Running a brewpub/concept restaurant isn’t easy- it’s a lot of work, a lot of sweat and the occasional tears.

There are a lot of good, earnest people working behind the scenes, who put in a great deal of effort, round-the-clock, to ensure that everything you love about us stays that way.

And these people are none other than our never-tiring, ever-inspiring staff.

Happiest when he’s interacting with customers, say hello to our senior steward, Sriram.

When did you first join Toit?

I joined in March, in 2014. So, almost 5 years now.

I completed my diploma in Hotel Management in Trichy, and I did that for three years.

I used to work in hotels before, and then I shifted to pubs.
I worked in a bunch of bars and restaurants after that as a steward, so I had about nine years experience before I joined Toit as senior steward.

What made you shift from hotels to pubs?

Actually, I’ve always wanted to work in a pub.
And one of my friends told me about Toit, so I decided to apply here.

What is a day in your work life like?

Usually we have two shifts. The break shift and the second shift. For the break shift, I need to be here by 11:30 am. 

For that, I wake up at around 9:30 am. I get here by 11:25 am.

Once I get here, I keep everything ready—fill up the water, set the table covers, and basically make sure the floor is ready before the customers start coming.

Once they come, we have to greet the customers, seat them, get them water. Then we present the menu cards, and take their orders.
I usually get done by 12 am during weekdays, and 1:00 am during the weekends. So I get home by 1:30 am on those days.

I live in Ulsoor, so it’s not that far also.

Is your job hectic?

The thing is, because I had worked in pubs and bars before this, I had some experience. But after coming here, I really learnt how to handle crowds, and how to work under pressure because of the number of people who come here. 

The places I worked at before were more fine-dining in nature, so they didn’t have as many people coming as here. 

Here you meet all kinds of customers. And I like this a lot.

What is the best and worst thing about being a senior steward at Toit?

I really like greeting customers and taking their orders. Interacting with them is my favourite part.
I end up having conversations with the regular customers a lot.

The worst part, there is only one thing that is slightly irritating and that’s the timings. That’s the only thing.
Everything else is great.

What do you do on your off day?

I got married recently, about six months back. 

When I was a bachelor, I used to just clean up and watch TV or go out. But since I got married, I’ve been very busy.

My wife has an IT job, so whenever she gets time, we go out to the mall or go watch movies. I don’t have any free time after marriage, really.
I have to take her out, because I’m busy during the weekends when she is off.

Is there a hobby you like to pursue when you’re not busy working or taking your wife out?

I used to watch cricket a lot. And I used to play a lot too.
But I also love reading the newspaper and listening to music. I pretty much do these things only in my free time.

Does your wife come to Toit often?

She hasn’t come here yet.
But I’m planning to bring her here soon!

You’ve been here for five years. What do the next five years look like?

My wife and I have been doing some planning. We want to start a business of our own, and maybe in four to five years we’ll move back to Tamil Nadu and start a business of our own there.

She has some ideas of her own, I will just be supporting her. 

It will be nice to move back there also. I love Bangalore , and my mother is also here with me, but it will be nice to move back I think.