It occurred to me recently that I have over 40 years’
experience with waiters and waitresses. I mean ever since I was a kid I would
go to restaurants with my parents. However, I probably never really noticed the
service until I got a bit older and especially when I got out on my own and was
paying for myself did I really notice the service. You probably remember times
with great service and times with horrible service; there is no in between. It
is either great or horrible. Why would any waiter want to just give good
service?
I am going to use the term waiter as generic for both male and female in this article. The
waiter can make or break the meal for me. With so much mediocre service out
there, my expectations have dropped to an all-time low so when great service
comes along I am like wow! It should be the norm and not the exception in my
opinion. So, let me give you waiters out there a lesson on how to be an awesome
waiter. After all I have a lot of experience with this.
First impressions are
critical! If you walk up and mumble your name and try to look friendly that does not work. Walk
up and state your name boldly and clearly making sure everyone hears you. Don’t
just look like you want to serve us, make our dining experience awesome.
Write it all down
please! Waiters that take all the orders from memory does not impress me at
all. In fact it makes me nervous that the order will be wrong and possibly delay
my meal. Just write it in detail and make sure the orders are right from the
get go.
Tell me about
specials! If I walk in a restaurant with a sign at the door with the daily
specials and the waiter doesn’t tell me about them in more detail, how would I ever
order one? Go over the specials and tell me the price and ask if there are any
questions about them. At least mention them in your presentation to me.
When you bring drinks
always include straws and napkins at that time. I get tired of a waiter
dropping off a drink and walking off with the straws in their pocket and no
napkins for sweaty drink glasses. Just leave them from the start and you will
make a great first impression, like you know what you are doing.
Write the orders down
please! Again, taking orders from memory does not impress me one bit. Get
it right and keep me informed on the time before the meal is served. While
waiting for the meal, check on me.
Once the meal is
served, make sure and ask if we have everything we need and that all the
orders are correct. Ask if the food is cooked right for me. Don’t assume and walk
off.
After a few minutes
of me starting me meal, check back to make sure I don’t need something
else. There is nothing worse that needing more butter or something and I can’t
find the waiter. On your first trip back to check on me, always bring extra
napkins.
Don’t wait too long
to check on drink refills making me eat part of my meal without a drink I have
already drank. I see this a lot where drink refills are slow or non-existent.
Sell me on your
deserts! Don’t just ask if anyone wants dessert without a description or
temptation. More than likely I buy a dessert when they are presented and a good
sales job is made.
Even though I may want to sit and relax after the meal, bring the check and get that out of the way
so I don’t have to wait on you for a while or can’t find you when I am ready to
leave.
All these things would make a great waiter for sure. I know
that is a lot to ask but you are working for tips and tips come from great
service. Large tips come from awesome service! NO tips come from bad service. What
would make this an awesome meal for me is for the waiter to be very attentive,
over friendly with casual conversation during the experience, but not too much.
Act like you got to know me expecting me to be a regular customer from now on.
Above all smile! Put your grumpiness aside while you work in the public. Have
fun and enjoy your job and it will certainly show to the customers you wait on.
Have a little fun! Joke! Tease! Its OK for you to get to know me!
The suggestions I have listed come from the times I remember
my waiter being awesome and I left a large tip. I left having fun and enjoying
the time at that restaurant and want to come back. I left knowing the name of
my waiter and I felt special. That is what I am talking about!
Your comments? Your suggestions?
