Thursday, October 13, 2005
86
The debate is still going on about the term "86". To "86" an item in the restaurant industry means that we are out of something. Three things happen at this time: 1) Mike goe$ to the Kitchen Manager to inve$tigate why he can't $erve a cu$tomer $omething that they wi$h to purcha$e (becau$e he i$ lo$ing dollar$). 2) Mike's head seperates from his spine and spins around three times (also known as a caniption fit). 3) Mike announces to the staff that we are out of a certain item, and goes to the back of the restaurant to cry. The following is an article that I found through Google on the explanation of the term "86". Enjoy!
For those not familiar with the expression, to ‘eighty-six’ something in a restaurant is to indicate you are out of that item. There are many stories of the origin of this expression. Here are a few of them. #1 and #2 seem more likely to me, but who knows!
1) Chumley's, a bar in Greenwich Village, which during speakeasy days threw unruly customers out the back door, which is number 86 Bedford Street - they were '86'd.'
2) Same bar, Chumley's same time period - the front door address was 86 Worth Street and there was a chalk board inside the front door with the address painted across the top - the chalkboard was where items that had been sold out were posted - it soon became known as the "86" board.
3) Same time period, maybe the same bar, when a new customer (not a regular) came into the speakeasy, the bartender would "86" them - serve them 86 proof booze instead of the 100 or higher proof stuff reserved for the regulars.
4) Similar to #3: drunks were given 86 proof booze instead of higher proof stuff they had been drinking.
5) Same city, different restaurant - Delmonico's at the turn of the century had a menu with more than 100 items. They always seemed to be out of #86, and it became an expression used by the service staff meaning to be out of something - 86'd.
6) Same city (New York) The old Manhattan subway route ended at 86th Street. That's it, all out, can't go further, everybody out. You were 86'd.
7) A grave is 8 feet long, 6 feet deep. 86'd.
8) French soldiers in WW I were issued 85 bullets - and that's it!
For those not familiar with the expression, to ‘eighty-six’ something in a restaurant is to indicate you are out of that item. There are many stories of the origin of this expression. Here are a few of them. #1 and #2 seem more likely to me, but who knows!
1) Chumley's, a bar in Greenwich Village, which during speakeasy days threw unruly customers out the back door, which is number 86 Bedford Street - they were '86'd.'
2) Same bar, Chumley's same time period - the front door address was 86 Worth Street and there was a chalk board inside the front door with the address painted across the top - the chalkboard was where items that had been sold out were posted - it soon became known as the "86" board.
3) Same time period, maybe the same bar, when a new customer (not a regular) came into the speakeasy, the bartender would "86" them - serve them 86 proof booze instead of the 100 or higher proof stuff reserved for the regulars.
4) Similar to #3: drunks were given 86 proof booze instead of higher proof stuff they had been drinking.
5) Same city, different restaurant - Delmonico's at the turn of the century had a menu with more than 100 items. They always seemed to be out of #86, and it became an expression used by the service staff meaning to be out of something - 86'd.
6) Same city (New York) The old Manhattan subway route ended at 86th Street. That's it, all out, can't go further, everybody out. You were 86'd.
7) A grave is 8 feet long, 6 feet deep. 86'd.
8) French soldiers in WW I were issued 85 bullets - and that's it!
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Alright $atan, running Hell's Kitchen in Au$stel. Don't be making it a regular thing that your head $tart$ $pinning...I $till won't watch the Exorci$t! And $ ain't everything!!!...Although that did make me laugh out loud!
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# posted by 
: 9:13 AM, October 13, 2005
: 9:13 AM, October 13, 2005 << Home
