"No matter, I will just order for everyone then." Jake raised his hand and said, "I'm ready to order, Sir Dylan!"
Dylan smiled, a faint glint of satisfaction passing through his heterochromatic eyes as he thought to himself, 'It was worth it inviting them over and having them taste my cooking beforehand. A bit of word-of-mouth marketing goes a long way.'
"Definitely! Thank you, kind sir." He approached that table of six and proceeded to take their orders with a poise that belonged in a high-end palace dining hall rather than a rustic town tavern..
As he walked, he directed the guests attention to a small, neatly cut slip of paper tucked between the wooden binding of the menu. "I can see that the guests are still contemplating what they have in mind for their meals. As you can see, there is a paper slip inserted in your menus. If you wish to list down your choices to narrow down what you want to sample, you can do so. But you could also simply raise your hand and I will do my best to accommodate you. "
The guests nodded in response as they first observed what was going to happen first, their curiosity piqued by the young host's flawless, hospitable demeanor.
"We will order six sets of the Hunter's Harvest!" Jake made his order simple.
'I think any of these would taste good considering how good his cooking is!' He simply trusted the taste that he experienced from Dylan's dishes. To be honest, he was not sure what to order at first since he also did not know what any of these dishes were. Therefore, he just ordered a set which seemed to be the safest option.
"Is there anything else? Would that be all?" Dylan asked warmly.
"Yes."
"The waiting time would be fifteen to twenty minutes, sir. The appetizer and drinks will be served first." Dylan said as he flipped his notes and turned around to go to the kitchen.
Jillian, sitting a few tables away, watched him leave with a rapidly beating heart. She was still skeptical about all these foreign names, but she was also very intrigued by the concept of the entire restaurant. But the driving factor is that she was really hungry and she could smell the rich, wood-fired aroma from the kitchen. She could only describe it as salivating in her head, 'I don't believe that food that smells this good would not taste just as delicious.'
Taking a deep breath, she called out, "Hello, sir?"
Dylan turned around instantly, stepping back toward her with a welcoming, courteous stride. He greeted her with a gentle smile as he approached Jillian. "What fancies your taste based on the menu?"
"I..." Jillian was a bit caught off guard. She had short-circuited the moment Dylan had actually approached her and took her order. She became more conscious since she could feel the gazes of everyone looking at her and observing her.
Dylan noticed that she was in the pasta section. He made it easier for her and said. "Ah, yes, madam. You would like to get a pasta?"
"Y-yes." Jillian nodded.
"Excellent madam. I believe you called me over to consult with what may best suit your palate, yes?" Dylan had a very inviting aura to him and it felt like it was easy to talk to him. Adding to the fact that Dylan was actually making it easier for Jillian.
"Yes," Jillian nodded as she calmed down, offering a small, appreciative smile while thinking, 'Wow, he really saved me there. He's surprisingly attentive.'
"Do you have any preference for you taste?"
"Something mildly sweet and not too heavy in the stomach?" Jillian was quite unsure but she at least told him what she wanted.
Dylan smiled as he recommended, "Then, I would recommend the Wild Boar Meatball Marinara. The sun-ripened tomato marinara naturally brings a mild, bright sweetness to the dish that balances the savory wild boar meatballs. Since it uses a vibrant tomato base rather than heavy cream, eggs, or dense meat ragùs, it stays remarkably light and refreshing on the stomach."
"I see. I will take that one, then." Jillian nodded as she felt that it perfectly encapsulates her cravings.
"Do you want any drinks with that? Going in line with your preference, I believe Botanical Elixir, an iced mint and lavender sparkler would fit your needs." Dylan further suggested.
"S-sure." Before she could realize it, she had already responded and was sold by Dylan's excellent recommendations. Just like that, she had committed to pay 12 copper coins.
"He can make personalized recommendations? That's good."
"He also makes it easy for you to order."
"That's a great start."
The crowd nodded in unanimous approval, seeing how skillfully Dylan handled that situation. They could see that Jillian had slightly struggled to express herself under the public gaze, and they were thoroughly impressed by how Dylan made thoughtful recommendations that fit her exact tastes.
"Anything else?" Dylan made sure that he got everything that Jillian needed.
"None." Jillian nodded.
"Perfect, the waiting time would be fifteen to twenty minutes. In the meantime, your drink will be served first." Immediately after writing down her orders, Dylan entered the house to cook the ordered food of the customers.
Not long after, a scarlet-haired little doll came out of the house wearing a cute maid dress. She looked very nervous as she carried a wooden tray which had the six drinks Jake and company ordered, slowly making her way over to their table.
"..."
In that moment, the entire courtyard paused as everyone's attention was stolen by the little red-haired maid in front of them. It was only Scarlet's footsteps that could be heard as she tried her best to keep the drinks balanced while making her way to the table.
"H-here are your drinks." Scarlet squeaked softly, setting the wooden cups down one by one over at Jake and company's table.
