What does "in the weeds" commonly refer to?

The term "in the weeds" is commonly used in the restaurant industry to describe a situation where staff members, especially servers and kitchen staff, are overwhelmed by a sudden surge of orders. This phrase captures the essence of being very busy and having more tasks or orders to handle than one can manage efficiently. When a restaurant is busy, the potential for lagging service increases, and staff may find themselves struggling to keep up with customer demand. This state often leads to stress and can negatively impact service quality if not managed well.

In contrast, being in a state of calm or experiencing a break in busy service signifies a manageable environment, which does not align with the essence of being "in the weeds." Additionally, specific waiter tasks do not encompass the broader scenario of overwhelming demand that the phrase encapsulates. This makes the option referring to an overwhelming rush of orders the most accurate interpretation of "in the weeds."