Waiter to the Rich and Shameless: Confessions of a Five-Star Beverly Hills Server

by Paul Hartford

A down-and-out musician chops off his hair to become a server at the top of the Hollywood food chain, discovering a cloistered world of money, fame, bad behavior and intrigue.

Waiter to the Rich and Shameless is not just a peek into the secretive inner workings of a legendary 5-star restaurant; it is not just a celebrity tell-all or a scathing corporate analysis. It is a top-tier waiter's personal coming-of-age story, an intimate look into the complicated challenges of serving in the country's most elite, Hollywood-centric dining room while fighting to maintain a sense of self and purpose.

Of the many millions of food service workers around the globe, only a tiny number ever ascend to a top-level position at a world-renowned restaurant catering to iconic celebrities, moguls and politicians. As one of those select few, Paul ("Pauli") Hartford is the first waiter to open the door into a cloistered, coveted world of money, fame, bad behavior and intrigue. He peels back the veneer of civility and culture at the nation's most preeminent celebrity hangout, the Cricket Room, in Beverly Hills, California. He exposes the epic human foibles of its elite clientele, the dining room's corrupt corporate culture, its clandestine culinary practices, and the heartbreaking struggles of its beleaguered waitstaff.


This keenly-observed story also traverses Pauli's ten-year evolution from a jaded, party-hungry rock musician who moonlights as a bartender, into a snobbish and pretentious waiter, and finally into a polished and sophisticated server who takes his job so seriously that it drives him to the brink of illness. Pauli finds himself at first seduced by his famous guests' glamour and self-indulgence, then accustomed to it, and finally appalled by it.


For obvious reasons, some details and specifics about the real Cricket Room have been cleverly disguised, but discerning readers will easily connect the dots.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Audiobook, Humor, Biography, Food

ebook

First published December 11, 2014

About the author

In order to become Hollywood's top Waiter to the Rich and Shameless, Paul “Pauli” Hartford had to abandon his long-haired rocker dude persona and double down on his dedication to five-star servitude. After several turbulent years at the top of his waiting game, Hartford comes clean in this daring confessional, dishing about everything from debauchery to deification at the Beverly Hills hot spot he's cleverly calling the “Cricket Room” to avoid being sued to hell and back.

Paul Hartford's work experience includes almost twenty years in the high-profile service industry, catering to topline clients in various exclusive establishments. Before his decade of service in the iconic Cricket Room, he worked in the executive dining room of a major Hollywood movie studio and spent several years as a bartender in an elite downtown nightclub.

As a noted musician and vocalist who has performed in Europe, Asia and America, Hartford has written over 100 songs and has landed musical licensing deals with several feature films and TV shows. Conversely, as a top-tier waiter, Hartford earned a six-figure salary and frequent trips to a therapist.

The “Waiter to the Rich and Shameless” ebook has spent over eighteen months on Amazon's #1 Best Seller list since it's release. Hartford is developing a TV pilot based on the book as well as a sequel, “Waiter to the Rich and Shameless 2.” He is also hard at work on his second screenplay and a new rock album. Paul Hartford is currently living in NY with his wife who is attending University for her PHD in Science.

(Just for the record: Pauli hates up-state NY.)

Bon appetit!

Reviews

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only thought that comes to me is the writer's expression 'I love me, who do you love?'

This is a tale of how good this fella considers himself to be as a waiter in a poshy restaurant and how much better it (and the world) would be if he ran it. As well, he places his customers on his ladder on the basis of how much he gets as a tip for his service. Full stop.

5% of the book breaks from the story line to describe either the outfits worn by the customers or the ingredients of the meal/s on menu.

I was extremely tempted to quit reading after the first 4 or 5 chapters but I thought I'd find out if he managed to get a halo implanted to shine above his head in recognition of his own skills.

Don't bother.

[Mike Zickar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed a lot about this book. . . the author writes fascinatingly about evenings serving a mixture of celebrities including Rod Stewart, Russell Crowe, Johnny Depp, and nearly all Hollywood stars and moguls (surprise, Donald Trump was a jerk). He also does a good job describing the tension between a corporate run establishment where macro decisions are made from people in a faraway place, while staff are stuck trying to maintain their own dignity and preserve the culture that made the restaurant and its workplace culture a special place.

