'Steak Sandwiches, Deer Horns, and Eels: The Wildest Night Shift at the Front Desk'
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like working the night shift at a hotel, buckle up: you’re about to get a taste of the chaos, courtesy of one very memorable guest. Imagine: you’re juggling steak orders, mysterious wildlife requests, and a man convinced you’re his doctor—all before midnight. Let’s step behind the front desk for a night you won’t soon forget.
When Steak Cravings Meet Surreal Nightlife
Reddit user u/Powerful-Low-3553 recently shared a tale on r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk that reads like a fever dream crossed with a slapstick comedy. Our story opens at a hotel with its own steakhouse and bar, where things are already a little lively.
A guest stumbles in, clearly enjoying his evening a little too much, requesting a room and a steak to go. So far, so normal—for a Saturday night, anyway. But it doesn’t take long for things to get weird. The man pays, rambles about who-knows-what, and heads to the bar demanding “caribou and eel.” (Is this a drink? An appetizer? A cryptid dinner special? Your guess is as good as ours.)
The Steak Sandwich Saga
When his steak is ready, the staff face a dilemma: should they trust him with a steak knife? After a quick consult with the bartender (who emphatically votes “no”), they hand him his meal but keep the cutlery behind the counter. Our hero, undeterred, proceeds to eat his steak like a sandwich. Messy? Yes. Resourceful? Absolutely.
But the night is just getting started. After being cut off at the bar, he heads next door—only to return complaining that the other bar won’t let him use their bathroom. When reminded he has a perfectly good bathroom upstairs, he insists, “I’m going back to the bar to pee, I’m not going to piss myself!!” Priorities.
A Parade of Questions, and Eels
As the evening wears on, our guest continues his rounds—coming and going, peppering the staff with off-the-wall questions: “Where’s my room? Are you my doctor? Do you have caribou and eels?” It’s the kind of surreal banter that makes you wonder if you’ve wandered into a Wes Anderson film.
Meanwhile, the front desk staff is getting increasingly uncomfortable, especially as the building empties out for the night. Seeking safety in numbers, they retreat to the kitchen, only for their inebriated friend to follow, asking, “Am I normal?” The advice: finish your cigarette, go to bed, and you’ll feel normal soon enough. He agrees—but, in true sitcom fashion, immediately walks in with a lit cigarette, declaring, “I’m going to the parking garage!”
Into the Basement—and Back with Antlers
Here’s where things take a turn from quirky to “I need an adult.” The guest disappears into the basement—where the hotel stores valuables—emerging moments later triumphantly wielding deer horns “as large as his head.” Raising them aloft, he proclaims, “Welcome to hell motherfuckers!” (Insert heavy metal guitar riff here.)
The staff, now thoroughly done with the shenanigans, ask the obvious: “Do you own those?” He drops the antlers, pivots to, “You’re my doctor, right? You’re here to help me?” And that, dear readers, is when the police finally got a call.
A Night in the Life—And Lessons Learned
This Reddit gem is more than just a comedy of errors; it’s a reminder of the unpredictability of hospitality. Night shift workers see it all—sometimes more than they’d like. From odd food requests to impromptu wildlife parades, you have to be ready for anything. The moral? Lock your basement, keep your steak knives close, and always have a sense of humor (and maybe a badge identifying you as “Not Your Doctor”).
So next time you check into a hotel, remember: behind that calm smile at the front desk is someone who’s probably survived weirder nights than you can imagine.
Have you ever had a wild hotel experience—from either side of the desk? Share your story in the comments below!
Original Reddit Post: A drunk/high guest found his way into our basement last night.