Tips on being a great waitress???

Question

I've been a cook, and I recently decided to move to the front of a restaurant, becuase I want a better pay. I plan on leaving the job I have now and going to one of those big franchise corps like Olive Garden. Red Lobster, etc.

What are some great tips for a waitress.....tell me from the perspective of the customer, and management, please-THANK YOU!!!!!

I also know the job gets rough, what are great ways to keep a steady head?

Answer 1

A friend sent this to me and I thought it was pretty right on about the types of customers. There are SO many people out there flooding the restaurants w/o any knowledge of how to tip. Here is a short guide for the general public to follow. Feel free to print out and store in your wallet and/or purse. :)

1. CHILDREN "THE LITTLE DEVILS":
If you have children, DO NOT let them, open and dump anything on the table (ie; salt, sugar, etc). IF YOU DO, you must leave an extra $5 for the server to clean up YOUR CHILD'S mess & to restock the now unusable wasted items. We are neither their babysitter nor their parent. The least you can do is pay us for the extra work. Also make sure you control your kids and don't let them scream or run around the restraunt. It's very distracting not to mention dangerous if they get ran over by a server with hot food in their hands.

2. "THE CAMPERS":
If you feel the necessity to stay for longer than 15 minutes after you pay, its an extra $3 every 30 minutes. We make our money from the tables. If you are in one and we can't seat it, we don't make money.

3. COMPLIMENTS:
Telling a server they are the best server they've ever had is not a tip. If we are good, let us know by leaving us more money. We cant pay our bills on compliments. Its not that we don't appreciate the praise, its just that if you say that and then leave 10t's an insult.

4. THE SALVATION PAMPHLETS:
Prayer cards and any other religious pamphlet is NOT a tip. It is insulting that you assume we are w/o religion and must save us. Again, like ..3, we cant pay bills w/prayer cards. We'd go to church on Sundays if it wasn't mandatory to work on Sundays because EVERYONE who goes to church follows it by eating out.

5. TIPPING:
It is not 1960. Cost of living has gone up dramatically since then. 18s the MINIMUM amount of what you should be tipping your servers. Tipping should be NO LESS than %15 (with the exception of really really really bad service) Tipping is now %18+! Remember, our companies pay us minimum wage (minumum wage for servers is $6.75 in CA, $3.09 in IA, ONLY $2.38 IN MARYLAND & $2.13 in Louisiana & TN & $3.38 in FL) And we are taxed on 10 percent of your meal automatically anyway. So if your meal is $100 and you leave $10 and we tip out $4-5 to the busser, bartender, and whoever else then we pay tax on 10 dollars the state assumes we are atleast making and we actually make $5. It seems small but it adds up. How many times do you eat out per week and do this?

6. THE COMPLAINERS:
If you get a discount because of your food was prepared wrong or something, do not take it out of our tip. We didn't cook it. The cooks get paid hourly regardless if the food sucks. However, we only make what you give us.

7. THE FREE STUFF:
If you happen to get anything for free and you did not have a problem with your dining experience, most of the time it is because the server thinks you will realize that they are giving it to you for free. There should be extra tip thanking the server for the free item. They could get in a lot of trouble giving away free stuff. You should give them hazard pay for it.

8. THE LATE ONES:
If you come into the restraunt 10 mins before closing or any time near closing hurry up and order your food and get out. Closed means closed, not social hour. It is so rude to sit there and take your sweet *** time. We can't leave until you leave because we have to do sidework and clean the table you are sitting at. We don't want to stand there waiting for you for an extra hour just because you don't want to go home. We recommend 24 hour establishments such as Dennys if you wish to sit into the wee hours of the night.

9. THE TABLE HOGGERS:
If you only come in for coffee or a dessert, to do paper work, or to have a meeting, don't sit there taking up our booths for hours. We are not Starbucks or a hotel restraunt. If you want to sit for hours, go there or else you better leave a good tip for us and camping fee included.