But a couple of things. . . first, the book could have used a bunch of editing. Although the author's European honeymoon sounds amazing, most readers picked up the book to read about his experiences waiting tables, not to get travel tips. The writing can be self-indulgent at times. Also, the author has a real juvenile attitude toward women. Throughout the book, I can see him grappling with that. It seems like he has grown up throughout the timespan covered in this book, and seems to have a nice respectful marriage, a true union of partners. But why maintain the old sexist language that he once used? Calling women girls, focusing on the size of breasts, using the metaphor something was as good as "great porn." This language just became wearing and tiresome and offensive.

There you have it. I applaud Mr. Hartford on writing a good first book. I think his editor should have helped him tone done some of his excesses.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

I HATED this book. I hated the pretentiousness of the writer and the absolutely foul language. I don't know what possessed me to buy it, because it's nothing but a bunch of name-dropping by a wannabe rock star loser. Wow, was this awful.

[Randal White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see all of the negative reviews posted about this book, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed it. Far from thinking that the author was a self a absorbed egomaniac, I rather liked him. What's wrong with being proud of yourself, your knowledge of your job, your desire to be the best you can be, or to expect others to try their best also? I think most successful people would fall into this category.
I especially enjoyed the spilling of secrets about all the "famous" people the author waited on. Talk about a Who's Who of celebrities! I bet there was some real heartburn by some of them when they read this.
Witty, acid tongued, funny; Hartford excelled at his story telling. I'm glad he found the courage to act on his desired life change, and hope that he finds happiness in his endeavors.

[Xia and the Giant TBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you rate the life of a man?
I sincerely have no idea.
This might very well be the first and last autobiography I ever read.

Should I rate the cussing and the disrespectful descriptions of the famous guests dining at the Cricket Room just because I don't approve? Then I would be a total hypocrite. When I read fiction I prefer the book to be written in the voice of the character, not in the voice of the author. Why should I judge a non-fiction book differently, if that was the real voice of the author?

Should I rate the wow factor of the stories presented in the book about the rich and shameless? I found out Russell Crowe walks around with a possy and entertains like a king holding court. Johnny Depp knows his wine, Kate Hudson has a nice ass, Colin Farrell tips like an "European" and Gore Vidal was charming till his last days. The children of the Beverly Hills billionaires acted like arrogant entitled pricks and the abandoned ex-wives of the rich men of Beverly Hills were absolutely pitiful to read about. I did not care for any of these stories, but why should I take it out on the book because it didn't meet the level of scandal I was looking for? Maybe I'm just weird and too demanding and have read too much strange stuff and have now become jaded.

What I did enjoy reading about were the author's escapades with Jens. Jens, the waiter, was a gangbanging, coke sniffing, party craving maniac who could look as neat as a button after a several days of hard partying. He was just like that colleague I once had when I was a competing swimmer, who could drink the entire night before an important competition, then spill his guts by the pool and casually win the gold medal. I usually had to take days off to recover after one lost night partying, so f**k that guy!

I also enjoyed reading about the passion the author had for his work. There is this book called "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Miller that says “A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does” and “It doesn’t matter what you do, only how well you do it.” Paul Hartford seemed to have loved his job at the Cricket Room and took pleasure from doing his job very well and I have nothing but respect for that.

I found out that reading about the drinks and the fancy dishes prepared for the "rich and famous" felt more exciting to me than the stories inside the Cricket Room. If you are a foodie I recommend this book to you.

3.75 stars-ish...

A copy was provided for review via Booktasters NonFiction.

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read and one I shared with people almost the entire time I was reading it. I loved the celebrity encounters...hey, I'm that kind of girl and not shy to admit it. I also bartended and waitressed for a couple years, so that made the story that more interested...although I never waited on the rich. Shameless, maybe, but not rich.

I'd like to thank all the reviews prior to mine who said that Pauli's restaurant was probably the Polo Lounge because I had no idea and really wanted to know. As such, I'm going to research it a bit and probably add a dinner there to my bucket list...based solely on this book.

