Bodine’s server Alondra Enriquez serves coffee to regulars Gary Werner (far right) from Carson City and brother Mike Werner from Dayton. (Photo: Ronni Hannaman)
Meet Alondra Enriquez, server extraordinaire, who can be seen on the day shift serving customers inside the restaurant at Bodine’s Casino in south Carson City.
Since spring 2016, Enriquez has smilingly served many diners stating, “I love working in the Bodine’s restaurant because each day and shift allows me to interact with new customers and catch up with the regulars who always ask to be seated in my section.”
Learning her trade as a child from her father who once owned Beefy’ s Burgers in Dayton, Enriquez treats customers the way in which she expects to be treated when she goes out to dine with her family.
“I make it a point to always smile and acknowledge my customers no matter how busy I am for I want them to know that I know they are there, and I’ll be right with them.”
The pandemic has been challenging for all working within the food service industry. She was furloughed for the 3.5 months when restaurants were forced to shut down in March 2020, being reinstated in June when restaurants were allowed 50 percent capacity. She laughs when relating how cautious and fastidious guests were at first, bringing in their own sanitary cleaning supplies even though the tables, chairs, booths, and all condiments were fastidiously cleaned after each seating.
As customers are returning to pre-pandemic levels, staffing still remains an issue and servers must attend to additional tables which can find servers rushing through the dining room instead of being able to linger a moment with guests. Enriquez floats through the room taking orders, pouring coffee, topping off drinks, and bringing out orders all the while with a smile on her face and eyes constantly darting around making sure everyone’s needs are met.
It takes a special personality to interact with people all day and the lovely Enrique has that personality in spades. Although she loves being a server, she doesn’t plan to be a server forever stating, “Someday I want to own my own little restaurant,” thereby following in the footsteps of her father.
She grew up in Dayton and has lived in Carson City with her husband and two daughters, 8 and 11 years old, since 2010. “Working as a server at Bodine’s is perfect for me and allows me to work a flexible schedule so I can be an engaged mother too.”
She has remained loyal to Bodine’s and her customers throughout the pandemic and looks forward to the day when COVID will be but a memory and the restaurant industry and the world will return to normal. It is personalities such as Alondra Enriquez that make up the fabric of our city continuing to make us CarsonProud!
