Tips for being a waiter

cool_name

Active member
Recently started working as a waiter, wondering if you guys have any tips to make my customers more happy, handle large sections more efficiently or anything else you think will be helpful.
 
Be sincere. Smile. Try not to show that you are under stress even if you want to hide in a corner and cry. Watch the movie Waiting.
 
Customers are called "folks" not "guys"

Always, always. Always get the booze and bread to the table ASAP!

IF it's a business lunch or rich looking family in a nice place, don't be afraid to comp a round if they're dropping some dough... The tip will be worth it.

Be overly respectful and overly dirty in your talk to the back of the house.
 
13460702:californiagrown said:
Customers are called "folks" not "guys"

Always, always. Always get the booze and bread to the table ASAP!

IF it's a business lunch or rich looking family in a nice place, don't be afraid to comp a round if they're dropping some dough... The tip will be worth it.

Be overly respectful and overly dirty in your talk to the back of the house.

Going to start using folks right away, I was trying to think of a word to replace guys with for a while, but every thing I came up with sounded forced. Folks just fits well
 
Not everybody wants you to talk to them. Some people just want you to walk over, ask do you need anything and then leave.
 
Hand out blunts to the line cooks. They are all out of their fucking minds and you want them to have your back.

Befriend the expo, also known as Restaurant God.

Overtip the bar, hostess station and bussers. They control more than you realize.

Always own up to your table when you fuck up. People know when you're full of shit right away and it pisses them off.

NEVER EVER look like you're over your head, I don't care if the building is on fire and zombies are eating the manager in the walk-in. Your face and demeanor should say "Everything is fine and your food will be right out"

DO NOT start fucking the girls you work with. Shit will get out of hand quick and nowhere except for maybe a hair salon has more random drama floating around it.

DO NOT start going out after work. Its great that you cleared $200 in cash tips but if you go out to celebrate it you'll wake up next to the crazy one with three crumpled up singles left in your pocket.

That pretty much sums it up.
 
13460757:Caucasian_Asian said:
Update your resume and start applying for any job you can. Being a server will suck the life out of you.

Depends on how much you're making, if you actually like it, etc etc etc

BUT AGREED. The shit you deal with is not worth it.. Plenty of jobs out there that pay just as well with far less bullshit
 
13460775:Huck_Norris said:
Hand out blunts to the line cooks. They are all out of their fucking minds and you want them to have your back.

Befriend the expo, also known as Restaurant God.

Overtip the bar, hostess station and bussers. They control more than you realize.

Always own up to your table when you fuck up. People know when you're full of shit right away and it pisses them off.

NEVER EVER look like you're over your head, I don't care if the building is on fire and zombies are eating the manager in the walk-in. Your face and demeanor should say "Everything is fine and your food will be right out"

DO NOT start fucking the girls you work with. Shit will get out of hand quick and nowhere except for maybe a hair salon has more random drama floating around it.

DO NOT start going out after work. Its great that you cleared $200 in cash tips but if you go out to celebrate it you'll wake up next to the crazy one with three crumpled up singles left in your pocket.

That pretty much sums it up.

All of this is spot on.

Also, if you make a mistake on an order, make damn sure you send a jug of beer back to the kitchen guys to apologize. They will appreciate it and work harder to help you out.
 
13460786:Caucasian_Asian said:
All of this is spot on.

Also, if you make a mistake on an order, make damn sure you send a jug of beer back to the kitchen guys to apologize. They will appreciate it and work harder to help you out.

This is true, but drugs are better. Line cooks fucking love drugs.
 
13460775:Huck_Norris said:
DO NOT start fucking the girls you work with. Shit will get out of hand quick and nowhere except for maybe a hair salon has more random drama floating around it.

DO NOT start going out after work. Its great that you cleared $200 in cash tips but if you go out to celebrate it you'll wake up next to the crazy one with three crumpled up singles left in your pocket.

These two things cannot be stressed enough. If you're in your late teens-twenties it is essentially a dorm floor that pays you. There's a core group of people at work who ALWAYS party and drink together every weekend if not every night. You'll quickly realize they're all fucking each other and they have a dysfunctional relationship. Enjoy yourself. Flirt with everyone because you can and it will make work fun. Keep your dick in your pants and your money in your pockets.

One other thing: Don't let your co-workers negativity toward the customers jade you. You're going to here so much fucking hate about the customers/guests and how much all your coworkers despise the people who walk through the door. Don't let anything they say get into your head. No matter how good of an actor you are, the guests know if you hate them and your tips will go down.

It's a vicious circle. The haters get pissed at customers because they tip 10% and the customers tip 10% cause the hater is a cunt.

Don't be a cunt.
 