Five stars if Paul would've had even more celebrity stories...I loved hearing where he went with his life, about his honeymoon that changed his outlook on life, his interest in meditating, etc., but I read the book for the silly, fun, unacceptable celebrity encounters.

And I was glad to hear a GOOD story about Russell Crowe.

Read this if you're into pop culture, seeing how the "other half live", want an introduction to wine, like reading about food. This book has it all.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed with this book beyond the writer's dedication to service. He was lengthy in unnecessary details and crude in his language. If I had to read the word 'crap' one more time, I was going to do it. I've waited tables before and have the utmost respect for all in the service industry. I just wish this was less about his cocaine and sex fueled life and more about actual Hollywood tales. He wasn't reporting anything people didn't already know.

[J.P. Willson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truthfully I am not sure where to begin.
Having worked in the food-service industry for thirty-five plus years, there was something that was just 'off' throughout the entire book. It was not until I read the authors epilogue, yup the end of the book, this is where I became offended.
"...but to pay the bills I kept falling back into my old ways:service jobs."
"...finally decided that day that I can't be that buttoned-up fucking cardboard figure of a waiter or butler..."
My apologies to anyone in the industry that had to read this drivel that would make their chosen career appear to be meaningless and subservient. The author worked as a waiter and a bartender for what I can figure from his description- ten plus years if not many more than that. I'm sorry Mr. Hartford, you had a passion for the industry just like the rest of us you have referred to as 'peons' (my words not the authors) do because we have chosen this as our lifestyle.
I personally don't give a crap whether you're serving some famous self-indulgent snot, or whether it's your neighbor- each person deserves the same respect. As a professional in this industry if you do not realize this little fact than you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.
I found the book itself to be redundant, the repetition of the practices of service, the stemware the plate-ware, the constant descriptions of the same things over and over with each new story of the wealthy clienteles asinine behavior, unnecessary. Why the wedding in Italy was even a part of the book eluded me.
To be honest, I would have been more worried about offending your supposed friends in the industry than I would have been about getting sued for printing the actual name of the Polo Lounge as mentioned in the beginning of the book.

[Pippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a celebrity or a foodie fan then you will love this!

Ever wondered what celebrities get up to when we are not watching, wouldn’t you love to get a glimpse behind closed doors to judge their behaviour when the public aren’t looking? Paul Hartford takes us on a bird’s eye tour of the celebrity A and B list and shares with us not only his thoroughly entertaining memoirs but some amazing food and wine menus too. This book satisfies on so many levels, I loved reading about the celebrities and their dinner guests, but what really made this book was Paul’s story.
I worked in the service industry myself for many years and the author describes it exactly how it is, long hours, psychotic chefs and exhausted staff that grin and bear their way through the shift until eventually your knees give way and you can no longer stand for sixteen hours a day. All the heat and passion of the kitchen during service described perfectly. My favourite quote “The guests pretended to be polite, we pretended to give a shit and everyone went home happy.” Fantastic!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of one man's work as a waiter at the "Cricket Room" in Beverly Hills, which I believe is actually the Polo Lounge. The stories are real. The names of the actors are not changed. It's an interesting read, but it's also everything I hate about LA and Hollywood. His stories of some actors are highly amusing, others make me think this guy doesn't have a very good read on character. And he seems like a little bit of a jerk at times. One thing is for sure though, he loves his job and takes it very seriously. In the end, the restaurant he loved and served so well becomes too corporate, losing a bit of its humanity, eventually causing him to blow up and leave. His memories are fond, and the stories are fun to read, but this should have been edited down to be half its size.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a former waiter at Zuni, here in SF, I very much related to this book. It's great to hear someone tell the stories of how people survive the stressful world of restaurant work. There are funny anecdotes, as well as appropriate venting over the insanity that one experiences. It's a love/hate existence, and I don't regret a minute of my six years waiting, but I'm also glad to have moved on. Paul is a like-able guy and human, although sometimes a bit self-congratulatory, and I enjoyed his personal stories.

[Beryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

If someone had made a movie called 'Confessions of a Beverly Hills Waiter' and set it in today's celebrity world, this book should have been what it was based on. Hilarious, disturbing or just downright peculiar, these tales of incidents where high profile celebrities show themselves to be anything from a total jackass to even more of an angel than their publicist portrayed them are told firsthand by a man working in *that* restaurant in Beverly Hills (if you've been there you'll easily recognise it from the hints in the book!). We've always known that money can't buy everything - this books shows that although it definitely helps with many things, it sure doesn't buy class! Loved it - when's the sequel coming out?!

[Martin Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Waiting Game

"Waiter to the Rich and Shameless" is an insider's look at what really goes on behind the scenes at a legendary Beverly Hills watering hole at the epicenter of the Los Angeles entertainment establishment. Savvy observers will be able to easily identify the venue. Hint: “The Cricket Room” is not its actual name.

“The Cricket Room” is THE place where celebrities go to see and be seen. It's where they relax far away from the watchful eyes of a prying public. It's where they make deals and prove they can spend more money for a meal and beverages than the patrons of Mortons of Chicago ever would. Some civilians pop in when they're in town for a rare in-person glimpse of their favorite A-listers. Star fuckers and groupies beware. Security can be tight at the “Cricket Room.” Body guards often stay close to their employers.

"Paul Hartford" knows the scene well. He was part of it as a bartender, and then a waiter, for more than a decade. He gives you a picture of what goes on inside people's heads – the famous, infamous, and those who serve them.

"It was cool during my training to learn that the Cricket Room bar uses the old-fashioned, classic ‘Club Service,’ says Paulie, the book’s narrator. “The whole presentation of even the simplest drink was one of elegance, class, and sophistication." This is what the patrons expect but Paulie also reveals the way the sausage of elegant service is made. He also shows us the raw commercial considerations that are hidden agenda of the establishment’s corporate overlords.

Here is Paulie describing the members of the staff to give readers the look and feel of the place: “The night bartender, Don, had been there for years. He was the grandfatherly patron of the Cricket Room and looked the part. There was also a swing shift bartender named Mary who covered our [the bartenders] days off. She was a fat, aging version of Pat Benatar from the wild frizzy hair and lots of makeup...”

As far as the patrons are concerned, Paulie describes them, essentailly, as swimming in an “infinite sea of sin.” If the Hotel California had a room like this it would be something very close to “The Cricket Room.”

A typical night might include a visit by Brad Pitt during the filming of Troy. After he, ironically, had torn his Achilles tendon while playing Achilles in the epic film. He was, we learn, not as difficult as many of his peers. Celebs, their friends and entourages, gossiping and holding court, often behave badly, like Russell Crowe who comes off as a misplaced, non-obese Henry the Eighth in modern dress. The bizarre becomes seems to be normal any place celebrities gather in the LA Basin. This is especially true at “The Cricket Room.”

“Hartford describes some of the guests as having had enough plastic surgery to actually scare people. “Imagine it up close. It’s even worse
Put down the scalpel and pick up a cheeseburger for Christ’s sake.”

Paulie’s comments often resemble the patter of a stand-up comedian on a good night. His description of an encounter with Ozzie Osbourne is particularly good for a belly laugh. He knows that when you serve ruthless people, a/k/a the rich and shameless, you have to take the good with the bad. The recently Sony hacked email scandal confirms the accuracy of His observations. You won't read it and weep but you may laugh frequently. This may be the only way to truly enjoy a book that masters the black humor style of a 60s novel while giving us a glimpse of life at the top of the show biz pile-up.

[Bayley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I maybe should give this book two stars but I’m not actually sure right now

