Tips on being a good waiter or waitress?

Question

greetings, service, sidework, etc.

Answer 1

Being a "waitron" (gender-free term) is hard work. You must be detail minded so you do not forget to serve all your customers in a timely fashion, you will often be so busy that you barely have enough time to devote to being courteous (let alone genuinely friendly), and you will have occasional customers who are unhappy even when you have given them fine service.

If you can avoid taking the tough moments personally, try to keep a professional smile on your face, and just deliver the best service you can, you can make a darn good living at many restaurants.
Here are two tips for you if you are new to the field:
1) Wear the most comfortable shoes that you can afford, and have two pairs so you don't have to wear them two days in a row.
2) When you have enough experience to move to a more expensive restaurant, start applying. The tips will be better!

Answer 2

Well, as for greeting the customer and customer interaction, it really depends on what type of restraunt you are working for. The main thing is always be cheerful even if you are having a bad day. Treat the customer the way you'd like to be treated when you go out for dinner. If you are waiting on a couple make sure you make friends with the girl, she will determine your tip...lol.

As for service, that will come natural. Always make sure you refill drinks when they are about half empty and keep an eye on their bread basket if serve free bread. This should never be empty unless they tell you they do not want anymore.

Make sure you up sell each table because this usually means a better tip. If they want a glass of wine ask them if they want to share a bottle. Ask if the want appetizers and desserts. All this should be covered in your training though. If serving alcohol make sure you do not over serve anyone. Do not make this call for yourself, get a manager involved if you think there is a problem.

You should always do all your sidework. This just makes life easier for the next shift. If the previous shift has not done their sidework make sure you let someone know. It is unfair for you to have to do their work.

This is the key to being a good wait person, tip your bus person and your bartender generiously. Make friends with them because they are your bread and butter. The faster your tables are turned the more customers you can wait on and a happy customer is nice, but a happy customer with a few drinks in him is alot nicer =)

Good luck

Answer 3

It depends on where you work. But across the board -- smile, use mouthwash, don't wear perfume, wear makeup and get an attractive hair cut.
Hope you have a good memory cause you'll need it to remember who ordered what and the daily specials or drinks.
And above all else keep your sense of humor. People who have worked as servers will likely tip you much better than those who haven't.
And don't take things personally. Sometimes customers will be mean or rude but it's not usually aimed at you. They're just having a bad day or something. If you can get them to smile you'll both feel better and they will tip you more then too.
Also work with the chef as much as possible. If they're having a bad day and putting out less than top quality food it means smaller tips for you.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Tips on being a good waiter or waitress?
greetings, service, sidework, etc.

Answer 5

Make sure that my glass is full and don't interupt me just as I have taken a bite of food. I swear, my waitresses always know when I have just taken a bite. It's like they tune in their radar...

Answer 6

Smile,
Soft spoken,
Do not easily get irritated,
Act professional,
Learn to know what the consumer wants,
Respect

Answer 7

I pay a good tip if a waitress lets me review the menu in peace and then provides everything I need to have a good meal without my having to ask for something (like: ketchup please, clean fork please, may I have a glass of water plz, and, of course....where's the bill). It irritates me that waitresses these days don't know that if we put the water glass out to the edge that means it needs to be refilled, same with our drinks. And when we put plates out to the edge it means for the waitress to remove them to the kitchen. If someone takes my plate that's in front of me and I haven't finished eating I might just do like one of my dates did once, and stick the waitress with my fork...lol...then she gets no tip at all (or maybe it's an unspoken tip for the day that means "learn your job"). If I have to talk with my mouth full, I will, but that means no tip too.

Answer 8

Have a positive attitude and be genuine in all things including life.=)

Answer 9

Smile and make people feel comfortable by being friendly.

Answer 10

friendly, outgoing and sociable personality, hospitable to the needs of customers, sounding polite and making them feel at home, and your brilliant smile.