A TikTok server named Dean posted a story about the strange excuses he offered customers when part of their food order arrived late, and the video has sparked a strong reaction from viewers. The user, @deanredmonds, who works at a restaurant, described a busy shift during which he had to conceal his own error.
More than 127,000 views and 82 comments have been logged on the platform for this video. Dean’s account involves managing a sizable group order amid several competing requests.
The Vegan Incident
A caution concerning a dietary limit at the table opens the account. It was Dean’s co-worker who raised the alarm about a customer uncertain whether she could partake of a bacon, egg and cheese dish.
“I just had a 30-person table. As I’m putting in their food order, my co-worker comes up to me and he’s like, ‘That vegan over there doesn’t know if she could eat that bacon, egg and cheese.’ So I literally have to run over and slap it out of her hand and be like, ‘You can’t eat any of that, ma’am,’” he begins.
The Order Mistake
The customers were already waiting for their food when Dean noticed that he had failed to place about half of the table’s orders. Rather than inform them of the delay, he decided against telling them they would have to wait still longer.
He claims he thought up a number of explanations for the customers, among them that the chef had suffered an accident on his way to work that morning.
The Manager Call
Dean was approached by the restaurant’s food runner, who informed him that the table wished to speak with a manager. The situation then grew worse.
“The food runner comes back a little bit after and he’s like, ‘They’re asking for our manager.’ I literally think I’m done for. I’m gonna be fired. Until they’re like, ‘So I told them that our manager carpooled with the chef and was also in the accident,’” he recalled.
Viewer Reactions
Viewers reacted in different ways to Dean’s story. A number of them cracked jokes about how he seemed able to make up excuses without any trouble, while a good many others opened up about their own times of deceiving customers.
A single user contributed a post containing the phrase “Dude, you’re an inspiration to fellow waiters and waitresses, keep it up 💀.”.
Another commenter recalled having a very different experience after trying something similar. “But like I lied once and they called me out on it in front of everyone and I died that day,” they said.
“This guy makes me feel like I’m not doing a good enough job covering things up,” another user added.
What the Video Shows
Viewers who work in similar settings offer a range of responses in the comments, while the video itself presents Dean’s account of the incident.
What the story conveys is that restaurant work demands constant problem-solving, and occasionally the solutions come from thinking outside the box.
A Story That Sticks
Many restaurant workers can relate to Dean’s story, even if they have dealt with similar situations in their own way. Some viewers found his account to be a familiar one, while others simply found it entertaining.
The viewer who said they “died” after being caught lying is the counterweight to the amusement. Dean’s story is funny, but it is also a cautionary tale about the pressure of the job and the lengths people will go to in order to save face.
Those who praised Dean’s creativity point to more than simple entertainment. They call the story inspiring, and they say they see themselves in it, though they admit they would not have found the same excuse on their own.
The point here is straightforward: restaurant work is difficult, and at times the best course of action is to make things up on the spot. Dean’s video serves as a reminder of this reality, and it appears to have resonated strongly with individuals who have found themselves in comparable circumstances.
Comments Breakdown
| Comment Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Joke about creativity | “Dude, you’re an inspiration to fellow waiters and waitresses, keep it up 💀.” |
| Warning from personal experience | “But like I lied once and they called me out on it in front of everyone and I died that day” |
| Self-criticism | “This guy makes me feel like I’m not doing a good enough job covering things up” |
Excuse Ranking
- Chef had an accident on the way to work that morning
- Manager carpooled with the chef and was also in the accident
Source material: “Server Says He Forgot Half of a 30-Person Table’s Food, Then Told Customers the Chef Was in an Accident,” The Daily Dot.
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