ATTN: Waitresses and or/ Waiters! need help

[DandyFop]

So I got a job as a server at a Steakhouse (though I applied at another place I'd rather work so I might work there instead). Regardless, they are both jobs as a server, which I've never done before. I've worked in customer service a lot so I know people are crazy and bitchy but does anyone have any advice for this kinda job, especially starting out? It does serve drinks, one is a pub type place.

[TAL]

So not as a diver at The Mayan then? :( I had such hope for you.

[DandyFop]

LoneStar, pretty much the same though.

[beastieangel01]

Hmmm. Well I'd say definitely smile, and try to make sure to pay equal amounts of attention to each table. People will notice if you are serving/helping others, yet barely paying attention to them (unless, you know, you don't want their tip because they suck anyway).

Try to be really helpful: know the menu back and front to help recommend food and drink they may like if they are not sure what they want. It's an easy way to save time (from them going "umm uhhh") but to also up your tip since you were nice enough to help.

These may seem like things servers should do anyways, but not all of them do.

Also, try to small talk here and there if the place you work at allows it. People always remember a friendly server.

[QweenOfBoggle]

Smile, even if they're bitching. It's hard sometimes, but if people get the idea that you're being even a little rude, they'll probably not tip you and talk to the manager. not fun.

Introduce yourself when you go to a table each time. And recommend a starter and a dessert at the end of the meal. (more money, more tip! usually)

Keep water/tea/any drink full. Always check to make sure they don't want another beer, because just when you think they're done and ready to leave they want another beer and you're a jerk for making them ask for it.

Be attentive. know what should be coming up for what table. Sounds easy enough but when things are crazy you forget about stuff. I used to go through my checks every spare chance I had to double check for add-ons/no (insert vegetable here)/extra sauce. it'll really help. it'll remind you of anything you might've forgotten

Always be nice to the bartender. He/She is the one who'll give you the drinks to serve and if he/she doesn't like you, it'll be a pain in the ass to explain to your customers why their beer is taking 20 minutes to be served.

Help your co-workers and they'll help you back.

okay I think that's it :) good luck!

[King PSYZ]

don't piss off the cook(s)

[wavin_goodbye]

don't hover or lurk - very annoying

don't refill water after every 3 sips....

[CrankItUp!]

How much do Hooter's waitresses make ? (lb)

[DandyFop]

Thanks for the tips yall. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm really nervous!

[sheesh]

Sit and chat.

[DipDipDive]

What everyone else already said + make eye contact. Very important. (y)

[Freebasser]

Use lube.

[Documad]

I only ever waited tables at a Christian dining hall at our state fair and I sucked at it. But I eat out a lot and I have some questions if you servers and former servers are willing to answer them.

Do most customers really want you to chit chat? I absolutely HATE it. I especially hate it if my server doesn't get the hint. I don't want to sound mean, but if I'm eating with another person, I want to chat with that person, not with my server.

If I'm alone, I'm reading a book. I don't want to know what my server thinks of my book. I can't believe that servers ask me what I'm reading. It might be embarrassing and I might not want to talk about it.

Do customers want to hear about you? I don't. I don't care if you're really a dancer or you're heart's desire is to be a pharmacist. I just want more fucking coffee.

I hate when the server interrupts all the time to ask how everything is. It's like there is some timetable. They always come by when my friend and I are in the middle of the juiciest story, with our heads practically touching to keep other customers from hearing, and the server comes up to ask for the 3rd time how the food is. And of course, they also always come when you just stuffed a bunch of food in your face.

I'm a huge tipper. Bigger than all of my friends. The key to getting a big tip from me is the coffee. I will drink 3 cups. If you don't come back with that third cup, I'm going to get up and find it and pour it myself. If you fail to bring cream after I asked for it, I will go into the kitchen looking for you. If there isn't a spoon on the table, you need to bring one when I order coffee with cream. I can stir the first cup with my knife or fork, but I'm not going to do that after I use them. If you meet my coffee needs, you're getting a big tip, even if you messed up other stuff.

How can you be a server there and not eat the food? If it's a nice restaurant, my friends an I like to order a bunch of things to try. You should be able to recommend stuff with something stronger than "people order it a lot".
And frankly, if you're nice and not self-involved, you can mess up a lot and still get a big tip from me.

And hey, if you're working the lunch shift, please ask the manager to turn the god damned pop music down. I'm sure it was the proper volume last night when people were hammered and shouting but it gives me a headache at 11:30 a.m.

P.S. the best servers I've had in ages were in Australia where you apparently don't tip at most restaurants. They bring you the fabulous fresh food and leave you alone, even if you read for an hour. No ass kissing. I was so happy I tipped them anyway.

