I need tips, tricks, and hints on how to be a better server! help?

Question

Okay, I am currently a waitress at Old Venice Italian Resturant in my small hometown and I know I'm not the best I can be. The average tip is $5 and a d**n good tip is $10 and I don't usullay get up to the 10 i hope for. The other servers are able to keep conversation with their tables, get the orders down pat, and have time to do whatever when I on the other hand am speed walkin around hoping I get to have a short conversation, and be able to get to my other tables and remember what I need to do for everyone else along with getting my food out without having the other servers and managers to take it out for me only to get chewed out for it later. I also can't carry more that two plates of food at a time b/c it's either too hot or so heavy that my wrists feel like they could break and start to give out. I need help!!

Answer 1

Smile and be friendly, but not too personal.  Try to keep an eye out for when you should check back at your tables.  Don't hover, just try to judge when you should make a return visit.  Always ask if someone is finished with a plate if you can't tell by looking. I eat every bite of my salad and woe to the server who tries to whisk it from me.  I also eat dessert and I appreciate a server who asks me if I would care for dessert; sometimes I am looking for my server and when they return, the bill is in their hands and they are thanking me for coming to the place.  No. no,no,this does not make me happy.  Make sure and ask if anyone needs anything else before you leave the table, sometimes people want extra something or whatnot.  Thank them for coming and invite them back.  Offer to give a small child a take-out type of container for his drink.  Kids don't handle adult glasses very well and they make their parents nervous.  Be sure there are plenty of napkins on the table.  If this does not work out for you, there is no shame in looking for a different type of job.  Everyone is not cut out to be a server at a restaurant, so don't think of yourself as having failed.  Best wishes to you and good luck and hearty tips in your future.

Answer 2

hey if you have to spend so much of your energy to keep talking its better to get $5. spend your energy on the service as you are. pretty sure you get done before them.its better to get smile from the costomers too instead of tricking them in to talking.its hard to be waitress and entertainer at the same time for some people.

Answer 3

There are 2 approaches. You can be ultra-friendly, smile a lot, be helpful chatty, etc. But I've seen a couple of articles that say that the more aloof waiters actually get higher tips. Perhaps some customers actually don't want a server who's like a family member, just want a private, competent dining experience. Maybe try both ways and see what works better for you.

If the restaurant you're at doesn't have the large trays that will hold several plates that you can set up and serve everyone at once, don't worry about carrying more than 2 plates. Better to get them to the table unbroken than to make customers wait even longer while dropped plates are remade. Since you're just carrying 2, make sure you feed the kids 1st (save you and parents stress), then ladies, then gents.

You'll soon get the hang of remembering orders, setups, etc. And I'd ease up on the speed-walking. Even though you're trying to be efficient, sometimes it's actually more stressful to see someone rushing around than just being calm and competent.

Good luck! Hope you get LOTS more $10 and up tips!

Answer 4

Smile alot. That makes people feel comfortable. Also, being attentive to customers needs is a good thing - but don't  be too attentive to the point where they get tired of you.

Answer 5

Here are tips!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

I didn't want to copy and paste the whole thing because, well, it's too much! LoL.