10. THE GREET:
When we come up to the table to greet you and we ask how you are doing please let us know. We honestly want to know how you are doing. If you are in a bad mood we want to know that from the beginning. A confused stare or complete silence does not suffice as a reply to "How are you doing?". Also most of us are REQUIRED to say certain things during the greeting, so please don't interrupt our greeting and say "I want coffee", "Can we get some bread?", or "What are the soups?"

11. THOSE DAMN CELL PHONES:
Don't ever talk on your cell phone in a restraunt. This is probably the rudest thing to do. If you must be on your cell, at least keep your voice down in respect for other customers. If you are on your cell phone when we walk up to greet your table we will walk away and not return until you get off your phone. Just show some respect and give us your attention for a couple of minutes.

12. TAKE-AWAY OR TO-GOS:
Always remember to tip the take-out order servers! They work just as hard as a server, and hardly ever get tips for it! WE DESERVE TO BE TIPPED TOO!

13. DO NOT TELL ME YOU ARE BROKE WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING: If you cannot afford to tip properly then do not go out to eat. If I as a server bring you back $8.00 in change lets say from a $70.00 bill and only leave me $2.00 and tell me you are broke you should be castrated for being such an ignorant asshole!! Do not waste your time or mine it really pisses us off.

14. High School Kids: Learn how to tip!! Just because you do not have a job and mommy and daddy pays for everything you have including the meal that you are eating do not think that it is ok to not tip. Leave a tip people b/c I remember every face that does not tip.

Point blank it's not the hardest job in the world but there's a lot to it. I've been a server for a few years now. Big pointers:
~Know your customers-if they seem like the type of people you can chit chat than do so, be entertaining. But at the same time some people just want to enjoy their food and get out. The point is that you want to do what you can to get a good tip. Show them that you actually care and just be yourself.
~Make sure you try to learn the menu well. It's such a bonus for you if you can describe menu items. Know what the differences of everything is and how it tastes. It makes you look professional and knowledgeable.
~When your in the weeds(busy busy busy) than get help! I've gotten myself into trouble by not asking my manager for help. That's what they're there for. Don't be afraid to ask them to help ya out, just thank them afterwards.
~Obviously you have to be in a good mood, leave your baggage at the door. Just even when you feel like spitting something out because you have a rude customer just let it go. Always be ATTENTIVE, make sure they're happy and have everything they need, but just don't hover over them...It's alllll about timing-use your best judgement.
~I found that when I first started serving I didn't know too much or I would somehow mess up. When that happened I just told my customers, look I'm new sorry-it helped most of them would be like oh it's okay and still leave you a good tip. so just a little hint hint.
~You WILL get bad people and bad tips. But ya know what, no job is perfect. And even though you may feel like punching somebody or crying whatever, but you have to learn to brush it off and what goes around comes around. You will also get some really good tips.
** Reguardless of what we all tell you, you'll LEARN THROUGH EXPERIENCE and find your own nitch(spl?). Just do the best you can! GOOD LUCK! I like serving it's fun and interesting.

Answer 2

I used to be a waitress during college. The biggest things you have to remember are these:

- Personality sells.
- When they ask "what do you have to drink", say "tea" somewhere in the beginning or middle of your recitation because tea-drinkers are the worst ever. They go through it like water [water actually happens to be something that gets downed the slowest] and it makes you want to just leave a pitcher on their table! But you can't because that's bad service.
- Watch the tables from afar. You have to get good at that, so you can arrive at the "right" time, and not feel like you are hovering. Arriving right when they run out or when they are in need is more impressive than showing up and nagging them.
- If there is a situation in the kitchen or a backlog of food/dishes, don't over-explain the situation. Just keep your head and ensure the guest everything is okay. Never lie to them and say "it'll be out in a few minutes", because the "few minutes" will seem ever-so-long to them. Full glasses and appetizers keep most customers content.
- Customer types:
+Regulars: they come EVERY night, believe it or not. Can be extremely demanding or very patient and understanding. Regardless of what extreme they are - make a good effort to know them on a first name basis. It's about making them comfortable.
+Modifiers: they come in and make their own recipes by excluding "this or that" and substituting "this or that". Nine times out of ten you will waste time going back to the kitchen to see if it's an acceptable time for modifications [rushes are bad], and whether the stuff is on-hand to do the mods. Whatever you do, do not tell them to go home and cook their own food [which they should do since they've changed the recipe]. =P
+Bottomless wells: Keep them topped off, they drink a glass faster than you can take another table's order and put it in the computer.
+Kids: do not lose your patience, and messes will happen. Talk to the kids and be positive! Remember the activity books! If the kids really like the place they will never stop talking about it after and when they come back they will remember you, and might ask the parents to choose you. Doesn't always happen, but if the parents are good tippers this is godsend.

