- A lot of monkey business - The waiting game

Food news

Waiters work for peanuts!

Cath Shone compares monkey waiters to real life waiters and wonders who will come out on top?

Weeeeell... I think we've all seen this one coming for quite some time... monkeys are waiting tables. Yes, the Kayabukiya Tavern in Tokyo has a real monkey serving patrons.

Little Yat-chan hands out hot towels to customers before their drinks, as is the Japanese custom, and wait for it... he serves beers as well.

I was a waitress for nine years, so I know how hard it is. But like in any business, you get professionals, and then you get monkeys.

It might seem like the easiest job in the world – one that any monkey could do. But when it comes down to it, you are solely responsible for your customers having a great time or never coming back and telling 60 of their closest friends about it.

Enter the monkey

Why do people storm out of a restaurant VOWING on their grandmothers' graves NEVER to return? Quite simple… they have taken their hard-earned cash and their night out and put it in the hands of a monkey.

Someone who is not in control of the situation, someone who cannot multi-task or who has no clue about the basic needs of a restaurant patron.

If you wait two hours for your food or the waiter forgets your side order, or God forbid makes the ultimate blunder of over-selling – you are not going to be rushing back. Not even for that perfectly braised lamb shank served with sweet potato mash and apricot coulis... or whatever is sweeping the boards these days.

You might mention the fabulous food to your friends, but imagine the fun you'll have trashing the monkey that served you: He forgot the wine... gave me a blank stare... food took so long...

So I wonder how Japanese customers at the Kayabukiya Tavern will respond to this monkey business. Yat-chan is a big hit at the tavern, and according to the owner is a better waiter than some of the really bad human ones.

This monkey, however, has a chain around his neck, is working for peanuts and maybe gets a banana for a tip. Do you agree with this, and do we really need to put a chain around any waiter's neck?

Sigh...

Check out the video and let us know what you think about this monkey business.

Disgusting I, as a monkey owner, believe it disgusting that these people have been allowed to use these monkeys in this way.. They should be allowed to live in their natural environment and not made to do tasks that are out of their sphere - no matter how intelligent they are. I am praying that one of the animal rescue groups steps in soon to put a stop to it. - Nicky   Monkey waiters I think the monkey waiter is the cutest novelty a restaurant has thought of. Apart from the Health Violations, the waiter won't talk back to you, doesn't over-sell the products, and follows instructions. Maybe he could train the Human Waiters to do the same. - Pips   Monkey waiter What's next? - Kgomotso   Not cute Eating cats & dogs and now this. Whats next? - marion   Monkey. This is really cruel. Using an animal to attract customers to the tavern is not on. I wonder how the owners would like to have a chain around their necks' and have to serve monkeys. - Colin Prout   sigh Some will think its cute, others will want to bring the animal rescue troops in. this is just proof that we all losing it. - postit   Monkey waiters Absolutely disgusting. This is really cruel I think its time zone organization gets involved. - Charmaine   crazy I don't appreciate you idiots slagging off hard working waiting on staff. If you haven't tried it, shut up! - morne       Name Email Subject Comment