A Day With a Dishwasher at a Top NYC Restaurant | On the Job | Priya Krishna | NYT Cooking

I know he seems okay with it and I understand the logistics of it, but man, it's not fair he has to spend his hard earned money on a meal across the street after cleaning up after his colleagues' family meal! He's a talented dude. Dre and Keith deserve a literal seat at the table!

Big L to the restaurant and managers to not save a plate of food for dishwashers who are busting their ass to keep the dishes clean.

Dre and Keith deserve better, hopefully new opportunities come their way after this video

Though it stressed me out to see Dre and Keith not getting to have family dinner, I have nothing but admiration for their work ethic and positive attitude. Dre does an important job at the restaurant with grace and joy. A beautiful thing to see and I hope he gets to realize all of his dreams!

My dad washed dishes for 25 years. When I was in jr high he worked at two restaurants. Came home from one, ate dinner, and went to the next. He enjoyed his job and did it well. I was embarrassed to tell my friends that my dad was a dishwasher until I got a chance to work with him my sophomore year in high school. I realized how wrong I was and became very proud of him and his dedication. Dishwashers are essential and deserve mad respect. RIP dad, thanks for working hard to provide for us! ❤

The fact that the owners of this restaurant do not have their dishwashers partake in family meal is APPALLING

The fact that these guys spends and extra hour and half to make sure that everyone else is able to eat and enjoy a meal he hasn’t seen partaken in is insane. They are so thankless and I hope they are given a chance to peruse their dreams. They are so cooperative and supportive. I love to see it

Absolutely horrible to see how Gage & Tollner are treating their dishwashers. Most companies would dream of having employees like Dre and Keith, yet they are not included in the "family dinner"?

The fact the head chef doesn’t make sure they are included in on the “family” meal says a lot.

As unfair as it is that Dre & others were unable to participate in “family dinner”, I got so much more out of this video. That young man is golden. He spoke highly of his workplace, duties & team members. He kept a smile on his face & never bashed the demands of the employer. I hope this video opens doors for him that provides him an opportunity to do what his heart desires. We’re complaining on his behalf but he kept his integrity in tact & mastered the ability to be thankful instead of highlighting the down side of things. He will be blessed even more. This is not his end all be all. Thank you for introducing us to this wonderful person.

I worked in the industry for a few years before going back to school - there was one night where our dishwasher cut his hand open on a broken cup. The entire service came to a screeching halt; nobody could bring out food because of lack of dishes or cutlery (or as we called, "wraps"). It took 3-4 people all at once to try to get things going again & to attempt to clean at his same rate and even then, they achieved 50% efficiency at best. They are unsung heroes, I always appreciated our dishwasher.

PS if you are in the industry, always try to clean your dish before handing it to them! Every small bit of cleared food means 1-2 less seconds required to clear it prior to spraying it down. It adds up over the course of the service.

These two amazing men deserve better. I can’t help but feel the restaurant is taking advantage of their kind humble natures.

pretty pathetic and embarassing that the dre/keith isnt included in the family meal especially at a table service restaurant. heck, i washed dishes at pizzeria and a brasserie and we all got family meal. they dont deserve dre and keith.

I own a restaurant ... I will wash dishes before I left someone on the team miss Family. Leaders eat last!! These guys are the backbone ...

dre is such a gentleman 😔 he’s the last to eat and doesn’t complain. he doesn’t want to leave keith overwhelmed . he’s a sweetheart

As someone who did dishwashing job in the past I can totally relate, it’s very fast paced job and often time you don’t even have time to eat lunch. This jobs deserve 25$ / hour !!! RESPECT

The chef de cuisine actually rolls her eyes when first hearing about the bottom of the hierarchy, aka Dre and Keith. Then she contradicts herself by saying all jobs should be respected but then says there is a hierarchy, which is clear when Dre and Keith aren't saved food from the family meal and are not offered a seat at the table. Is that the respect she was talking about? You know Dre and Keith (and the other dishwashers) are doing the most laborious work to keep this place running, so treat them right!

It's been said but it needs to be repeated! 
I get (but don't love) that logistics (and hierarchy) may make it difficult for Dre and Keith to actually sit down for family meal BUT the restaurant management should be flat out ashamed of themselves that they don't even provide them with a meal/plate/food to eat when they have the time. I mean, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? That is just plain despicable.
Shout out to the dignified and stellar Dre, Keith and dish pit crew.

This young man is absolutely gold. He is an inspiration . And what an attitude!... He carries himself with respect yet he is modest. He is neat and clean and organized. He is articulate and has exceptional communication skills and people skills. He is willing to do humble menial tasks with the bigger goal in sight. He has a dream he is following. He is not a complainer. Instead he compliments others generously. He expresses himself through dance and so obviously loves being around people and feels comfortable receiving attention in public. He doesn't mind hard demanding work standing on his feet all day. This young man is a jewel of a human being! Please someone in the business marketing or business finance industry get this kid into a mentorship program or scholarship program. ASAP!

I was a dishwasher at a busy restaurant for one summer many years ago. It was the hardest job I've ever had. The worst part was how I was treated by co-workers, since the dishwasher is the least respected restaurant worker. The salad maker literally ridiculed me and treated me like garbage. Nobody ever said a nice word to me or offered me a meal. It's a nightmare job and the guys who do it deserve total respect.