Last tip: Stay the heck away from places like Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Those are fast food places [in my honest opinion] and NOT fine dining. Most people who eat there do not have enough to tip well. They have a turnover rate that is horrendous - they hire a completely new staff almost every season because it's just not worth the pay.

Research your area and choose the small-to-medium size upper scale fine dining, or a really popular place that has a bar as a side feature. These type of places attract people of means, and families, and drinkers [should be read "drinker$"]. ;)

peace out, hope this helps a little

Answer 3

Chains like the ones you mention are not the best environs to work most of the time. Think about looking at smaller more upscale places. Remember - the total on the bill at the end of the night decides your tip.

Always smile. If you're overwhelmed, ask for help. If it gets ridiculous, say something to the table to let them know why something is taking so long. Give them a heads up so they don't feel ignored. If something is wrong with their meal, apoligize, get the plate back into the kitchen and out of their way. Tell the manager to come over and check on them. Customers like a mgr when things go wrong. If there are specials, tell them the first time you hit the table. if a customer has had time to decide what they want, they won't go for the special. wear non-slip shoes. keep your heair out of your face and your hands clean. dont let the customer see you standing around. a hustling waiter gets props from a customer even if they are not paying attention to that customer at that moment. always have extra pens and correct change. if you tip out at the end of the night, tip out generously, a dollar extra means little to you, but your teammates will totally notice it. know the menu well and make honest recomendations about the best dishes on the menu. if a waiter can clearly describe a dish and make it sound delish the customer will usually get it.

Answer 4

I was a waitress for several years during college. A few tips: 1) Write it down! It doesn't make you look smarter if you try and remember the order, as soon as you walk away, all the customers are gonna think os "I hope she remembers that correctly." And if you have to come back to ask again, it just doesn't look good. 2) Keep on top of drink refills and I always would bring a glass of water for each person as soon as I greeted the table so they wouldn't have to ask for it later. 3) If their food is taking awhile, make sure you talk to them about it. Be honest, if the kitchen is backed up, tell them. Don't hide from them! 4) Provide a clean working pen when you give them their credit card receipt to sign. 5) If you have long hair, please pull it back. Keep your uniform neat and clean. 6) Make sure you have sampled the menu choices and be honest when they ask for a suggestion, don't automatically just recommend the most expensive thing. 7) Just be nice, if they seem like talkers, then by all means talk to them! Good luck and I am sure you will do great!

Answer 5

I dine out frequently, and have had quite a few terrible experiences at restaurants...
Some of the negative things that waiters/waitresses tend to do are:
*Let the customer's drinks go empty.
*Not use basic etiquette like 'please' and 'thank you'....little things like that go a LONG way.
*Rushing the customer. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people who like to sit and chat/drink for a half hour after the meal is finished. I eat and leave promptly afterwards because I know they need my table open for the next customer. However, I have had people give me my check before I'm finished with dinner, without even giving me the chance to order dessert. Once when I notified the waitress that I planned on ordering a slice of pecan pie for dessert for my sisters and I, she brought it out boxed up and in a bag instead of on a plate as if to tell me to take it home and eat it.
*Smile.
*Flirt with my boyfriend. lol this may seem crazy, but I can count at least SIX times when I have gone out to eat and waitresses talk to my boyfriend in 'sing-songy' voices, smile, and bat their eyelashes and make tons of eye contact, and then barely say anything to me beyond taking my order. Treat all of your customers kindly, male AND female.


you should always remember there are going to be some jerks out there and no matter how nice you are, they will continue to be rude. Just keep your head up and do the best you can and you'll do great. Hope I helped!

