Tips for Making Better Tips

I became a server on July 5th of 2006. I was practically shoved into the job by my boyfriend, who at the time was a cook at a small country restaurant. I went and applied and had my interview the same day. I was very shy, and nervous because of course this was not only my first job, but I would have to be social?!? Me? I was 17 years old and still couldn’t order my own food at a restaurant. But I needed a job and figured it would either work out or it wouldn’t and there was no harm in trying. I was to be trained by a woman with 27 years experience. She told me to follow her around for a while and after doing that for about 20 minutes she pointed at a man sitting alone at a table and said “There you go.” I of course got his order and brought him a cup of coffee. After turning in the ticket and delivering the food, I never returned to the table. I didn’t get tipped. While all of the other waitresses were making $70-$120 a day I was making about twenty bucks.

It took a long time for me to get the hang of it but eventually I realized that in most cases your going to make what you put in. Here are a few things that I have learned along the way. Maybe you can catch on quicker than I did.

Suggestions For Better Tips

• Make Small Talk – For example the weather.
• Never serve food that you wouldn’t eat.
• Stay on top of refills. Don’t make your customers go hungry.
• Always introduce yourself, that way they know your name and can ask for you next time.
• Pre-bus your tables, nobody enjoy’s staring at dirty plates.
• Always talk to the kids, buy some crayons and hand them out to the children.
• Recommend food that you sell a lot of.
• When they order say things like “good choice,” or “I love the meatloaf.”
• Try to imagine yourself in their shoes, do what you would expect to be done.
• Compliment there attire. example: “I love that hand-bag where did you get it?”
• Know the food better than the cooks, they will ask you questions and they expect answers.
• Accommodate them to the best of your ability.
• Unless it’s something completely unheard of never make them ask for anything, if they order French fries make sure you bring ketchup ect.
• Smile and be outgoing even if it’s not your regular mood. People can tell when your having a bad day so put on a front.
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