I hate almost every chapter of this book. It’s begins with this dude trying to gather sympathy about his super hard life having to live in Europe as a child not being able to understand the cultural differences, then to his super mega tragic inability to not be a rock star. Everything that happens is the universe screwing him and aren’t we all so sad for him?
Then he becomes a waiter. We are introduced to his “I’m totally not sexist but I will never say anything nice about a woman I’m not screwing/feeling up” ways. He literally shit talks so many famous women for being awful right after he describes giving them a once over. Lady’s are rude to creeps. He’s also pretty racist in the “but it’s just a joke” fashion and it gets so exhausting cause the jokes are far from funny. He is also pretty homophobic no matter how many times he assures us he isn’t. Like he did seem to display the ability to be polite (and every friendly at times) to all these people but he also would talk about them in a way that gave them no dignity or character.
I enjoyed the chapter about his wedding and honeymoon. He seems super into his wife and that’s great. From the book it’s seems like they have a pretty solid relationship. The thing I really loved about this chapter was the descriptions of food. Dude should have ripped off the “Eat, Pray, Love” thing for the whole book cause he can talk about food. I wanted to hop on a plane and go to Italy. And France.
A few of the celebrity stories were entertaining and it is nice that he had some commentary about how wealthy people assume everyone is on this earth to support their whims but that social commentary typically was only limited to those who didn’t tip him massive amounts. Not saying don’t tip your waiter, 100% tip them 20%, don’t be a dick.
But so much of this book I felt like if it hadn’t been an audiobook I would have skimmed it at best. It became boring at times. I will say that the dude does write decently. Most of his prose is transparent and feels like you are just chatting with a buddy which is hard to achieve and I will not fault him for terrible writing. It was clunky at times but was mostly totally fine.
I would not recommend this book to anyone unless you would like to crawl up Johnny Depp’s ass or you are SUPER into the Polo Lounge. Dude is mostly obnoxious but does tell some good stories and does describe food well. If he wrote a cookbook I would thumb through it to read the descriptions but that’s about all I could promise for his future career.

[Erin Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Add me to the long list of readers who loved this book! I discovered this because it was a suggested recommendation from another memoire I'd finished and I'm so glad I took a chance on it. I expected a thinly veiled glimpse into the dining habits/personalities of the rich and shameless but was thrilled to realize that the author has no time for hints and fake names. The gloves were off and mega A-listers like De Niro, Pitt and Depp were called out front and center along with the rest of their quirky, uptight and surprisingly human Hollywood coterie. This coupled with the author's wise decision to include his own personal narrative made the book a page turner from gourmet soup to nuts. Hartford's story was as engaging a tale as the one he shared from his job and seemed to mirror his fascination, appreciation and delusion with Tinseltown in ways that were poignant and illuminating.

I also hate to admit this but the writing was far superior to what I had expected from a former waiter. Look, I'm not proud of it - I'm a writer myself and am really picky about these things, okay? But the book not only flowed, it skipped, bounced and leapt - it was evocative, often emotional and I found myself bursting into unexpected laughter so often I decided to finish the book during the day (hubby is a light sleeper). Last but not least are the unexpected but delectable food descriptions! From the restaurant's offerings to the author's divine Italian wedding reception menu the excruciatingly detailed food passages will leave your mouth watering as you turn the pages and reach for another Cheez-It. This book was a completely delightful peek into the lives of the rich and not so rich and the famous and not so famous - an easy five star recommendation for me!

[Martin, I stand with ISRAEL · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am so glad I didn’t pay for this book.

This book was mostly about the author.
-his failing music career
-cocaine addiction
-alcohol abuse
-sexual exploits
- his honeymoon in Italy
- his wish to leave his job as a waiter at a very exclusive restaurant.

This wasn’t the reason I chose to read the book!

He did present some jaw dropping stories about some celebrities. Scum like Roger Waters screaming and yelling at his groupies. Russel Crowe holding court over his mates.

However most stories were just bland. Bruce Willis thinking he already handed his credit card to the waiter, but actually forgetting it was in his pocket. How exciting.

What bothered me most was the author trying to explain how his South American Boss would talk to him. He would replace the word you with Jew. This drove me up the wall. “Jew did a good job Polli. “ This word choice was totally unnecessary. I am not sure why this word was chosen above others. Totally unnecessary and perhaps anti-Semitic.

Don’t read this book. It is not worth the time or money

[Therin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun read for me. In part because I'm right about the same age as the author Paul Hartford. So, his reflections on the LA rock music scene of the late 80's and early 90's resonated with me and was very amusing to read about. I also really enjoyed the style of his storytelling. Very raw and straight up without holding back. I loved his expressions and comments. I seriously laughed out loud reading about his drunken Ozzy experience and the way he mimicked the way he spoke. Hysterical! Overall, I really enjoyed all of the stories of Pauli's experiences as a waiter to the rich and shameless. It was entertaining to live vicariously through him by means of his celebrity encounters and unique work environment.