Answer 6

I would say just try your hardest. Everything is important, refilling drinks and being speedy and what not. But nothing will help you if you let yourself become overwhelmed.
Don't try to take on a full section in the beginning. Some customers don't understand they aren't the only table you have. Start with 3 or 4, 4 top tables and work your way up. Be friendly. If you're having a bad day, they'll know it and take no pity. If you want good tips, this is the best way! Just have a smile on your face no matter what and always remember "YES" is the answer. Customers like to think that you are going above and beyond for them.
Like for me, if they want to share a plate that can be split, I notate they want it split... They think I did it just for them! It's great for tips... It's little things like that they enjoy.
Also try to learn their names even if they aren't regulars. Some of them really light up (especially the kids) when you say, "Bob, would you like more tea?" (or Mr. Jones, whatever.)
I always introduce myself and pull up a chair. It takes away that stuffy "I am your servant" feeling and becomes more of a "I enjoy helping you" kind of thing. I work at a little fun Tex-Mex place so it works for me.
Don't let what happens in the back of the house continue to bother you once you walk through the kitchen doors. It shows. If a server just took a plate off your tray and you were waiting longer for it, brush it off before you walk out. If the kitchen yelled at you for messing up, don't let it bother you.
Biggest thing ever: DON'T BRING YOUR PERSONAL LIFE TO WORK! The other day one of our servers was CRYING at her tables because her b/f was cheating on her... DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT do that! Leave it outside. Take a break if you need to!
Prebus your tables. When someone is done eating, take their plate. It's just better. No one wants to sit in front of dirty dishes. That's just yukky.
This is from the perspective of a server who's good but not great. I take what I can handle and make dern good tips. Just don't try to be super server if you can't be.

Answer 7

I actually work at a RL and working there and what they want you to do is different than a non-franchise restaurant.
You of course need to be on top of things.
Having the ability to multi-task is important, well required.
Be friendly with everyone, and be able to talk and bs with tables.
Always make sure you are getting what the guest wants, like filling drinks.

Now; at RL you need to have the server "promise" and say to EVERY table, "My name is Colleen, and I promise to take great care of you." Then you need to lead with fresh, where you tell the fresh fish of the day. Also sharing your name, and making sure to tell them you can answer any questions. They are also into making a guest feel special, "Guest focus" and a "Connection" are important things to them as well.

RL is a good place to work. To keep management happy there you would have to definitely follow those things. If you do get a job at one try to not get sucked into complaining and drama. With a place like that I'm sure you'll have that- as mine does. When you have 30-40 servers employed it's bound to happen. Just stand out, be level headed, friendly, and always have your guests as your first concern.

Answer 8

- be around. b/c when we need you, we don't want to wait forever.
- refill glasses, but if it's getting near the end of the meal, start asking if they want more
- dress stylishly and modestly, be neat and tidy
- speak up so we can hear you, but don't yell unless it's a really noisy place (in that case who would want to eat there?)
- mention soups of the day and deals when you give us our menus so we don't have to ask you when you return, this will save time and get the food into our hungry stomachs quicker
- even if it's the worse day of your life, always be nice to the customer
- treat all the customers the same, don't discriminate against minorities or overweight people... this hurts them and will hurt your image
- if you need a break and you don't have many customers, take a break, just make sure you can have another waitress keep an eye out for any needy customers of yours
- drink water, not too much though, stay hydrated
- have legit meals, don't snack

Answer 9

From my point of view....always make sure your customers' drinks are full!! Nothing irritates me more than when my drink gets empty and I can't find my server anywhere!

Also, let people order from the kids menu. That's a huge turn off, too when someone wants to order from the kids menu and are told that they can't because they're over 10 or 12, whatever the age is.

Answer 10

Friendly greeting, Prompt with water/ drinks/ bread. Suggestions on appetizer or entrees, Try not to delay food delivery, drink refills , how is every thing, can I get you anything? prompt with the check..Serve a customer like you would like to be served

Answer 11

Be attentive, but not overbearing; friendly, but not obnoxious; helpful, but not cloying. A little cleavage also helps with tips.