‘The Restaurant Of Order Mistakes’ Employs Waiters With Dementia, And You Never Know What You’re Getting
One of the most frustrating things that can happen when eating out is ordering one dish but receiving another. Surprisingly, one restaurant is offering just that – The Restaurant of Order Mistakes (a clever spin on a book called The Restaurant of Many Orders) popped up in Tokyo’s Toyosu district, and its mission was to hire waiters with dementia.
The premise of the pop-up restaurant, which was in a trial period from June 2 – June 4, 2017, was that the staff who have dementia may get your order wrong. But if you go in knowing this upfront, it changes your perception about those who suffer from brain disease. The experience makes you realize that with a little bit of understanding on our part dementia patients can be functioning members of society.
Food blogger Mizuho Kudo visited The Restaurant of Order Mistakes and had a blast. She originally ordered a hamburger but ended up having gyoza dumplings instead, but everything turned out to be unexpectedly delicious. Kudo also claimed that the waiters were full of smiles and seemed to be having tons of fun.
Now, after the trial period, one of the initiators of the pop-up restaurant, Maggie’s Tokyo (Japanese version of UK’s Maggie’s Centres) are planning for another pop-up event like this in September to commemorate World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21st).
More info: Twitter (h/t: spoon&tamago)
Image credits: Mizuho Kudo
Image credits: news.yahoo.co
Image credits: news.yahoo.co
Image credits: news.yahoo.co
Image credits: news.yahoo.co
Image credits: news.yahoo.co
Image credits: Mizuho Kudo
Image credits: news.yahoo.co
Image credits: news.yahoo.co
Image credits: news.yahoo.co
I love this idea. There needs to be more awareness for dementia and Alzheimer's. Horrible diseases.
everything is good in the japanese "cuisine", so the risk is equal to zero :-)
fully agree...only how did those "penne all'arrabbiata" end up in one of the dishes?
Load More Replies...A totally charming idea. I am older than dirt and my hearing isn't what it used to be. I live with my daughter and we have lots of laughs about the difference between what she said and what I heard.
This is a wonderful idea! It should be shown that life with dementia and Alzheimer's is a bit more complicated, but with patience and a good attitude it can be still happy and a lot of fun! My husband's grandma has Alzheimer's, and she is one of the happiest people I know! The family is extra patient and supportive, and no one has a problem with repeating for grandma the same stuff for 100 times, or explain again where we are and where we go. I find it just beautiful. We are all in peace and love ^^
I'm sorry, but you are just wrong! Life with Alzheimer's is devastating...not "a bit more complicated". My mother is a shell of her former self. There is a "positive attitude" and then there is "denial". You are in the latter category.
Load More Replies...Go with the flow, work with what you have, not what you wanted. Wonderful project by these chefs.
It would be interesting to see what they ordered vs. what they received!
this looks genuinely great! until they get a client with possibly deadly food allergies.
My guess is that those with severe food allergies would have the sense to steer clear from such a place, after all it is not as if they are not upfront about the fact that what you get may be the exact opposite of what you asked for.
Load More Replies...This is a great idea! Older people are so respected in Japan. Sadly, I have food allergies so I could only tell friends to go.
What a absolutely brilliant idea. We need more initiatives like this!
This is a great idea. Do they still have to order or do they even bother?
I've come across so many businesses that don't have time for people once they're slowing down. It is totally self-centred and is hurtful to people with dementia, but sadly is still the attitude of many that don't know differently. The restaurant is a lovely way to let these beautiful waiters know they are valuable and can contribute positively to society. Great work! <3
I love this. We had to go through the long good bye with my grandfather. Was so hard as he slowly left us. So anything to empower people with dementia is just wonderful. Would love to go
It could be very interesting, as long as you don't have any serious food allergies!
Wonderful idea helping people to become more aware or this terrible illness, I lost my mom to alzheimers 20 years ago.
Me too but I feel sad that mean people will give people with dementia a hard time
Load More Replies...If you're looking for a great person to date, look for the customers in this restaurant, they're bound to be kind, curious and easy-going.
This makes me so happy! My grandmother has Alzheimer's and dementia and the idea of her having the chance to do something like this is fantastic! I love it!
I love this- it would be so much fun to go into a restaurant knowing your order may be wrong, but loving what you end up with anyways.
I sure hope they aren't making this a laughing matter... like making fun of their disorder. My grandfather died from Alzheimer's.
The cooks usually. Or the apprentice. That's how it works in normal restaurants too.
Load More Replies...Watch as some american tourist goes in, expects their order to be perfect, and then gets pissy on tumblr because they got fried rice when they wanted plain, or some s**t like that...