[DianeK Klu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only bought this book because it was the daily deal on audible.com. (I don't care about celebrities personal lives) I am so glad that I did. It was amazing to see how much energy and care that he put into his job. I hope all upper management from any business reads this and learns not to rule with fear and to ask the people who actually do the job, what changes that they think should be made to improve service, staff moral etc. Thanks for writing this book. 😊 I think you should also offer consulting to business's that wish to improve staff relations and customer service. You clearly get the issues.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was expecting interesting info on celebrities but that is not what this book is all about. It was an enlightening read about how difficult it can be serving others. I will think about this book when I am a guest at a restaurant in the future. Not a thriller but I did enjoy the read.

[Allan Guldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy is sassy! A really fun memoir!

[Bear52 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delicious!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty sure "Cricket Room" == Polo Lounge

[Kristina Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delight, satisfying that curiosity we all have about people whose lives must be so very different from ours. I loved hearing about the extravagance, the kindness, and the quirkiness. The author writes with a quick wit and an honest pride in his work.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Booktasters in exchange for my honest review. I chose the book because I was intrigued by the title – it sounded like it would be a highly entertaining, light but captivating read about a waiter’s interactions with the famous patrons of a famous LA restaurant, and all the complex goings on behind the scenes and in his own life.

And that is exactly what it was –so it was perfect! I really enjoyed reading it, and I definitely recommend it.

Pauli’s apparently true story of taking a job as a waiter - because his rock’n’roll career was not giving him enough to live on – is both fascinating and inspiring. Once he decides to cut his hair and really devote himself to this new career, he gives his all to it. He’s not “a muso/actor stuck working as a waiter to make ends meet but really waiting for his break”, as so many are – he is a waiter determined to be the best waiter. Many wait staff seem to barely tolerate their jobs – but Pauli is determined to excel. Someone once said to me a long time ago that no matter what you are doing for a job, give it your all and be the best. Pauli must have heard this advice as well, since he certainly heeds it. He does so for a variety of reasons and incentives – to get the better positions, to get the better shifts, to get the better tips – but he does it. He becomes an enthusiastic student of food and wine, of silver service, and of names and relationships. He makes himself into a customer service paragon – he remembers who prefers what wine, how each client likes their mixed drinks, what their or their children’s food allergies are, and the subtleties of when to be deferential and when to stand back, when to suggest an ‘upgrade” and when to refrain.

He uses the real names of the famous clients, if not of the restaurant (and I, like a few other reviewers here, didn’t know it was actually about the Polo Club until I saw these reviews!). It doesn’t matter – you get the picture that it’s an old-school luxury restaurant where the – well, the rich and the famous go for quality food and quality service, as well as to impress dates or clients and – sometimes anyway – to be seen.

Pauli also describes the back-room workings, personalities, and often volatile politics that anyone who’s ever worked in hospitality will recognise. He talks a bit about his own life, and it’s just enough to make you feel you know him. In fact, you actually watch him mature from a slightly crude party boy to a more likeable, caring man. When he described his Europe trip, I enjoyed seeing how his dedicated study of food and wine eventually comes to benefit him personally (beyond his job).

Funnily, the book came with a “warning”, which surprised me and which I guess was due to the language and, as someone put it, “sex and drugs and rock’n’roll”. If you are not under the age of 13 and are not seeking Christian Fiction, I really don’t think any warning is necessary!

