WAITRESSES: Please explain how you do it.?

Question

Ok, I am tried to get hired at a casual but popular coney island. I have had a previous job but never any actual waitressing and serving experience. Please just tell me what a waitress does. I know they take orders and serve customers... but I want the 411 on what exact the system is. How they keep up with orders... how they bring the bills out to the customers. Anything and everything.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I can give you my experience from a waiters perspective.  Yes, it is a system you must be good at or you will end up hating every moment.  When you first start out, most restaurants will give you a few tables, 2 or 3 in your station, and usually they are 2 tops (2 customers). As you get better and more comfortable at serving, you can progress to 4 to 6 top tables.  Next you have to be able to "read" your customers at each table. Some want to order the minute they sit down, others may want to have a drink and unwind from a long day, either way always be friendly and courteous.  Another good suggestion is with a table with young kids....try to get the kids food order ASAP, and let the kitchen know its for the kids.  Hungry kids can be a nightmare if they wait too long  for their food and the parents will appreciate it also.  

As for taking orders and serving the customers, here's a few suggestions...always ask if there will be more than one check with tables of 3 or more, don't assume and you will save a lot of time rewriting multiple checks.  Always sell the entire menu, from appetizers to desserts.  The bigger the check the bigger the gratuity.  Learn the menu front and back, on your nights off, go out and eat where you work.  Its easier to sell items if you already know they are good, and customers will ask you  and you can tell them from your own experience what's good.  

The best compliment I get from my customers is their repeat business, when they ask for you be name,  you know you are doing something right!!  I hope this helped and good luck!