Great idea ! But it could be easily gimmicked. The chefs could just send out anything they wanted and "blame" it on the waiters (where there is no blame, cause there is no expectation you get what you ordered in the first place). So what's the point in ordering ? And if they are real dementia patients, there is a chance at some point the patients don't remember they're the waiters. I love the conceptual idea and the reasoning behind it. I just believe the execution might be flawed and would not give you a real experience. How big is the chance that you get the right order ?
I love this idea and it is proven that when dementia patients feel useful it slows down the disease. Listen to this podcast which features an early onset patient talking about what it's like to live with Alzheimer's disease https://soundcloud.com/beingpatientpodcast
This is pretty awesome and is a great way to bring to light two afflictions which are terrible not only for those affected, but those around them. Maybe this will help some of those people. :)
I understand the purpose, but waiters usually write the order and table number, so I'm unsure how you'd get the wrong food? Great idea though.
This is truly amazing and it should be replicated worldwide. Kudos to that man.
What a wonderful idea. The most important part is that it makes the people afflicted with the illness have a sense of worth.
I so admire the culture and goodness of the Japanese people. This is one of the greatest things I've ever seen. I am not very, very old yet, but what is most striking to me is the (deserved) respect given by the younger generation to their elders. What a contrast to here in USA, where being young is revered. Getting old isn't easy, and it's wonderful that these people are being given the chance to still serve and he useful. Bravo!
his article is not clear. Was this done for a purpose. Did the people actually get the orders wrong? Assume the chefs do not have dementia. And do the wait staff not write down the orders? My wife works with as a nurse doing dementia prevention (well, things to delay onset, help slow the process) and I worry this is some sort of exploitative thing, although the pictures do not suggest that. Some clarification would help alleviate my concern.
I am kind of torn on this idea. While raising awareness to dementia and Alzheimer's is great, and I like the idea around the project. Yet, this could be very dangerous and distressing for their afflicted wait staff. What if they got confused or wandered off? Or forgot where they were?
Makes you try new things instead of ordering the safe option :)
This restaurant is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get
It is so good to give these folks a place to do something helpful and useful during the day. It is good for society, too.
I've been a server for over 40 years and am now 68. I'm in great health EXCEPT I cannot remember things most of the time. People I've served coffee to for years, I can't remember if they need cream, etc. So I finally had to retire, semi/sort of. I go in to help on holidays or if they are short people. I never would have retired at this age but I didn't want to cause problems for a place that has given me a job and regular money for years with enjoyment. If this gets worse maybe someone will open one here in Calif. and I can continue to work there! LOL
wouldn't the waiters actually forget they are waiters? And start eating the food or do other things?
wouldn't the waiters actually forget they are waiters? And they start eating the food?
I guess its more about giving them a sense of purpose than getting your order wrong.
Are you kidding me!?!?!? As the daughter of a mother with Alzheimer's, I find this unbelievably offensive! Alzheimer's is not adorable...their smiling faces aren't cute...mixing up orders isn't whimsical...it's a f-cking tragedy...If you're amused by this, we'll employ you when you lose your ability to discern what is going on around you. DISGUSTING!
I love this idea. There needs to be more awareness for dementia and Alzheimer's. Horrible diseases.
everything is good in the japanese "cuisine", so the risk is equal to zero :-)
fully agree...only how did those "penne all'arrabbiata" end up in one of the dishes?
Load More Replies...A totally charming idea. I am older than dirt and my hearing isn't what it used to be. I live with my daughter and we have lots of laughs about the difference between what she said and what I heard.
This is a wonderful idea! It should be shown that life with dementia and Alzheimer's is a bit more complicated, but with patience and a good attitude it can be still happy and a lot of fun! My husband's grandma has Alzheimer's, and she is one of the happiest people I know! The family is extra patient and supportive, and no one has a problem with repeating for grandma the same stuff for 100 times, or explain again where we are and where we go. I find it just beautiful. We are all in peace and love ^^
I'm sorry, but you are just wrong! Life with Alzheimer's is devastating...not "a bit more complicated". My mother is a shell of her former self. There is a "positive attitude" and then there is "denial". You are in the latter category.
Load More Replies...Go with the flow, work with what you have, not what you wanted. Wonderful project by these chefs.
It would be interesting to see what they ordered vs. what they received!
this looks genuinely great! until they get a client with possibly deadly food allergies.
My guess is that those with severe food allergies would have the sense to steer clear from such a place, after all it is not as if they are not upfront about the fact that what you get may be the exact opposite of what you asked for.
Load More Replies...This is a great idea! Older people are so respected in Japan. Sadly, I have food allergies so I could only tell friends to go.
What a absolutely brilliant idea. We need more initiatives like this!
This is a great idea. Do they still have to order or do they even bother?
I've come across so many businesses that don't have time for people once they're slowing down. It is totally self-centred and is hurtful to people with dementia, but sadly is still the attitude of many that don't know differently. The restaurant is a lovely way to let these beautiful waiters know they are valuable and can contribute positively to society. Great work! <3
I love this. We had to go through the long good bye with my grandfather. Was so hard as he slowly left us. So anything to empower people with dementia is just wonderful. Would love to go
It could be very interesting, as long as you don't have any serious food allergies!
Wonderful idea helping people to become more aware or this terrible illness, I lost my mom to alzheimers 20 years ago.
Me too but I feel sad that mean people will give people with dementia a hard time
Load More Replies...If you're looking for a great person to date, look for the customers in this restaurant, they're bound to be kind, curious and easy-going.
This makes me so happy! My grandmother has Alzheimer's and dementia and the idea of her having the chance to do something like this is fantastic! I love it!
I love this- it would be so much fun to go into a restaurant knowing your order may be wrong, but loving what you end up with anyways.
I sure hope they aren't making this a laughing matter... like making fun of their disorder. My grandfather died from Alzheimer's.
The cooks usually. Or the apprentice. That's how it works in normal restaurants too.
Load More Replies...Watch as some american tourist goes in, expects their order to be perfect, and then gets pissy on tumblr because they got fried rice when they wanted plain, or some s**t like that...
Great idea ! But it could be easily gimmicked. The chefs could just send out anything they wanted and "blame" it on the waiters (where there is no blame, cause there is no expectation you get what you ordered in the first place). So what's the point in ordering ? And if they are real dementia patients, there is a chance at some point the patients don't remember they're the waiters. I love the conceptual idea and the reasoning behind it. I just believe the execution might be flawed and would not give you a real experience. How big is the chance that you get the right order ?
I love this idea and it is proven that when dementia patients feel useful it slows down the disease. Listen to this podcast which features an early onset patient talking about what it's like to live with Alzheimer's disease https://soundcloud.com/beingpatientpodcast
This is pretty awesome and is a great way to bring to light two afflictions which are terrible not only for those affected, but those around them. Maybe this will help some of those people. :)
I understand the purpose, but waiters usually write the order and table number, so I'm unsure how you'd get the wrong food? Great idea though.
This is truly amazing and it should be replicated worldwide. Kudos to that man.
What a wonderful idea. The most important part is that it makes the people afflicted with the illness have a sense of worth.
I so admire the culture and goodness of the Japanese people. This is one of the greatest things I've ever seen. I am not very, very old yet, but what is most striking to me is the (deserved) respect given by the younger generation to their elders. What a contrast to here in USA, where being young is revered. Getting old isn't easy, and it's wonderful that these people are being given the chance to still serve and he useful. Bravo!
his article is not clear. Was this done for a purpose. Did the people actually get the orders wrong? Assume the chefs do not have dementia. And do the wait staff not write down the orders? My wife works with as a nurse doing dementia prevention (well, things to delay onset, help slow the process) and I worry this is some sort of exploitative thing, although the pictures do not suggest that. Some clarification would help alleviate my concern.
I am kind of torn on this idea. While raising awareness to dementia and Alzheimer's is great, and I like the idea around the project. Yet, this could be very dangerous and distressing for their afflicted wait staff. What if they got confused or wandered off? Or forgot where they were?
Makes you try new things instead of ordering the safe option :)
This restaurant is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get
It is so good to give these folks a place to do something helpful and useful during the day. It is good for society, too.
I've been a server for over 40 years and am now 68. I'm in great health EXCEPT I cannot remember things most of the time. People I've served coffee to for years, I can't remember if they need cream, etc. So I finally had to retire, semi/sort of. I go in to help on holidays or if they are short people. I never would have retired at this age but I didn't want to cause problems for a place that has given me a job and regular money for years with enjoyment. If this gets worse maybe someone will open one here in Calif. and I can continue to work there! LOL
wouldn't the waiters actually forget they are waiters? And start eating the food or do other things?
wouldn't the waiters actually forget they are waiters? And they start eating the food?
I guess its more about giving them a sense of purpose than getting your order wrong.
Are you kidding me!?!?!? As the daughter of a mother with Alzheimer's, I find this unbelievably offensive! Alzheimer's is not adorable...their smiling faces aren't cute...mixing up orders isn't whimsical...it's a f-cking tragedy...If you're amused by this, we'll employ you when you lose your ability to discern what is going on around you. DISGUSTING!
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