Waiter to the Rich and Shameless

Confessions of a Five Star Beverly Hills Server

By: Paul Hartford

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A down-and-out musician chops off his hair to become a server at the top of the Hollywood food chain, discovering a cloistered world of money, fame, bad behavior, and intrigue.

Waiter to the Rich and Shameless is not just a peek into the secretive inner workings of a legendary five-star restaurant; it is not just a celebrity tell-all or a scathing corporate analysis. It is a top-tier waiter's personal coming-of-age story, an intimate look into the complicated challenges of serving in the country's most elite, Hollywood-centric dining room while fighting to maintain a sense of self and purpose.

Of the many millions of food service workers around the globe, only a tiny number ever ascend to a top-level position at a world-renowned restaurant catering to iconic celebrities, moguls, and politicians. As one of those select few, Paul ("Pauli") Hartford is the first waiter to open the door into a cloistered, coveted world of money, fame, bad behavior, and intrigue. He peels back the veneer of civility and culture at the nation's most preeminent celebrity hangout, the Cricket Room, in Beverly Hills, California. He exposes the epic human foibles of its elite clientele, the dining room's corrupt corporate culture, its clandestine culinary practices, and the heartbreaking struggles of its beleaguered waitstaff.

This keenly-observed story also traverses Pauli's 10-year evolution from a jaded, party-hungry rock musician who moonlights as a bartender, into a snobbish and pretentious waiter, and finally into a polished and sophisticated server who takes his job so seriously that it drives him to the brink of illness. Pauli finds himself at first seduced by his famous guests' glamour and self-indulgence, then accustomed to it, and finally appalled by it.

For obvious reasons, some details and specifics about the real Cricket Room have been cleverly disguised, but discerning listeners will easily connect the dots.

©2014 Paul Hartford (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Wow

Very interesting read! I knew the restaurant business is hard work but I have a new appreciation. I'm glad to know that Johnny Depp is as cool as I've always imagined :)

Love a Good Industry Tell All!

Having worked in the same industry (albeit back-of-house) for 30+ years, the life is pretty much the same. Comiserate along!! Great listen / read!

Excellent!

I loved this book! Right from the beginning, you feel like the author is speaking directly to you. The person narrating on audible did a great job telling the story and had a very fitting tone for the overall feel. It was interesting, entertaining, and frequently comical. I'm assuming the people who wrote bad reviews because of it being "vulgar" didn't understand the initial warning. The author explains right in the beginning that it's a book about his life, which involves working in a restaurant and warns the reader of some adult content. The word "shameless" is in the title; what else did you expect!? The majority of content we read without conflict, deviation from the norm, and a little vulgarity is usually pretty dull anyway. So, yeah, if you were looking for some spiritual awakening or Christ-driven inspiration, this probably wasn't the book for you, and you should've listened to the warning. Anyone that likes to laugh and can appreciate a good story that is probably relatable to most- will enjoy this book!

Great!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! So many interesting, wild, and funny stories. Outstanding narrator too!

amazing

If you work in this type of environment you will enjoy reading it and not only that but you will see your self in first person active as the main character. Great reading! Thanks for sharing your stories... .................

Not quite as many stars as the "Cricket Room"

For the most part, it was a really enjoyable story. The author, a conceited fellow who must be a product of his LA / music scene environment, tells his own story with skill and an entertaining flair.

Much of his humour and POV is sexist misogyny, which got old and annoying quickly. Again, this is likely a product of the time and place.

I enjoyed the stories of the patrons antics, the descriptions of the meals, and I have a much deeper appreciation for the art of service than I did before listening to this book.

My partner and I save up through the year to have one 5-star dining experience per year on our anniversary, and we've always appreciated the effect of truly excellent food and service, which is why we will spend $500+ on a single meal for a very special occasion. The author truly appreciates and enjoys creating this experience as well, and it was great to get the server's perspective.

Even at a 5-star restaurant, it is still exceptional to receive the type of service he described.

Not what I expected, but interesting

Much of the authors private life and debauchery is presented, but this and the life as an upper class waiter was interesting.

A Binge readers delight

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Its fun to read especially if you have worked in the restaurant and service business. But even if you haven't you can learn something new.

What did you like best about this story?

That the rock star, want- to- be, got over himself and found some truth. The story is revealing and with authenticity. When Pauli was serving J Depp and his family he saved them from having an allergic reaction to foods he knew they couldn't eat and also managed to sell a very expensive bottle of wine , which then in the end was not preferred

What does James Patrick Cronin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Character and expression makes one pay more attention to detail.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Pauli's wife is such a saint its amazing that she would actually put up with him and his friendship with Jens.

Any additional comments?

Its a page turner, a binge readers delight! What's next??

Wow!

I am not sure what I expected from this book but I must say, it was great! It was the perfect amount of celebrities and how they really are and the life of a server! I really enjoyed the honesty that I heard from Paul throughout the book.

Fly on the wall. Loved the sneak peek.

I enjoyed the view into Hollywood. This writer pulled into the story and didn't let me go until the last page.