Keeping customers in line

Splendora, an online guide to excellence, lists Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles Hollywood under the subhead: Splendid Sins. The sin? Nearly everything on the menu. Celebrities and locals keep the location on Gower Street in Hollywood packed. On weekends, the waiting line can stretch halfway down the block. Manning the door: Rahman Muhammad.

The back story

The 49-year-old former Golden Gloves boxer says that Muhammad Ali is his idol, photography his avocation and poetry his mission. Originally from Atlanta, Muhammad has been at Roscoe’s since 1997.

Style

He won’t be caught without one of his trademark stingy-brimmed Kangol hats. Muhammad might wear a suit, an African robe or go totally casual, but whatever the outfit, “I like to be cool, calm and collected -- always coordinated.”

Extras

If you’re lucky, he’ll share a line of his original poetry: “I like to say I went from fighting to writing.”

Work strategies

“When people get impatient, I use a little humor -- I’ll call them over and say, ‘You’ve got five seconds to give me the name of the little statue they give out at the Academy Awards!’ And the guy’s name is Oscar. So he shouts: ‘Oscar!’ I tell him, ‘It’s you, man. Come on in.’ And he and everybody that’s waiting in line cracks up laughing.”

Confession

“When celebrities or one of my regular customers comes up, I just say, ‘Hi, whoever, takeout order is ready!’ They go in and sit down, and it doesn’t make the people in line feel bad.”

Best perk

“The best thing is when I get to have my picture taken with celebrities that I admire.”

-- Carolyn Patricia Scott