Everyone should work in food service at some point, said Lisa Dedmon, lead server at O’Malley’s Irish Grill in Conway. It is tough, she added, but it does not have to be.
“I love what I do and hope to bring that to the table each time,” she said.
Dedmon has worked in the food service industry for 15 years, and she joined O’Malley’s about two years ago because she knew the owners from another restaurant.
As lead server, she ensures the staff at the front of the house has everything needed for a great shift, and she communicates with the kitchen manager about any needed supplies. She also schedules parties in the private banquet room and helps out the host and bar staff.
She said her favorite foods at the restaurant are the French dip and cheese dip, and to guests, she recommends traditional Irish fare such as fish and chips, bangers and mash, cottage pie, Irish stew and Guinness steak tips.
The establishment has many regulars, and she said her favorites are the ones who come looking for her when she’s on duty. One of her favorite moments was when a mother left a glowing review about the way Dedmon included the guest’s children and asked them questions.
O’Malley’s French Dip
“She thanked me for making them feel special,” Dedmon said.
Not every interaction is positive, of course, and Dedmon said no matter what, it is important to “keep smiling and kill them with kindness.”
“Treat everyone with kindness,” she said. “You really don’t know what people are going through, and you may be just what they needed.”
When she is not on the job, she said, she enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling and hanging out with her adult children. She said she hopes to continue serving the local community for many years to come.
“Conway is wonderful, and I have been so blessed,” she said.
