How would you like your steak cooked?
Medium.
Okay that will be a hot pink center.
Oh no no no, I don’t like any pink or red in it.
Okay, then I recommend well done.
No, I don’t like it cooked well done. Cook it to medium well.
That will have a slight pink center.
<rolls his eyes> I want it cooked medium with NO PINK.
Then you want it cooked well done.
NO! Cook it MEDIUM WITH NO PINK OR RED!
Sir, that is impossible. If you like your steak gray on the inside then you like it cooked well done.
Ugh fine just cook it to well, but not well done.
“Well” and “well done” are the same thing. “Well done” is just the official and longer name.
No, that’s not right. “Well” is a different temperature than “well done.” Cook my steak to well please. <shoved his menu in my face and gave me the hand flip meaning get lost>
Okay, you got it. A filet mignon, well
I added a satisfying “done” as I walked away from the table shaking my head. I know you are not supposed to argue with the customers, but I could not stand there and tell this man on a business meeting sporting a Rolex that I would have his steak cooked to medium with no pink in the center. His smug attitude from the very beginning let me know that he was trying to make me look like an idiot in front of his clients. We can’t have that now, can we?
The customer is not always right. In fact sometimes they are downright foolish.
The Other Courtney 
It’s a good thing I’m not in the food service business…I wouldn’t have been as nice as you. Probably would have got fired in the spot for putting him in his place. Your patience amazes me. Give me babies any day over working with the general public!!!
I agree with Charlotte! The food business is not for me. I do not have nearly enough charm or patience for that man’s (and every other rude customer’s)nonsense! Kudos to you for being a great server & knowing when to put people in their place!!
Well…we really aren’t supposed to argue with guests at all. What I *should* have done is say “okay medium with no pink or red in the center, got it” and just ordered it well done. BUT I CANNOT let people be idiots like that haha! I DID fight back one time, like REALLY fought with a guest to where she was SCREAMING at me and I was laughing in her face and nearly screaming back. I think that was my only “get out of jail free card” at work so now I have to be a good girl 😀 haha