Waiters at Pat's Steak House?

In light of the Paula Deen scandal, she was chastised for wanting back men in white suits serve at a wedding. I remember several trips to Pat's where that was the type of waiters they had. Our last dinner was awful and I haven't been back in many years. Is this still their trademark? Is it reverse discrimination?

I remember a time when those black servers in the whites were the finest in the city- a thing to behold and the envy of every other restaurant....

They made Pat's, not the other way around.

I thought about Mike Linnig's when I first heard about the Paula Deen fiasco.

Didn't a lot of the waiter's from Pat's work at Mike Linnig's during the summer ?

I think it depends on whether or not Pat's only hired African American waitstaff and intentionally dressed them to reflect old plantation attire. Also whether or not they had a separate entrance in the back of the building.

Intentionality means a lot when it comes to something like this. If they were doing things for racially charged or influenced reasons, then there is a problem. If they just hired the best applicants for the job and had a standard uniform, then no need for controversy.

Intentionality means a lot when it comes to something like this. If they were doing things for racially charged or influenced reasons, then there is a problem. If they just hired the best applicants for the job and had a standard uniform, then no need for controversy.

No, intentionality has nothing to do with it. It has much more to do with who you are than what you do. The same behavior that condemns Paula Dean is excused if you are the right person or in the right group. It's all about who makes a good target for another round of "2-minute hate".

You can stereotype, if it's in a good way.

Most of those waiters stayed there for decades, for a reason. I'm guessing this thing came about because they brought in their friends and those friends were hired on the spot just because.

In Orlando, we had a similar archetype. The Haitian Prep-Cook. They were so steady, so much fun to work with, that it got to a point where...

'Oh! You're Haitian? You're hired.'

I enjoy Pat's and have always had good service. There seems to be a diversity of wait staff there. One thing for sure is that the people who wait on tables at Pat's can make good money. It is not inexpensive and I would imagine the tips can be quite good. I know I have had excellent service there and never left less than 25% of my bill. I really don't care about the race or gender of my server. I like them when they competent and friendly.

Intentionality means a lot when it comes to something like this. If they were doing things for racially charged or influenced reasons, then there is a problem. If they just hired the best applicants for the job and had a standard uniform, then no need for controversy.

No, intentionality has nothing to do with it. It has much more to do with who you are than what you do. The same behavior that condemns Paula Dean is excused if you are the right person or in the right group. It's all about who makes a good target for another round of "2-minute hate".

I don't buy it. Deen was the "right person" in the "right group." Old, rich, white lady? The only thing that could have helped her more was a healthy set of testicles. Paula Deen is not the victim.

Racism is not ok no matter who is perpetuating it. That may not be the current "is," but it most certainly is the current "ought." Doesn't matter if it's a television "celebrity" or a local restaurant owner.

this is a 2012 Urban Spoon review of Science Hill Inn, Shelbyville KY:

As we showed up at 11:30 am, one of 2 parties in the room not including staff, we stood at the hostess desk for at least 5 minutes with staff looking at me, but never showing us to a table or acknowledging that we even existed. They busied themselves bringing out food to the buffet table and staying in the kitchen. I stood there so long that the table of Colonel Sander's-looking patrons stared at me and I gave them a "what the heck" look back. As I stood there astonished at the lack of service and rubbing my belly, I noticed the antiquated feel of the room, the sparse company, and the fact that every server and kitchen worker there seemed to be not only dressed like a traditional plantation maid/butler, but they were also all African American. I felt like I'd stepped back in time and not in a good way...

Funny, I also thought of Science Hill when reading this post. I had a good dining experience, but there was definitely a feeling that you were back I time. I actually said to my spouse that it felt like being in the movie "The Help" . Maybe it was the morning coats and maid like uniforms, but it was a bit uncomfortable.

I agree about the excellent service, and I am going back to when it was Min's. I just wondered if they now had any white males or females in white coats. Do they favor hiring one sex and race over another at Pat's , Linnig's, Science Hill? I don't know. While many were quick to call Ms Deen a racist, I'm sure many people have seen this in restaurants before the PC days, and probably still do.

Intentionality means a lot when it comes to something like this. If they were doing things for racially charged or influenced reasons, then there is a problem. If they just hired the best applicants for the job and had a standard uniform, then no need for controversy.

No, intentionality has nothing to do with it. It has much more to do with who you are than what you do. The same behavior that condemns Paula Dean is excused if you are the right person or in the right group. It's all about who makes a good target for another round of "2-minute hate".

I don't buy it. Deen was the "right person" in the "right group." Old, rich, white lady? The only thing that could have helped her more was a healthy set of testicles. Paula Deen is not the victim.

Racism is not ok no matter who is perpetuating it. That may not be the current "is," but it most certainly is the current "ought." Doesn't matter if it's a television "celebrity" or a local restaurant owner.

Except that racism and sexism are excused all the time. Like the potential racism of Pat's is talked down and excused instead of unleashing the "2-minute hate" on them.

It's much more interesting to see who gets the benefit of the doubt and who is denounced and repudiated. I'm sure it helps you feel better jumping on the Hate Paula Deen Bandwagon, I'm not sure that it's justice though.

I had the same reaction when we visited the restaurant at Science Hill. It was like walking into a time warp. I understood a bit of what Paula Dean was trying to say. There is something very elegant about the presentation but not in a racist way. A certain dignity to it all. Before you start accusing me of racism I would like to bring up a restaurant in Seattle. The restaurant is Canlis. For many years the waitresses were Asian and wore kimonos. The look was spectacular especially against the interior of that Pan Pacific style architecture. It has been a while since I was there but I know the kimonos are gone and the staff is diverse. But at one time it was breathtaking to see.

I feel it runs more towards this. "We need a server, this guy just quit"
"Hey my -----is looking, they're really good." Ok, send them in. That's why in New Orleans, it's African Americans. In Louisville it's varied enough that one awesome employee sways all of your kitchens. My kitchen and foh varies in huge degrees right now. But it's all through connections.