“The logic of that move was impeccable, however...” These were the first words I recall from a series of lessons from my youth. The subject was not chess, but dinner service, and my teacher was the inimitable Jonathan Waters. I was wheeling a bussing cart toward the dumbwaiter, past a recently vacated table, and I’d stopped to collect a coffee cup or two. Mine was an efficient decision, and Jonathan a wise and gentle manager, so he complimented my choice before explaining that this was not how things were done. Bus tubs stay out of sight and carts keep moving; it was integral to the theater of service that guests remain blissfully unaware of anything remotely unsightly.

I learned that a good waiter does more than just get the order right, that there are hundreds of decisions that go into providing the best service. Why leave the salt and pepper on the table once entrees have been cleared? Why place the cappuccino with the cup handle pointing away from the guest? The term hospitality comes from the Latin hospitalitas, meaning friendliness to visitors, travelers or strangers, but the best hospitality requires imagining oneself in the place of one’s guest, and by doing so, anticipating their needs and desires before they arise. When practiced with confidence and skill, good hospitality provides nourishment and respite to the guest, and they feel cared for, because they are, and it’s good to feel cared for.

At Oakland Yard, Daniel and I have been fortunate in our effort to maintain a team of coworkers who understand why we do what we do, colleagues who know it’s not about the money, not about the exhaustive details of a wine’s production, and not about finding the perfect bottle to pair with an important meal, so much as it’s about connecting with people, getting them to relax their guard and remove their protective armor long enough to really feel cared for. Thank you Erica, Pablo, Ezra, Liv, Brenda, Anna, Caleb and Crystal. And those who came before you. Thank you for upholding Oakland Yard’s commitment to genuine hospitality. Your years of thoughtful service echo warmly in our space and provide the inspiration for us to continue on our careful mission.

Gratefully,

Max