.
Anyway, if you've ever spent time in the playgrounds of the tragically wealthy you may have noticed it doesn't always bring out the best in people. We stopped into a diner there one afternoon last winter (not because we're fancy but because I goofed the flight reservations and had us fly out of the PB airport instead of Miami). The waitress there was was oddly delighted to work with us and she eventually admitted, in hushed tones, that most of the patrons in that town were not exactly easy to deal with and it was just really nice to see some regular people. Then she glanced over her shoulder, wiped away a tear, and hurried off to another table.
Maybe it's that combination of old age and money that makes the denizens of Palm Beach especially (sorry, can't help myself) Palm Bitchy. I mean, these people don't even want a farmer's market on their fair island because it would attract undesirables. Maybe they're confusing farmer's market with flea market? Maybe delicious food make them angry? I don't know, but waiting tables should never be this dangerous!
Why do you think a diner would break a waiter's fingers like that?
Image via Club Colette/Facebook
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Comments 56
Thus has nothing to do with you.
Broken bones hurt, no mater how small. Your hands get used for everything. I wish I could also u with mine.
I don't know why we're bashing Kisses - I've learned quite a bit just reading her examples. It's not like she said the guy deserved to have his fingers smashed. That said, if this had happened to me I probably wouldn't have sued. We would have had a Jershey Shore meets Basketball Wives meets UFC moment, lol. And when it's over I can invite Mr. Castle to sue ME, I'm now an unemployed waiter.
totally agree with Gecko!!!
Granite on Jan 13, 2012 at 2:28 AM
Do you reallllllllly want to know what happens? I will tell you. A wife request the ticket you smile and say sweetly "I understand Mrs. Soso". Then you refer the request to the captain. Who takes care of it. There are times that theses dinners can go on and on and wives try to rush the husbands off. No one calls the dinner over except the host. Sometimes the bill can be well into the tens of thousands..and that is why the bill is auditied It is a very delicate business and slighting a patron can cost a restaurant thousands and thousands of dollars. Should the man have broken his fingers? NO from the very first post I said that it was uncalled for.. But I will stand by that the waiter shouldn't be working above his station... if he doesn't understand protocol go serve at Olive Garden!
I'd sue him