A or B: My local diner named a sandwich after my divorce and now it's apparently their most popular order
This one gave me a good laugh, and when the poster opens with "This is so stupid," you just know it's going to be good.
Posting his humorous problem online as user ideal_opposition, this recent divorcé described how he became a familiar face at a local diner during his divorce the previous year.
He opened the story, setting the scene with his sandwich order: Turkey Club, extra pickles, a side of fries.
Now say it with your best James Bond impression.
This is what the frequent diner and divorcé had to say:
This is so stupid but I genuinely need opinions.
Last year during my divorce I went to the same diner almost every morning before work. Always ordered the exact same thing, turkey club with extra pickles and a side of fries.
He says that he ordered this "almost" every morning, with a side of complaining about his ongoing divorce.
Ordering a normal lunch sandwich in the morning probably added to the absurdity of all of this for the wait staff, who clearly paid very close attention to this down-on-his-luck customer.
He had been going to this diner, ordering this customization, and complaining about his divorce enough times that the waitress even felt comfortable cracking a joke about it, coining the now-legendary name for the order…
I don't know if you've ever been in this position as the wait staff or customer service before. But making jokes with customers is always a risky move, even if you think you have a strong relationship with them. But when successful, it can be a great way to build a personal connection and rapport with clientele.
Still, I've seen it backfire spectacularly, with offended customers who perceive a joke being made at their expense (even when that wasn't the staff's intention) flying off the handle.
Anyway, in this case, the waitress pulled it off pretty well. The diner seemed to be on board with this joke. At least at this stage.
He states:
The waitress knew what was going on because I'd occasionally complain about my situation. One morning she jokingly called my order the Divorce Special.
However, this "joke" went to another level. When the frequent diner went back after some time away, he was shocked to see his order now on the menu… With an iconic name referencing his now not-so-private situation.
Well I went back recently after not visiting for a few months and they've actually PUT IT ON THE MENU.
It's literally called the Divorce Special.
The legend grew legs and ran.
Unsurprisingly, the order became more and more popular. With the owner telling people of the story (and the misfortune) behind the name. Building another layer to the diner's own story, which surely only helped build rapport with customers.
But this came to a head for the frequent diner when his ex's sister sent him a picture of the menu.
Apparently it became popular enough that they kept it. The owner even told me people ask about the story behind the name.
The worst part? My ex's sister sent me a picture of the menu with about 15 laughing emojis. So clearly word is getting around.
"What you having honey,?"" Should we have the Divorce?"
Going here for lunch and ordering the Divorce would be a heck of a way to tell your spouse that you wanted separation…
For him, this was a tipping point, and he was starting to feel like the bottom-end of the joke. He went to ask the owner to change the name.
But he says that when he asked the diner's owner about it the owner was disappointed about having to change the name of the now-popular combo.
I asked the owner if he'd consider renaming it and he said he would, but seemed genuinely disappointed.
So this has left him wondering whether or not he should let this one go and accept his legendary status… even if it's not one he would have chosen for himself.
A: Ask him to change it. My personal life shouldn't be a menu item.
B: Leave it alone. It's objectively hilarious and probably the only good thing that came out of that divorce.
So what should he do?
"A" Ask the owner to change it?
or
"B" leave it alone.
Let's see what readers had to say.
So what did readers have to say?
Well… B.
Quite unsurprisingly, perhaps.
Of the ~100 counted votes from unique commenters that I could reasonable ascertain the overwhelming leader was option “B” with 80 of the votes going in this direction.
The count went something like this:
A: Change the name - 1 Vote - ~1.0%
B: Keep the name, including inferred support - 80 - ~80%
C: Other or conditional advice - 7 votes - ~7%
Unclear, jokes, or off-topic: ~12 - ~12%
Prevailing sentiment boils down to something along the lines of “don't spoil the joke" and “accept that you're a legend because of this now.” Which I would heartily agree with.
But what do you think? Make sure to cast your vote below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
What should the freqent diner do next? You decide! Cast your vote in the poll below.
What was the specific commentary and advice from the original thread?
Well, take a read for yourself with the gathered most important and top responses below.
The Responses
So what should the frequent diner do? Try to change the course of history or accept his legendary status?
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