[Claudia Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish someone with substance, sense and sensibility had written a book with this premise. The only perk to reading this was relief when it was over. And while I find it admirable that Hartford hates Trump as much as I do, I mean, what a bunch of miserable twats this comprises. Being observant and loquacious is lost on all of the food and style details. Did I buy Cosmo and People’s love child? This was a cheap reality tv show stuffed into a book, moaning every other page about how great waiters (him) are taken for granted and insulted by famous people who just want to eat without having a long conversation to make him feel special, and shitty cooks and other staff members (aka every one else who is not him and his cheating but entertaining alcoholic coworker). He doesn’t mention janitorial staff or the creative top chefs at all because apparently these people don’t exist or don’t matter. So what if he got a $1000 tip? It was only 12%and these guys are rich. Boohoo. Hartford talks about humility and class but seems to be unable to find any for himself. You think going into it that you’re going to read a book about a few quirky celebrities at the Cricket Room (aka the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills) and their behind the scenes moments, perhaps down to earth stories and a few heart wrenching episodes. Haha. This conceited, “champagne bubble coke powder haze” of a superficial book is so far from genuine or insightful. It’s basically a failed musician/bored waiter’s self-absorbed and bitter attempt to understand every famous person based on their tips and a couple passing moments. If you can’t be them, stick close to them and judge their every move, I guess. True to form his website is designed like a business card for the book: every link to every social media site. It’s unnerving how awkwardly blatant he desires to be rich and famous. And his insight, like his girlfriend choices, is about as deep as a bathtub. I believe his version of Ghandi is Hugh Hefner. His idea of a hero is a philandering drunk. His idea of a real woman is- literally- Ivana Trump (or any blonde with boobs and mascara...the only reason he hates on Paris Hilton truly is she ignores his brown nosing and appears about as superficial as he is). Two stars instead of one for at least acknowledging some good actors from the silver screen...for about two seconds. As well as briefly mentioning beautiful Italian landscapes, corporate America’s greed and the perks of transcendental meditation. I believe it was a superficial attempt to not look entirely superficial, but it was better than ending on his Bond-wannabe, frat boy Vegas adventures. Moving on.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Hartford was a musician feeling like he'd missed the trends and decided to make a change. He applies for a job to become a bartender in one of the most upscale restaurants in Beverly Hills and, to his great surprise, gets hired for the job. After five years he's moved into the restaurant as a waiter. His total of ten years of service is the heart of this memoir in what he calls, for legal purposes, The Cricket Room, a thinly disguised Polo Lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel.

 What follows is a mixed story dealing with celebrities, staff, and a corporate takeover. The restaurant, a place that sells a steak for $150 and bottles of wine can go for $7000 or more, draws from all over Hollywood. At the bar a vintage scotch or brandy can go for hundreds of dollars a glass. Hartford names names, with customer like Johnny Depp, Russell Crowe, and Steve Tyler. Who tips well, who doesn't, whose credit cards are declined and who's cranky (Bruce Willis and Robert DeNiro). He also talks about unusual regulars, embarrassing Arab princesses, and strange parties.

Hartford also talks about partying away from work with his waiter role model, a Danish waiter who turns $1000 tips into cocaine-steeped orgies in LA and Las Vegas and drags Hartford along for company and to offer an alibi for his live-in girlfriend. He also tells about tensions between kitchen and wait staff in an atmosphere where customers expect top service and can go ballistic over an overdone steak.

It's interesting that Hartford grows to be really dedicated in his work. He has a great affection for the people he serves and is determined to be the best at his job. It isn't until a large corporation buys out the hotel that the job stops being fun. A tight-fisted group of executives cut down on waiting staff making it nearly impossible to do a good job, and are heartless enough to fire a long-time bartender just one week before his retirement.

It's an interesting, gossipy, sexy book about trashy behavior by the rich and children of the rich along with charming memories of many he served. It's also a photograph of one of Hollywood's great restaurants and hotels before it became "modernized" by corporate goons who had no idea what they had purchased.

[Mariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiter to the Rich and Shameless : Confessions of a Five-Star Beverly Hills Server
by Paul Hartford
I wrote this review based on a copy the author sent to me.

A true account of the experience from a servers point of view having worked in numerous restaurants and nightclubs before interacting with the «  rich and shameless « in Beverly Hills, California. It's a peek into the workings of a five-star restaurant and Pauli's chaotic challenges surrounded by the elite. The author describes his heartbreaking struggle and final realisation to give up the fight on his rockstar dream, turns his life upside down to head on a totally different path when on a whim he applies for a bartender position at the renowned «  Cricket Room «  - name change for legal reasons, the place to see and be seen where «  no one but the walls know what happens inside « .
After several years of yearning for an evening shift position an opening as a waiter arises and eagerly the author applies Within a short span of time Pauli is serving the finest culinary dishes available as the elegant Cricket Room dining experience.
Through the pages we learn the eating habits of many people who are willing to witter away money on food and drink whilst expecting to be treated like royalty but then that was the idea behind the Cricket Room - « all of our special guests came to the Cricket Room for the incomparable, personable service and to see that familiar face ready to serve them. « 

