tips on being a good waiter?

Question

i waited tables for 8 months and i stoped over a year ago. i dont think its like riding a bike so can my fellow servers give some tips on being a good waiter.

Answer 1

as a customer, I recommend staggering the order appetizer - entree so that all the food does not come to the table at once. Also, know what the taste of the food at the restaurant so you can make personal recommendations when asked

Answer 2

My mother and I eat out quite a bit and the few things we constantly notice is:
1. the time it takes from when we place our order for a simple sandwich or breakfast item which takes over 20 minutes to deliver and the waiter/ress refuses to come back and let us know of a slight delay or at least come and check on us to see if we need our beverage refreshed.
2. then during the meal, the bad ones just seem to want to go grab as many more customers as they can for the potential tips and forget to come back and check on us anyway! very rude and we don't go back to that rest.
3. another thing, and I know this has nothing to do with the waiter/ress but the restroom(s) really should be maintained. We went into an IHOP once about 3 months ago here in Chesterfield, VA and I literally had to tell 3 people including the manager that "there is no paper in the ladies room!" after 20 minutes, they finally had someone go in and replenish the stalls! Unforgiveable! and NO we haven't been back there!
3. One thing that really erks me doesn't have anything to do with the waitstaff but some restaurants simply do not want to supply adequate sized napkins! GET REAL MANAGERS! Some of your really good messy sandwiches require bigger heavier duty napkins than those thin little things that you can unfold once, barely wet it and it falls apart!
Here at a Captain D's in Chesterfield, VA they actually have a stand-up roll of paper towels on each table. What a genius move! Such common sense! Be nice if all common places would do the same.
4. Oh and back to the waitstaff, and this is most important, please use your manners, please and thank you do go a long way with your customers. It goes both ways! And it will also earn ya'll better tips, since lots of you only earn $2.65 an hour here in VA.!
Mrs. T. Chesterfield, VA

Answer 3

I have been in food service for 20 years and one thing that customers hate is when they have to ask a waiter for extra napkins, especially if they have kids. I always automatically take them, as I have a toddler and know how messy they can be. Fill drinks, but don't forget to ask them what they are drinking. I hate it when waiters fill my drink without asking what it is and it is wrong...I am a diabetic, so I have to be careful.

Answer 4

Never ask a customer if they want change. I hate that on so many levels....

Answer 5

Bplunkett's answer really can't be beat.

Answer 6

don't ask me how the food is when my mouth is full!