Waldorf Salad

"Waldorf Salad" is the third episode of the second series of the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. Directed by Bob Spiers, it first aired on 5 March 1979. Plot Dinner is exceptionally busy at the hotel, and the guests complain to Sybil about the quality of the service. However, when Basil checks with the guests, they do not mention their complaints. As service winds down, a new couple arrives, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton; while Mrs. Hamilton is British, her husband is American, and runs a list of complaints about their travels from London compared with the United States. Because of their late arrival, Mr. Hamilton asks Basil to bribe the cook to keep the kitchen open so they can have a meal after they have unpacked. Basil tries to trick Terry the chef with only half of what Mr. Hamilton gave him. Terry agrees, but claims it will cause him to miss a karate class, but then Polly reveals that she, Terry, Manuel, and Terry's Finnish girlfriend were to have a night out. Irritated by Terry's fib, Basil sends them on their way, intending to cook for the Hamiltons himself. The Hamiltons first ask for screwdrivers, of which Basil has never heard, irritating Mr. Hamilton. They ask for a Waldorf salad, an item not on the menu, followed by two rare steaks. Basil similarly has no idea what goes into a Waldorf salad, and his attempts to make it are criticised by Mr. Hamilton. Basil returns to the kitchen and shouts loudly as if he were yelling at the cook. Basil makes other excuses, unaware that Sybil has been able to prepare and serve the proper dish. Basil, on discovering this, faux-yells at the chef, but Sybil follows him into the kitchen and slaps Basil for his antics. Later, Basil reads a letter supposedly from Terry that puts all the blame on the chef, but during this, the unattended steaks start to burn, and draw the guests to the lobby.