| For my restaurant review, I chose a restaurant | | | | One interesting question I asked him is "Who is |
| called South Park located on 9th and Salmon. I | | | | your clientele?" He replied that "We get |
| know a Sous chef by the name of Dan Johnson. | | | | everybody" |
| He has been in the restaurant industry for over | | | | I had to ask him to be more specific because |
| 15 years. He started out as a dishwasher for | | | | "everybody" could mean transients off the |
| some small restaurant in the early 90's and | | | | streets. Then he said that there are many |
| worked his way up to becoming a chef. Since | | | | business people dining during the week. They hold |
| then he has bounced from restaurant to | | | | special events or known as banquets. He also said |
| restaurant. Some famous restaurants he worked | | | | for race that there are many Asian customers |
| at are Portland Steak and Chop House, the | | | | who come in with there families. I also had asked |
| Brasserie, and Harbor Side. | | | | him if there any "regulars." He said there are |
| During the interview I asked him the 19 questions | | | | people who are there weekly, and then there are |
| and since he is back of the house, some of them | | | | customers there nightly who drink at the bar for |
| he was clueless about. One piece of information | | | | social activity. |
| that he explained to me is that with the WCI | | | | I asked him about marketing and if South Park |
| graduates, they flood the restaurant market in | | | | does any advertising. He was unsure but he did |
| Portland. There is a lot of competition but he is | | | | know that customers comment about the fish |
| always successful at finding a job with his | | | | coming out of the corner of t he outside of the |
| experience. At some jobs he has applied for, | | | | restaurant. He thought that might attract some |
| there are "chef tests" where he has to make a | | | | customers interested in eating seafood. I asked |
| certain item in order to get a job. He claims that | | | | him what were his three greatest problems and |
| he doesn't get nervous while taking these tests | | | | challenges. He said that it is easy to lose your |
| with the executive chef over his shoulder. But | | | | temper in the back of the house. But since they |
| who knows. | | | | are an open kitchen, he can't use profanity or yell |
| This restaurant he works at should be white table | | | | really loud. He has to keep a professional profile at |
| cloth. But due to their concept it isn't. Instead, it's | | | | all times while on the line. He also complained that |
| wood tables. At every table is a bottle of wine | | | | he never gets a weekend off because he has a |
| for decoration. The server will remove the bottle | | | | set schedule of Thursday through Monday. |
| after he or she greets the customer. The bar is | | | | Conclusion: |
| awesome. It's round and has a metal top. A | | | | I would say that South Park probably does not |
| curtain or drapery separates the restaurant from | | | | want to expand. It is a wonderful establishment |
| the bar. I notice some bottles of wine sitting | | | | that will be there for years to come. I am not |
| around, but most of them must be in the back. | | | | sure why the previous restaurant went out of |
| The food they serve is almost all seafood. Many | | | | business or if it was bought out then changed by |
| different kinds of fish and shrimp are served. The | | | | the owner of South Park. I enjoyed conducting |
| fish includes salmon, halibut, snapper, and tuna. | | | | the interview and learned new information about |
| Every restaurant has an exception when it comes | | | | the place. For example, I thought the restaurant |
| to their food concept. So they also serve pastas, | | | | had been there for about 30 years. But it is |
| New York steaks and sandwiches. There are also | | | | newer than I had originally thought. I know in |
| many desserts and salads to chose from. The | | | | Portland there is plenty of competition among the |
| price range per plate is $15-$30. | | | | seafood restaurants. |
| South Park has been around since May of 1998. | | | | Without being nosy, I wanted to know the rate |
| There was already an existing restaurant in its | | | | of pay for somebody like Dan who had been in |
| place. They have and open kitchen which is unique. | | | | the industry for more than 15 years. He only |
| They also have a brick oven which is displayed to | | | | makes $11.15 an hour and won't be getting |
| the customers. There is always a flame burning in | | | | another raise for about 6 months. He doesn't |
| the oven, but I have never seen anything baked | | | | receive any tips because he is in the back of the |
| in there. | | | | house. Talk about a dead-end job. |