My thoughts on this book : It is everything I expected it to be and I can't imagine the stress and incredible pressure put upon the author to perform his duty to such a standard, even though everyone that dines at a restaurant wishes to be served well just maybe not all the expectations that some of his more affluent guests demanded ! I was thrilled to discover that Johnny Depp - my hero - is “ a welcome earthiness to the elegance and refinement of the Cricket Room «...my respect for him remains intact.

I give Waiter to the Rich and Shameless : Confessions of a Five-Star Beverly Hills Server 4 out of 5 stars

[Maninder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book with just the right type of content for our ecology. I had been wondering about the way the rich handle their lives, and you see the approach when you see strewn out cutlery and bits of food lying around after a party. The not drunk wine goblets, all left for someone else to clean. “We won’t do it,” for there is no dearth of people who you can get through money. I suppose for Pauli who had once the dreams of becoming a Rock star, it was a question of ONCE YOU ARE IN, YOU ARE IN. There are times when I think Pauli is doing everything to convince the rich that he is here to stay, however some think it is all an act, that he serves for himself, like he is getting something out of it, not realizing that it is a job and a thankless one, for the ones he serves are so. Every day he gives them thoughts for the day, and at the end of the day they come back asking for more, like they deserve his life because of it. Seeing through initial troubles though Pauli handles it with ease later on, though he becomes disillusioned with it all in the later period of his life.

They check everything out, what would the rich man like, what would he want me to be, would he like this or that. It’s obviously a big game, and money will get them to do anything. From the passionate kisses to sexual escapades, it real. I have enjoyed this novel more than any other I have reviewed before. It is articulate, sensitive and worthy.

All in all a very well written book with the life of waiter and server comes out well and the Cricket room where he serves is ably described. I have never been to anything remotely similar to this and the thoughts depict an imagery by the author which are very well received by me.

[Mandy Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read!

"Waiter to the Rich and Shameless" was a tipsy romp through the Cricket Room - one of the top restaurants in Beverly Hills for famous folks to drink and dine. It's only recently that I can admit how much I love reading a good celebrity tell-all. This book fit the bill.

I appreciated (but didn't heed) the author's warning about a few chapters being racy and more controversial than others. While it didn't effect my reading and actually those chapters do serve to show how Hartford becomes jaded with his position, the sentiment behind the warning is a good one. If you are at all opposed to drug use and open sexuality, go on and skip those as he suggests.

The only turn off I had about this book was the sense that the author feels like he is "better than serving". While he doesn't really come out and say it in those terms, he went from intense pride in his job during bartending in the beginning to this hum-drum attitude once he becomes a server instead. The humble conscientious bartender was someone I could partner with and get behind throughout the book. It was much more difficult once his attitude changed.

Still, the inside look into the Cricket Room made me feel like Old Hollywood glamour and class are not completely gone. I can see why everyone who is anyone would want to be in a place like this book describes, whether it is on staff or enjoying as a patron.

[Debbie Viscosi · Rating 4 out of 5]

How does a long haired rock and roll musician become a waiter to the stars at one of Hollywood’s most iconic restaurants? The answer is found in Paul Hartford’s book “Waiter to the Rich and Shameless: Confessions of a Five-Star Beverly Hills Server”. Paul Hartford starts a music career that stalls. Looking for a new challenge and source of income, he stumbles upon serving. He starts working as a bartender at the legendary restaurant. The tips were good but he began to long for more. Serving was far more lucrative so he trained and worked as a server for nearly 10 years.

This is a fascinating look behind the curtain of a famous restaurant. Fine dining patrons have high expectations and so to see how all the pieces work together for a memorable dining experience is eye-opening. Among these details, Paul Hartford sprinkles his anecdotes of serving the rich and famous. The largesse of celebrities is astounding.

Good servers deserve appreciation for their hard work. This book provides full exposure to a side of serving that many of us don’t get to see. Paul Hartford has written a book that is unique, educational and truly fascinating.