How can I be a good waitress?

Answer 1

bring me a beer and some wings!

Answer 2

To be a good waiter or waitress you must make your customers laugh, but at the same time be very respectable. Some people want total respect and doesnt care if you can make them laugh. You just have to "feel out" those tables and just get them everything they want. Make sure your tables never have to wait for anything. One slurp from a straw in an empty glass is just another tip deduction. Then there are people who never tip well, but dont let that get to you. It's not because you gave them bad service. They just dont know how to tip. They often mistake servers as servants. So be on your guard.

Answer 3

Be polite and friendly all the time

Be patient when dealing with customers

Try and know about all the food on the menu, so you can answer questions about it. If someone asks you a question you can't answer, go and ask a chef

Try and be sensitive to what the customer wants, some people will want alot of service and attention, so make sure you check up on them every so often to make sure everything's going well and that they don't need anything. Be chatty with them if they're very friendly, asking where they come from and stuff. Some people however will want to be quietly left alone, in which case you need to be more tactful and appear more seldomly. You can sometimes spot people like this because they sound slightly impatient while they talk to you.

Get used to reading a table so you can see what's happening with it. For example, if more than one person has an empty glass they may want another drink. If no-one is eating, they might be all finished and you should clear the table, however they may all just be taking a breather. Common signs that people have actually finished with their food are them placing their knife and fork side by side in the middle of the plate or (if they've used them) placing their used serviettes (the paper ones) on their plates or napkins (the cloth ones) on the table.

You want to pay attention to what's going on on all your tables, nothing annoys customers more (well, at least me when I'm a customer ;) ) than seeing their waitress stood around staring into space when they need something. Always look out for people making eye contact with you, it's typically a sign that they want something.

Until you get used to it, it's better to carry fewer plates at a time than everyone else, although it may be faster to be running around with 3 plates in one hand, the risk of dropping a steak on a woman's head isn't really worth it, I know this from experience :)

Always be friendly to regular customers, get to know their habits. Most people like it when you remember what they usually order, though occasionally some don't.

What to do when things go wrong:

As a waiter/ress you are surrounded by dangerous and volatile people, some customers can be quite patient, while others can become rapidly upset. Restaurant managers tend not to be too bad, though as they become more stressed out during a shift, they too can fly off the handle. Chefs are unpredictable and frequently dangerous and need to be kept happy at all costs. I'm not sure if it's something about people who like cooking or the hard work in a hot kitchen or if shadowy figures in the catering industry secretly shoot them full of extra testosterone to make them work faster, but a large proportion of the chefs I've met have been temperamental lunatics, constantly in danger of erupting with massive and furious anger at anybody within reach (Okay, I'm exagerating, but you see my point :) )

When things go wrong, you'll tend to find yourself bang in the middle of it, since you are the official communicater between the customer, who needs to be kept happy, the person whose fault it is and the person who can fix it. If you're lucky, it'll be the customer's fault and you can fix it. If you're unlucky, then it's your fault and only the chefs can fix it. Due to the fact that any of the people in this equation are likely to become upset, it's sometimes safer to try and get each party to blame someone who they can't do anything about. Telling the customer it's the kitchen's fault is a good one ("I'm terribly sorry but one of the chefs dropped your salad, but he's making you a new one as fast as he can"), as can be telling the manager or the chefs that it's the customer's fault ("well, she never mentioned it before!"). Be wary though, if things are going badly wrong, this probably isn't such a good idea wince the customer will ask to see the manager and all your little lies will come crashing down around your ears and you can end up in trouble even though none of the actual problem was your fault (again from personal experience). Frequently just being honest is the best policy, I'm afraid...

Answer 4

Just be yourself. I love waitresses that just be themselves. Make sure that you deliver everything in a timely manner, and if it's late blame it on the cook. Crack jokes and be honest about the whole situation. Always stop by to see if the cups are low or empty. Fill them up as quick as you can. This makes a good impression. I, personally, tip pretty good. Mainly because the waitress is being herself, honest about everything, and just plain ole polite.

Answer 5

Just remember "the customer is always right" No matter how bad they piss you off. Trust me I was a waitress all through highschool and college and made great money. Just smile and do whatever they tell ya and pay attention to them. OH and ALWAYS pre bus the tables. (you know pick up each plate as their done instead of waiting until their gone to clean up) always gets ya a better tip!!

Answer 6

Eye contact. Know your sh!t. Do not read it. Memorize the order. Do not write it. Kneel down next to people when talking about the specials so they aren't looking up at you. Smile. Genuinely. Don't have someone's dinner on your shirt. Check back with diners no more than every 10 minutes to see how we are, but, keep an eye on us - especially in the first 10 minutes. Get the orders right. Ask if we want all the little things during the order - don't wait until later when you bring the food out and walk away.

And, last but not least, and this may sound wierd, but you will typically get 10% more tips if you do this: Write "Thanks! Have a great evening!" and draw a little smiley face on the check. I kid you not. Try it.


Oh my god - one more thing....be very attentive to WHEN you decide to ask how everything is. Not right when I took a huge bite of food, and not when I am TALKING TO MY FRIEND. Try to jump in or at least wait patiently before speaking up and asking.

Answer 7

Smile all the time.
Look the patrons in the eye while they're ordering to show you're payting attention.
Read the order back and look at each person while doing so to make sure you get it right.
Make a note of where they're sitting so you can be sure to serve the right order to the right person.
Never leave the table without asking if there's anything else they need.
Always keep their drinks topped off and the dirty plates cleared.

Answer 8

Greet your customers with a friendly hi and a smile. Bring a glass of water and a menu to the table right away and ask if they would like time to go over it. Then take their drink orders. Come back as soon as possible with the drinks. Ask if they are ready to order. When they order, make sure you listen well and answer all questions. Get the orders wrote down right. Then bring the orders as soon as they are ready so as not to allow them to cool. Try to recall who gets what. Ask if they need any thing else and if not leave them alone for awhile to eat, going back in about 15-20 min. to check on drink refills. After you see that they may be about finished, go ask if they would like dessert. After serving this, then allow about 10 min. and bring the check and be sure to ask if there is anything else and then thank them for coming. ALSO, if there is small children, when they come in, ask them if they need a highchair. I would also ask if you could give them a pkg. of crackers while they wait. This helps with fussy hungary ones.

Answer 9

Anticipate a need. Remember the things you liked or disliked about service when eating out. Keep smiling and remember the customer is paying for your politeness, knowledge of the product, attention to detail, ie. a glass along with the beer, and of course, respect. Good Luck

Answer 10

Smile, be friendly and polite, patient, attentive, quick, and courteous. Good luck! Waitresses can make real good money if they are at a good restaurant and have good customers. It helps to establish a rapport with them. Then they will request you qhen they eat there.

Answer 11

Be nice to kids talk with them. Get to know the people. give them re-fills befour they ask. Tell about speacials and they food and drinks u have. do all this and u will have LOTS of tips trust me. Dont be rude. Ask if there is any more u can do for them. Act they u would want to be treated. Hope this helps. :)