Sweetbitter

Previously on Sweetbitter...

Can I actually fail my trails?

Of course. Most people do fail the trails.

Shift drinks. Happens every night.

It's, uh-- it's not a shot.

Uh, no. Of course not.

We're not together. Oh.

We grew up together.

Our job, it's hard.

And then we come here,

and we burn off our shifts.

And you are clearly burning it off.

Pick up, lamb 1, branzino 2, chicken 3.

- Watch it. - Sorry.

Sausage potatoes up! Nice.

Pick up! 19, shrimp 1, strip steak 2, lamb 3.

Oh! Fuck!

Are you fucking kidding me?

- I am so, so sorry. - Pick up tartare B5!

Big head, little arms.

- Excuse me? - What happened?

- I-- - She's fucking up service!

- It burned me. I'm sorry. - No worries, man.

- We got this. - Great.

Will and his new special-needs backwaiter

- "got this." Asshole. - Just some chips for a follow.

Re-fire strip steak, medium-rare, Jesus fuck!

Great.

Now Chef hates me.

- That's not Chef. - That's not?

No, that's Scott. He's a sous-chef.

- Where's Chef? - In Miami?

He's never here anymore. Don't worry about Scott.

You're not the first person to ever drop a plate.

- They're hot. - Yeah.

Hot food. That's the point.

That's why everyone in the restaurant

picks up when Scott calls. Even Howard.

You'll get it. You just have to practice.

- I am. - Ss.

Shake it off. We've got guests.

Hi, folks, there's a tiny bit

of a delay on that strip steak, but hopefully

our famous potato chips will keep you busy for a moment.

- - And with compliments.

Thick cut and double fried.

Thanks.

- That was a nice flourish. - Thanks.

I'll go get the steak.

You know I am trying, right?

I know.

I just dropped a plate.

It's this three-plate carry thing.

Huh. My Achilles heel was tray service.

Believe me, it was a graveyard of broken champagne flutes.

- Simone? - Yes.

I have Serena on the line.

- Oh? - She was hoping we could

squeeze her in tonight.

Show me.

Uh, looks pretty committed.

I could try to bump the Millers

- at 8:00. - No, it's an anniversary.

It was booked six months ago.

I mean, Serena's an alumni

and Mr. Benson is soigné.

Everyone is soigné.

Unfortunately, we can't accommodate

Serena on such short notice.

Well, I can talk to Howard if you'd like.

No. Thank you.

I don't need you to talk to Howard for me.

Got it. Okay.

Who's Serena?

A woman who could three-plate carry.

Hey.

The things that come easily to us

are not what define us.

We find the edges by challenging ourselves.

And we don't drink water on the floor.

Oh, Will, um...

Could you maybe do me a favor?

Ah.

You little thief.

- I'm returning it all. - Mm-hmm.

Is there a leg of prosciutto lying around somewhere

- or? - Ha-ha.

I told you I've been practicing.

Hey, watch this.

I'm actually getting pretty good at it.

Hey?

It's very, very impressive.

Thanks.

I just got to get these plates down.

I'm glad you asked.

Yep.

So...

Does your really athletic boyfriend have any beers or?

Uh, no, no. This is all my stuff.

- Oh. - Yeah, no, I-I love

pumping iron.

Yeah.

No, it's my roommate's, Jesse.

It's his place, but I, uh--I never see him.

He works in finance.

Uh, I've actually never seen him.

- - Hm.

Nice. Thank you.

Okay, so let's start with the tripod.

Are you, um--are you a rightie or are you a leftie?

Uh, rightie.

Then give me your left hand.

So, uh, these...

Ow. Doesn't go that way.

It will.

Um, until your pinkie gets strong enough,

you want to rest most of the plate on your arm.

Mm-hmm.

And then the--the friction from your skin

will keep it in place.

Okay.

But, if you are gonna do it that way,

then you are gonna have to get used to the heat.

Yep.

- This is happening. - Oh, God. Okay.

Mm.

Mm-mm.

That'll do it.

Yep.

Here.

- Ow. - Look at me.

Today, you thought you burned yourself.

That wasn't a burn.

It didn't even leave a mark.

It hurts for a second, and then it fades.

Okay.

- Ready? - Mm-hmm.

Good?

- Yeah. - Okay.

Okay, take it from me.

Mm-hmm.

- Oh - Hey.

- Looks who's doing it. - Yeah.

Is it all right if I kiss you?

You know you said

- that out loud, right? - I do.

Okay.

Does that work for you?

Asking?

I was raised polite.

Please, thank you.

Ma'am.

May I kiss you?

Whoa, wait. No, no, no, no, no.

We're practicing.

I'm doing it.

Pick up, 15. Chicken 1, Strip Steak 2, Orechiette 3.

Sorry--whoa.

- Behind you. - What?

It's considerate to say "behind you"

when you're standing behind someone.

What's wrong with you?

I'm working. Not sure what you're doing.

Pick up, 24. Burger 1,

Orecchiette 2, burger 3, and I need a follow.

Don't even think about it, butterfingers.

- What? - Pick up, Table 24.

Brussels sprouts.

You follow me with that.

And get water.

I'm good at water.

I mean, I made her come three times.

I don't think anyone with a dick is doing that.

Definitely not.

Then why won't she fucking call me back?

Hey, Ari, are we friends?

I'm thinking about it.

Okay, so Will

came over to help me with the three-plate--

Oh, is that what they're calling it now?

I didn't expect it to happen. I just--