Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Posted in Fiction on Jul 14, 2023

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✍️ 39 stories

“Service, please” by Alyce King

Submitted to Contest #207

Service, please. Those two words I never thought I'd actually say. Of course, I dreamed that I would, but I didn't think I actually would!! It’s a Thursday evening in June, mid service and we have over thirty covers currently, with more orders stamping out of the machine as I speak. Most guests are having two courses, which is great, great for business but great for use in the kitchen also. Those who come, make the effort of dressing nicely, and then have one course, I just don’t see the point! Why would you go to that effort, travel c...

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“Farewell” by A. R. Millner

Submitted to Contest #207

The grip on the cold butcher knife in my right hand is firm, calming against my fiery skin. I'm standing under the fluorescent lights looking towards the double doors, taking deep breaths, counting down the seconds in my head and straining my ears, waiting for the telltale noise of steps approaching to jump into action. It's almost time, I can feel the buzz of the anticipation through my body, muscles tensing and senses sharpening. It doesn't matter how many times I went through the same routine already, the feeling doesn't get old; if anyth...

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“Allergy Friendly Eats” by Sharalynn Dickerson

Submitted to Contest #207

In the heart of Tennessee, where the air was thick with the aroma of southern spices and the spirit of hospitality flowed like a mighty river, stood a bustling restaurant. This was no ordinary eatery; it was the dream brought to life by a devoted African-American couple, Winston and Evelyn Jenkins . Their vision was to create a sanctuary for those in the community who suffered from severe to mild food allergies – a place where they could savor delicious meals without risking their health. The couple had faced their own struggles with food ...

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“The unmistakable connection” by Rhonda Sigg

Submitted to Contest #207

It was the middle of Summer when it happened. Friday night was as usual expected to be overflowing with patrons. Casey, the owner, had just opened up The Barn. It was just an old barn located in the middle of nowhere. It had been gutted and renovated to be a 1950's style restaurant and had a tri state clientele that would make Guy Fiere jealous. He slowly walked into the heart of the cooking field and took inventory as to what was needed for tonight's menu. The alcohol count and food supplies were enough to take him well into next week, for ...

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“Dinner At The Jade Palace” by Lauren Zemel

Submitted to Contest #207

“Ta made niao!” Goddamn it. My uncle’s cousin was standing over his niece’s boyfriend, the new hire in charge of the wok station. “You call this dan dan noodles.” The young kid was looking up at him nervously. “Yes?” The back of his head was hit. “That was a rhetorical question. This is limp noodles.” I could see the vein popping out from his neck. “What are you doing! Start again.” There was a scared hurry to dump the wok contents out and pour in new water set of actions occurring right in front of me. I probably should step in before the v...

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“Young Love” by Chad Stewart

Submitted to Contest #207

*Warning - Mental heath, crude humor, language *Young LoveJimmy Jones emerged from the bathroom stall, approached the mirror, and wiped the tears from his eyes. He put a hand down on each side of the sink and moved his face close to the mirror, staring into his own eyes, his heavy breath fogging his reflection. “Get your game face on,” Jimmy whispered, smiling at himself. He stayed this way for thirty seconds, frozen, forced smile, staring back at himself. Then he stood up straight, re-tucked his shirt, washed his hands, and walked out ...

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“Lazy” by Brenna Sweeny

Submitted to Contest #207

Seattle boasted many restaurants, all clamoring for something to make them stand out. Garish decor, inane themes, celebrity chefs. In an alley near Pike’s Place stood the restaurant whose star power every other cheap-cologne-pseudo-entrepreneur was desperate to emulate. It was unpretentious, clean, neat. The lighting was that of a 1920s piano lounge, and the velvet walls seemed classy when paired with the glittering necks of the socialites that dined there and the immaculately clean tablecloths. The food was good. Really fucking good. And if...

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“BEHIND THE SCENES” by Glenna Agnew

Submitted to Contest #207

BEHIND THE SCENES “We got a bleeder here,” shouted Vince as he whipped out the clean cloth from the apron tied at his waist. He rushed over to where Karl stood swaying, looking shell-shocked, over the cutting board at the stainless steel kitchen counter; the blood dripping from his hand. Vince quickly bound the hand with his towel as he tried to calm down Karl. “It’s ok Karl, You're gonna be fine.” assured the sous chef, Vince. “For God’s sake,” shouted the Chef in irritation, “don’t get blood in those potatoes. They are Le Bonnotte po...

