How to be the Best Waiter/Waitress

Pay attention to your customers drinks are you work the restaurant and also the food that is coming up in the kitchen.  Either before your food is up or at the same time make sure your customers have the right condiments on the table.  Ketchup, mustard, ranch, for fries and burgers.  A1, 57, or other steak sauce for steaks, butter & sour cream for potatoes, and syrup, hot sauce for various breakfast items.   Customers will appreciate not having to wait for you to bring these items as the food gets cold after you dropped it off.  This can possibly reduce the amount of your tip again.

Remember after they have their food your job is not done.  I hate getting a waiter or waitress the drops off the food and then never returns until its time to collect the money.  Watch the drink levels are you walk around.  If its a family feel free to stop a few times to ask how things are or if there is anything else you can bring them.  Those customers that are in the midst of conversation should just be watched for them to signal you if they need something.  Make yourself seen but don’t interrupt the conversations.  Once the drink is about three quarters gone either bring them another one(depending on the restaurant policy on refills) without having to be asked, or if you charge make sure to ask before you bring another drink.  It may only be a $1.59 but they may have not wanted to spend that extra dollar.   

If there is an issue with the order, over cooked, under cooked, wrong side, whatever the issue is make sure you sincerely apologize and fix it as quickly as possible.  Sometimes the kitchen gets just as busy as you do and things go wrong.  Simply fix it and do it quickly.  If there is a wait on the food make sure you let your customers know that.  Ask them if they would like a refill and assure them their food is going to be out shortly.  Do not get in an argument with the cooks.  If you yell at them and tell them they are costing you your much needed tips it is a guarantee that they will purposely put your orders to the back for the rest of your shift if not longer.  

Remove the dirty dishes promptly and at that time ask about dessert.  Remember standard tip is 15% of the ticket price so not only does it help the business for you to up sell the items you have to offer but it helps you out as well.  Ask if anyone needs to go boxes and make sure you help fill them for the customer and remove the empty plates.  

Be prompt on delivering the ticket and picking it up to make the customer their change.  Once they have paid they are ready to go and do not want to wait around for the change while you are talking to your coworkers.  If you get to know your regular customers make you greet them by name and know their drink of choice.  ”Hi Bill how are you today?  Would you like a glass of merlot?”  This makes them feel special and like the have a in with you and also will result in better tips.  

It doesn’t matter about the food, if the waiter or waitress has done their job to make things enjoyable for the customer you will never lose out on a tip.  It may not be a $20 tip but you can make sure you get the standard 15% even if the meal was not enjoyable.  If everything went well and you follow these tips you will be cashing in big at the end of every shift.