"Thank you, Miss Scarlet." Harry issues a warm smile as he got the drinks and passed it around the table
"Y-you're welcome. I-I will get your other orders now!" Scarlet shyly said as she covered her face with the tray. Then she turned on her heel and quickly ran off from them, practically flying back across the courtyard until she ducked back inside the house.
"WAAAAAHHH!!"
The moment the door clicked shut behind her, the customers erupted seeing such a cute girl helping out in this. Some grown men were even standing up while holding their fists up high in overwhelming enthusiasm while women adored how cute and pretty Scarlet looked and acted.
"She's so cute! Her scarlet red hair looks so pretty!"
"Aaaah! She looks like a doll! I want to adopt her!"
"Maybe, I should order now so she can serve us our orders!"
It was not until Scarlet came back again that they settled down while she served the appetizers, the Smoked Forest Mushroom Crostini.
It was not until Scarlet came back again that they settled down while she served the appetizers, the Smoked Forest Mushroom Crostini, to Jake's table.
"E-enjoy!" Scarlet curtly said as she quickly yet cutely ran towards their house as she yells, "Big bro, I've sent out the orders!"
'So adorable!' All the customers watched as she shyly delivered their orders and then quickly run back to the kitchen to her brother.
After delivering the food to the craftsmen, Scarlet carefully held the tray containing Jillian's Botanical Elixir and timidly walked over to her table.
"H-here is your drink, miss," Scarlet squeaked softly, carefully placing the frosty, condensation-dusted wooden glass on the table.
Jillian smiled warmly as she received her drink, completely captivated by the little girl's presence. "Hello, little one!"
"Err..." Scarlet fidgeted with her empty wooden tray, her cheeks blushing a light pink as she looked down.
Seeing how small she was, Jillian leaned forward with a sympathetic look and asked softly, "Why are you working? Are you being forced to work?"
"N-no, not at all!" Scarlet stammered, frantically shaking her head.
"Then, why are you working?" Jillian inquired, genuinely curious.
"M-my big bro worked very hard to open this restaurant s-so I just wanted to help out a bit..." Scarlet mumbled shyly, clutching her tray against her chest.
"AAAAAHHH!"
Hearing her heartfelt and genuine words of wanting to help her brother, the nearby customers couldn't hold back their reactions any longer, exploding into loud cheers once again.
"What an absolute angel!"
"My heart is completely full! How can a child be so dutiful?!"
"I will order a lot for you, little red maid! Bring us three more plates!"
"I want to order now!"
"Me too!"
"I have written mine down already!"
...
Inside the kitchen, hearing the roaring cheers and dramatic exclamations echoing from the courtyard, Dylan could only shake his head with a quiet chuckle as he tossed a handful of fresh garden herbs into a sizzling pan.
'Well,' he thought, his eyes gleaming with amusement, 'it seems our secret weapon isn't just the menu after all.'
"Yes, dear customers." Dylan had no choice but to go out of the kitchen and then take the orders of the various orders.
Upon going out, he quickly took note of everyone's orders and guided them with their orders like what he did with Jillian or he would just received the paper slip from the customers and then repeat order to ensure that he did not miss anything.
"Ah, young master! We've written ours down on the slip here," an the food connoisseur called out, handing over the small paper slip from inside his menu.
Dylan accepted the paper with a courteous nod, glancing at the crisp handwriting before looking back up at the table. "Understood, sir. So that is one Spiced Wild Game Terrine for the appetizer, followed by two orders of the Italian Wild Boar Ragù Pappardelle, and two glasses of the Vastocean Herbal Infused Ale. Is everything correct?"
"Precisely! Splendid accuracy, young man," the elderly gentleman chuckled, pleased by the swift re-confirmation.
For those who sat staring at the menu with bewildered brows, Dylan seamlessly stepped into the role of a seasoned host. Leaning in slightly with a reassuring smile, he offered tailored suggestions based on whether they preferred bold, smoky meats or light, aromatic garden herbs. Within minutes, every hesitant guest had a slip filled out and a newfound eagerness for their meal.
Along the way, Dylan was able to manage both cooking and waiting on the customers effectively by juggling things.
While the wild boar ragù simmered gently over medium coals, he would step outside to take three new orders, charm a skeptical merchant, and collect empty cups. The second he stepped back through the wooden kitchen doors, he would flip seasoned venison loins over roaring flames, drop fresh handmade pasta into boiling water, and plate the sizzling dishes with artful grace. Never wasting a single second or a single step.
All ten cooking stations were being actively used yet Dylan is able to keep track of everything!
Inside the kitchen, the flames roared yet tamed by the hands a single man. Outside in the courtyard, Dylan moved with effortless elegance as he entered guests and waited on their orders. To the stunned guests, it seemed as though there were three of him working simultaneously, turning what could have been a chaotic lunch rush into a masterclass of hospitality and culinary art.