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“Five-Star Fried Face” by Sam Lambe

Submitted to Contest #207

I’ve worked in a lot of different kitchens in a lot of different restaurants, and I can tell you that they are all the same. They tell you all the rules that they’re legally obligated to and expect you to forget all of them by the time their little show is done. So many rules and there’s only one thing that I know is true in the kitchen: You either listen to the fat man eating or the fat man telling you what to cook. Both know how to complain, and both know how to end your career if you aren’t careful. I’m listening to the latter as we get o...

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“Louise” by Maria Parperis

Submitted to Contest #207

‘I’m serious, the guy looks like a real A-hole!’ ‘Well,’ Sam said, stirring a pot of minestrone soup on the stove, ‘it’s not really our business, is it? He’s still paying to be here.’ God knows why… unless peeling walls and stained tablecloths were your thing, Sam thought. Jack wasn’t easily dismissed, ‘But you should see the girl he’s with! I can’t believe she’d agree to go on a date with him…’ That’s Jack - my best friend, flatmate, and reason I have this shitty job. Sam had become fast friends with Jack after they’d bonded durin...

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“The Trainee” by Molly Layne

Submitted to Contest #207

I arrived at the restaurant promptly at seven and punched in as soon as I hung my backpack in the back closet. This was a several story high building, but I worked on the bottom floor in Billy’s Breakfast Burrito. It was a lovely place to have a job, . . .most of the time. The servers had already turned over the glasses in the dining room and the host was getting ready to open the doors. Quickly, I straightened my brown uniform and pinned on my name tag. Our supervisor, Paul Jillett, a.k.a. The Speeding Come...

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“The Grey Place” by Robert Moore

Submitted to Contest #207

It’s the deepest kind of quiet, the so-silent-you-can-hear-your-blood-rushing kind of quiet. I hate that silence; I crave that silence. I’m not ready to leave yet, but my heart is pounding and my blood is pumping faster the longer I sit here. It’s dark. So, blessedly dark. I’m not ready. But I need to move. The cold, frigid air carrying the freezer burned scent of a meat medley soothes my fiery, sweat-ridden skin....

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“From Sheep Farm to Kitchen” by Liz Cherry

Submitted to Contest #207

From Sheep Farm to Kitchen Freyha fidgeted with her uniform, the kilt felt so awkward. Relishing her last moments of the early evening sunshine, she headed to the hotel staff entrance. She hoped this summer gig would be worth it. After a year travelling and working her way around Australia a regular job was going to feel like confinement. As she glanced at the grimy hallway she was assaulted by a whiff of fish, yuck she thought, as her resolve faltered. Entering the hotel kitchen, which was the size of a frigate, she announced, with more...

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“The Special ” by Misti Silvers

Submitted to Contest #207

“Order up!” You could hear the chef yell from the other side of the kitchen. “Your new dish is popular,” said Rachel. Chef Mark smiled, pleased with himself. Smug in the fact that only he knew what ingredients went into his recipes. Hearing the dining room full, made him smile even bigger. It had been awhile since he was able to draw attention. “Chef Mark. I don’t know what you did to the pasta, but they are loving it,” said James. Mark smiled with a mischievous look. “It’s almost closing and they are backed out the door. It’s been ages si...

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“The Perfect Flavor” by Ian Patterson

Submitted to Contest #207

“He who drinks this shall die; he who drinks this shall live forever”. Nicolas toasts the man in the mirror, and a man with gray hair, his face lined with age and time, raises a glass back. He closes his eyes, and drains the glass. The flavor dances over his tongue, tarragon swirls around cinnamon and is chased by a bouquet of ginger and mint. They recede and are replaced by some flavor that is wholly new, something deep and achingly sweet, primal and repulsive and perfect. Nicolas opens his eyes, and watches the ro...

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Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 39 stories

“Service, please” by Alyce King

“Farewell” by A. R. Millner

“Allergy Friendly Eats” by Sharalynn Dickerson

“The unmistakable connection” by Rhonda Sigg

“Dinner At The Jade Palace” by Lauren Zemel

“Young Love” by Chad Stewart

“Lazy” by Brenna Sweeny

“BEHIND THE SCENES” by Glenna Agnew

“Five-Star Fried Face” by Sam Lambe

“Louise” by Maria Parperis

“The Trainee” by Molly Layne

“The Grey Place” by Robert Moore

“From Sheep Farm to Kitchen” by Liz Cherry

“The Special ” by Misti Silvers

“The Perfect Flavor” by Ian Patterson

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story on a film or TV set, starting with someone calling “Cut!”

Write about a person who constantly has to put on a persona (e.g. at work, in their relationships, etc.) who can finally drop the facade.

A journalist has been granted permission to visit the premises of a lab carrying out top-secret work. They could never have anticipated what they’d find…

Write a story about a magician who never reveals their secrets — until now.

Contest #207

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

235

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: