How can i become a better waitress?

Question

How can i become a better waitress?

Answer 1

Learn everything you can. The point of doing this is to become indispensable. Once your boss realizes that you can do the other things that are not normally considered a part of your regular job (for example, busing, peeling garlic, pouring drinks, making desserts, all of it), you will be able to get as many shifts as you want.

Never fight over tables with other waiting staff. Be gracious. Focus on delivering the best possible service to the tables you do get. Set the example to the remaining waiting staff by creating a sharing and supportive environment.

Learn the menu as soon as possible. This way, when people ask questions, you'll have a quick answer. Nothing makes a customer happier faster!

Learn your regular customers' names as soon as you can. People love having a regular place to go to, where you know what they like to eat and you call them by name.

Develop a file system for your regular customers. Keep track of their favourite foods, their allergies and any special requests (for example, "Sue likes her water with no ice", "Alex always orders coffee and he takes cream"). This file system is best kept in your head, as it could be construed as "stalkerish" unless you can keep it very discreetly.

Do one thing at a time. Don't count on finishing writing the order down as you walk to the order counter. Do it now! Chances are, someone will stop you on your way over and ask for more coffee, and you'll forget the first order.

Respect the customer's personal space. Never sit down at the table to take an order, don't shake hands (unless you have to), or give hugs. The extent of your friendliness will be dependent on the type of place where you work - some things that might not be appropriate in a diner or a restaurant might be fine in a theme bar or pub.

Answer 2

Be friendly, attentive, prompt, and preferably flirty. Guys tip better if they think the waitress 'likes them'.

Answer 3

Connect with your customers.  Look them in eye and greet them sincerely.  Tell them they made great choices in their orders.... suck up to them.... bring them their food and check on them to make sure they have everything they need.  You will be a superstar!

Answer 4

Smile, be friendly, make sure the area is kept cleaned and keep the customer's plate cleared off of the table. Also, keep their drinks full, but ask them first if they would like a refill. Also, you can be a little flirty with the single guys, but not if he's accompanied by a woman. I will slap the stars out of a chick if she flirts with my hubby! LOL!

Answer 5

1. Listen carefully to what the people want.

2. Don't interrupt them when they're eating and having a conversation.

3. Watch them from a distance. If you see them looking around as if to order something, then approach the table and see if they need something.

4. When you bring the check put a bunch of chocolates on the table.

Answer 6

smile and make people feel at home. be polite and ask if they need refills several times. come and ask how the food is after it is served. go by the golden rule (cheesey but it really applies) do what you would want a waitress do for you

Answer 7

love what you do...everything else will follow.

or you can try pretending you're serving your love of your life

:-)

Answer 8

Let's keep it simple and basic:

Make eye contact.

Serve ice water even if not requested.  It's free, right?

Keep an eye on your tables and look for signs that they need you.

Let them finish the salad or appetizers BEFORE you serve the entrees.

Don't be a ditz - nobody wants your life story or cares about your troubles.

Don't say 'You Guys'!  Show respect for customers - they are not your close friends!

Unless someone specifically asks, do not make suggestions and do not correct pronunciations of menu items - that is s****. and rude.

Answer 9

try to read people-if they liked to be left alone, or if they liked to be checked in frequently. know your menu, pricing, learn everything you can about the restaurant. smile, be friendly, use your memory or write everything down. know who had what dish and remember what people ordered and ask things like "how is your hawaiin burger tasting." double check recipets to make sure they are correct. be sharp and on your game! :)

Answer 10

Don't look at the folks in front of you as customers.  Think of them as guests.  A customer is someone you simply want money from,  a guest is someone you treat with the utmost respect, like someone you bring into your home.  Anticipate their needs.  Have that pot of coffee ready before their cup is empty, pay close attention to what's going on at their table and be absolutely ready to handle any situation.  Do this and watch your tips go way up!

Answer 11

The most crazy customers are the coffee folks and kids. Coffee people like their coffee different way, always make sure hey have the sugar and cream and don't refill too full or do the refill without asking, they may have an exact amount of sugar and cream they like or be trying to get the coffee cool enough.

Serve little kids drinks in small to go cups with the lids even if they are staying,  parents will love you for this.

Be prompt with drinks and bring a small stack of extra napkins if they have to eat with their hands.

Bring all 3 condiments when someone orders a burger, or ask if they need them when you take their order so they don't have to hunt you down for catsup or mustard.

Use your sense of humor and your smile.

Contrary to what people will say be a cool, fun waitress but don't be a flirt. That can cause problems you really don't want.

It is not worth the little bit of extra tips it may or may not get you.

Most important, check your food before you serve it and make sure any little stuff..like "no onions" or whatever has been done. Some folks have allergies and get tired of having to be embarrassed by sending food back over and over.

Answer 12

Here are a couple of websites that have a lot of helpful suggestions and tips from other waitresses:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf487219.tip.h...  and

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Great-Waitre...

My roommate was a very successful waitress and there were a couple of things I remember she did.  She always tipped those who bussed her tables (shared her tip so to speak).  That way when things got really busy they would always bus her tables first.  She was always exceptionally well groomed and always wore a clean, fresh uniform that was ironed.  She wore comfortable shoes.  She was friendly and kind  to everyone from customers to employees; but never chatted with friends or other employees while working..  No matter how bad she felt she never let anyone know.  She worked extremely hard but it showed in her tips.

Hope some of these help. Good luck to you, and most important - enjoy yourself!

Answer 13

smile.  be friendly give the special of the day with descriptions of preparation. and when the cust order state that they have made a good choice and tell them why? come back from time to time and ask there is anything more that they needed.  if notice that they are drinking water and coffee  really fast keep there cup or glass semi filled and ask if they would like ice in their water some  people don't

Answer 14

There are a lot of good answers here already, but I Will add a few more.

If water is served make sure it is at the table promptly that way they will have something to sip on before they order, or before they get their drinks.

If someone orders something that they might want catchup or stake sauce bring it before the meal that goes for anything like Tabasco sauce or anything else.

Nothing is worse and will loose you tips than not watching your tables and seeing if they need anything. If someone is setting there trying to get your attention the longer they have to wait more it will cost you in tips.

Even is they don't look like they need anything, ask at least twice during the meal if they need anything, but try not to catch them with their mouths full. You can't always tell if they are trying to get your attention some people will just try to catch you as you walk by.

Make sure tea and coffee is filled before it is empty, and if there are not extra napkins on the table leave extras. People hate it when they put cream or sugar in their drink and have no place to put the spoon.

Learn your regulars, if a man come in all the time and orders coffee then have his coffee ready when you come to the table. You'll learn what your regulars expect.

Last but not least, Always be kind even if the customer is a pain in the you know what.

Answer 15

Flirt with the customers.  The secret of all bartenders.  They think they have a chance and will leave you a bigger tip.

Answer 16

The highest tips I ever gave was when the waitress was very very sweet.  Other days though, I wanted to be left alone with my food to stuff my face, and some watiresses can be annyoing if they COME ALOT but only help them man or kids and not YOU! LOL

Answer 17

to be a better waitress you should be kind to the customers, ask what do they want, and be friendly

Answer 18

smile, this always makes everyone day. And be confident in yourself.

Answer 19

give your clients sexual favors (if you are good looking)

Answer 20

Ｊｕｓｔ smile and open-minded.

Answer 21

Be attentive, be polite, and always smile.  

Also, if the customer makes a joke, play along and don't take things so seriously (within reason of course).

Answer 22

smile and be polite

Answer 23

Give refills without them asking for them, even if they still have drink left in their glasses, just give them another one so its out of their minds.

Answer 24

work harder of corse and pay attention to them but not like a stalkin kind of way

try my ?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 25

smile a lot =]

Answer 26

Know the specials, items on menu and their prices, be curteous and SMILE. Act like you enjoy your job.Be friendly. Take time with each customer. Listen. Try to see things from the customer's point of view. Do the very best you can every day.

Answer 27

Always give extra napkins it always makes my family happier and give the waitress a better tip , try to read there minds and give lots of coffee when not even asked to focus only on the table from the side lines and serve as fast as you can.never talk to much to the people or get "too" friendly just be brief with them and kind.people dont like when waitress think there eating with you haha.good luck!

Answer 28

depends whats wrong!  but move faster write things down so you remember and just be nice to people.  you dont need to chat at your tables for 5-10 mins at a time for people to tip.  just get them refills before there out and w/e else they ask for as fast as you can

Answer 29

well!! you should serve them better!!! and give them what they want!! be nice , grateful , and happy those are the 3 things you need to do!!GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 30

do extra for your customers. If someone wants to replace a food with another, add more than normal.

Answer 31

Okay here are some things that I hate:

-Waiters talk so fast or quiet about the "___of the day" i can't understand a WORD they are saying

-Waiters take FOREVER to get drinks

-Waiters forget things when you ask them (like for a side of mustard or something)

-Spilling drinks all over you or the table when re-filling

Gooluck!