Waiter Rant
In roughly bi-weekly installments, Dublanica wrote vignettes about the lives of wait staff and customers. Dublanica originally wrote the blog anonymously as "The Waiter."
Dublanica’s writing style, shtick, and ability to give the reader something they need have caused this blog to become wildly popular in the United States as well as parts of Europe, Asia, and Australasia. On July 29, 2008, the book Thanks for the Tip – Confessions of a Cynical Waiter, based on the blog, was published. The accompanying PR, including TV appearances, meant that “The Waiter” had to give up his anonymity.
The book spent five weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list in 2008.
The stories were originally about "The Bistro," in New York City where Dublanica worked for seven years through 2006. New York Magazine later revealed that "The Bistro" is Lanterna Tuscan Bistro in Nyack, New York.
Later stories were about "Café Machiavelli." On July 19, 2008, Dublanica announced that he had quit his job at Café Machiavelli in preparation for his book's publication. Dublanica planned not to go back to the restaurant industry, although he would continue his blog.
Waiter Rant was one of five finalists for "Best American Weblog" for the 2006 Bloggie Awards.
Waiter Rant won "Best Writing in a Weblog" in the 2007 Bloggie Awards.
Announced January 27, 2007, Dublanica's piece Cold Autumn is included in the W.W. 1 (2007).
On July 8, 2008, Dublanica announced he would shed his anonymity and participate in a book signing and Q&A discussion at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, July 29th at Borders Books inside the Time Warner Building in Manhattan He revealed himself as Steve Dublanica in an interview with the New York Post on July 29th.
On September 29, 2008, Dublanica announced that his book had been optioned for TV.
Usual topics
Dublanica's topics of choice run the gamut from rude customers to bad tippers to conversations had throughout the day.
There are also often posts about things occurring outside the restaurant which lead him to observations and reflections. There are many references to his past as a seminarian, as well as posts referencing his work in mental health care at an undisclosed psychiatric hospital.
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