[zorra_chiflada]

P.S. the best servers I've had in ages were in Australia where you apparently don't tip at most restaurants. They bring you the fabulous fresh food and leave you alone, even if you read for an hour. No ass kissing. I was so happy I tipped them anyway.

they have bowls for tips in the more expensive posh cafes, (i don't know why) most of them don't.

[Documad]

My last night in Melbourne, I ate in an expensive restaurant where tipping was clearly expected. I was so relieved. I was tipping at other places because I just couldn't stop myself and I felt like I was insulting them. It was so nice to see the line for the tip on my bill again.

[hitmonlee]

P.S. the best servers I've had in ages were in Australia where you apparently don't tip at most restaurants. They bring you the fabulous fresh food and leave you alone, even if you read for an hour. No ass kissing. I was so happy I tipped them anyway.

everyone is the same class. customers are not more important than the people bringing them food. the no sucking up rules :)

i only tip taxi drivers. sometimes give the bar staff $1 if i get good service and dont need my change.

[Loppfessor]

1. Be nice to the kitchen staff, bartenders, hostesses as well as bus boys (they can make your life hell if you don't). This goes for fellow servers too help them out when they need it and they will help you.

2. Flirt back with the groups of guys who come in this is a no brainer (when groups of guys go out especially to a steak house they all like to think that the waitress was totally digging them)

3. Have recommendation readily available in your head cus you might get a lot of "I just don't know what I want, what do you like here?"

4. Be honest with the customers if you fuck up cus they can usually tell if you're selling them some bullshit story about how the kitchen is really backed up, if need be buy em another drink or piece of cake

5. Don't get caught up in any work drama, DO NOT date or fuck co-workers. Restaurants are notorious for this type of shit. New servers are pretty much considered fresh meat and every dude there will hit on you. Keep buisness and pleasure separate unless you want to hate your job.

Umm that’s about all I got off the top of my head….

Oh yeah one more, eat before you get to work and pack something healthy for your break. You will get fat living off appetizers from work

[beastieangel01]

crys, I am actually surprised with how strike your parents sound....they actually let you work at hooters.

do you mean strict?

and I don't work there anymore. But I don't think they would dictate where I work, especially when I was living outside of their house at that time.

p.s. Hooters Waitresses make just as much as other places do depending on the state. In DC, it's a flat rate of 2 bucks an hour + tips.

Freagin California has min wage + tips. Makes sense why so many people decide to wait tables during college.

[abcdefz]

Might as well bump this thread....


Something that bugs me happened this weekend. Not only was the waitress slow and inattentive (I had to flag down a busser to ask for her to come back to fix something, plus she never checked on how my food was, then I had to snag the busser again to get her to bring me my check). When it was time to pay, she brought my change as two five dollar bills.

Fuck you, lady. I am not going to give you a five dollar tip on a ten dollar meal. But I was also, at that point, fed up enough with her that I just said fuck it and emptied coins out of my pocket. She got about a buck and a half. You kind of have to work at it to get a poor tip from me, and she did it. Not breaking one of the fives into ones was the icing on the cake -- I'd be damned if I tried to get her attention AGAIN to break one of the fives.

[paul jones]

I'll have a steak,medium rare and fries with a side order of beans please(y)

[abcdefz]

Black beans or refried?

[paul jones]

Black beans or refried?
baked beans,the orangy ones

[abcdefz]

Yeah, sorry; we're out.

Is Coke okay?

[Planetary]

lol you're always serving your steak lol lol lol

[paul jones]

Yeah, sorry; we're out.

Is Coke okay?
no,coffee please

[Schmeltz]

If you fail to bring cream after I asked for it, I will go into the kitchen looking for you.


Do not do not do not walk into a restaurant kitchen. It is a busy, stressful, and cramped environment and the people working there don't need pushy customers in their space asking for shit their server should be taking care of. You've got no business there.

I don't know what it is about restaurant customers who think going into the kitchen is funny, or interesting, or will get them quicker service. What it'll get you is a curt order to get the hell out. It might come as a surprise but we really do have better things to do.

[Yeti]

Sorry, but I was fired from a banguet server position with Marriott while in college. I was only on staff for 3 days when a woman kept giving me shit so I called her a stupid fuckin bitch. She asked for my manager. He came back and said something like.....that lady is drunk and she is a bitch but I have to let you go. He laughed and gave me a good handshake. Other servers were laughing and loved that I cussed out the lady.

About 5 or 6 years later I was working as a photographer and was covering a press conference in a Marriott banquet room. The same manager was working and he remembered me from the incident. He came over and said my story was still being told of what not to do but what some people deserve.

I tip all servers very well and give them the benefit of the doubt when sevice is slow. Good luck and more power to you. I was a server for 3 days and never again.

[abcdefz]

It can be a really good time.