This is probably not ethical-oh well. Does you restaurant have name tags that specify if you're a trainee/trainer/waiter/host?

If so, wear your trainee tag for as long as you work there. People will be more polite and patient with you. They also are more likely to tip you better since you seem to be doing an above average job for a trainee. We did this at the restaurant I used to work at and those who did it made a significant amount more in tips.
 
13460894:redherring said:
bend over backwards for your customers!!!!

bendoverbackwards.jpg
 
13460847:Mingg said:
This is probably not ethical-oh well. Does you restaurant have name tags that specify if you're a trainee/trainer/waiter/host?

If so, wear your trainee tag for as long as you work there. People will be more polite and patient with you. They also are more likely to tip you better since you seem to be doing an above average job for a trainee. We did this at the restaurant I used to work at and those who did it made a significant amount more in tips.

Thats fukt mingg WTF?
 
13460925:Chubz. said:
Thats fukt mingg WTF?

Hahaha oops. People are just nicer to you. I never did it but all the waitresses would take turns doing it. I don't know, oh well lol
 
As a chef for 8 years all I have to say is when a customers food is up. Be ready to take it out as its done. If food is sitting under a heating lamp for more than 1 minute it becomes shit. Take your fucking food out now. Fuck the customers glass of wine. Also don't talk back to a chef. We will eat you alive. Also if your customer is a Canadian. good luck.
 
one of my pet peeves is that the server isn't observant. actually look at your tables and read your customers faces. See people not just customers.

At the brewery the servers are awful at getting beers out to people before the head dies and they show up with a glass that looks half full.

Help out other servers. it's only a matter of time before you're the one slammed and someone else only has one table.

Also don't be a fucking drama queen about tips especially around BOH people. Chances are you're making double what they are for doing a much more pleasant job.

When you ask if the table needs something listen to the whole table and don't run away when the first person says they need water.

some people just want you to take their order and bring their food and take their money as quick as possible. Others want to hear the whole story. Learn to read your tables.

Also be the person who brings a positive vibe with them to work. Serving can be a ton of fun when everyone is having a good time. When people are shitty it sucks. Be that person who brings the good vibes.
 
13460780:ButteryLlama said:
Depends on how much you're making, if you actually like it, etc etc etc

BUT AGREED. The shit you deal with is not worth it.. Plenty of jobs out there that pay just as well with far less bullshit

soo what are some jobs that make as much as bussing/barbacking?

becuase right now I am a busser/ barback at a restaurant, I often times make a shit ton of money from tips plus my wage which is minimum btw (usually $40-100 in tips per night that i work... obviously its closer to 50 on the slow nights and closer to 100 on the busy nights) but to be honest by the end of the night I am just drained cuz I am literally running my ass around the whole damn restaurant usually from 4-11 sometimes I even work till 2A.M. Its just a lot of shit to put up with with all of the bitchy wait staff telling you to do all of their shit and just the whole job. but I am making a shit ton of money and I need to pay for college.

I am going to be starting another barback/ bussing job at a restaurant and this one gets even more tips but has even later hours...

you guys get the picture.

So, what are some jobs that make as much as bussing/barbacking?
 
13461174:JTCasper540_MN said:
So, what are some jobs that make as much as bussing/barbacking?

the ones you get a degree for. bust your ass for 4 years instead of 40 and you might come out ahead.

as much as I love the tips, I can't wait to trade one for another. serious kudos to service industry lifers.

And OP, keep your BOH happy. If you don't share tips, its not their problem when tickets start taking longer.
 
13460775:Huck_Norris said:
Hand out blunts to the line cooks. They are all out of their fucking minds and you want them to have your back.

Befriend the expo, also known as Restaurant God.

Overtip the bar, hostess station and bussers. They control more than you realize.

Always own up to your table when you fuck up. People know when you're full of shit right away and it pisses them off.

NEVER EVER look like you're over your head, I don't care if the building is on fire and zombies are eating the manager in the walk-in. Your face and demeanor should say "Everything is fine and your food will be right out"

DO NOT start fucking the girls you work with. Shit will get out of hand quick and nowhere except for maybe a hair salon has more random drama floating around it.

DO NOT start going out after work. Its great that you cleared $200 in cash tips but if you go out to celebrate it you'll wake up next to the crazy one with three crumpled up singles left in your pocket.

That pretty much sums it up.

ya know mrs. bum and i met workin for a country club

i took er out for after work attitude adjustment hour boned er and married her.

so take your tips party till the sun comes up and catch n release em till ya find the keeper

never been a fan of the auto grat.

and a day trade will give you a good excuse to not work crappy lunches and your tips are all mad $$$$

i always looked at it as i was just gonna go to the bar after work anyway

might as well be on the paying side of it
 
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