Personal Service Tips From Yours Truly; Do's and Don'ts of the Restaurant Industry

      Every waiter has his or her own unique set of do's and don'ts that they feel affect themselves and their guests the most. There are thousands and thousands of tips out there, but I feel as though these are eight of the most important. Although they all come from my personal experiences, I feel as though anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows exactly what I am talking about. 

DO: 

1) Always Have Patience, LOTS and LOTS Of Patience
      - No matter what type of restaurant you work in, having patience is one of the best skills you could have. Many people, especially the elderly, tend to ask a lot of questions that can be answered if they read the menu or just listen to what their waiter previously said. There have been times where I had to repeat the four soups that we have to every person at a table when it where their turn to order. Not only did I say them five times by the time they were finished, but it is also listed for them in the menu. I just want to scream "read the menu and listen!" but I know I can't. It's my job to inform them however many times they need me to.

2) Be Caring/Outgoing/Personable With Your Guests 

    - Bringing your own personality to your tables will not only most likely get you a better tip, but also maintain a regular clientele. Sometimes it can be hard to devote the time to talk to and get to know every single one of your tables on a busy Saturday night, but just a little personality and love can go a long way. If you can tell that a guest is having a bad day, ask them if there is anything you can do to help them and let them know you are there for them. They might not be willing to dish their whole life story to you, but they will definitely be happy that you care enough to ask. Sometimes we are not only waiters, but listeners and psychologists that for some reason people feel comfortable talking to. And if worse comes to worse, try to get them a free dessert; that will definitely get them to smile :)

3) Always Ask For Help When You Need It 

      - "I'M IN THE WEEDS!!!!!" tends to be the most common phrase heard in the kitchen on any busy night. Most of the time while you are there freaking out and confused, there are at least a few other waiters standing around doing nothing. Don't be sacred to ask them for help! Everybody is there to work and make money and working as a team makes that a lot easier. Usually others will gladly help you (as long as they have the time) because they know when they need help they will be able to go to you. Don't stress yourself out thinking you have to do everything by yourself, you have a full wait staff able to help you! 

4) Be Sure to Know The Menu, Specials, Promotions, ETC. 

      - Working at Olive Garden our menu changes all the time as well as new promotions and specials every day, week, and month. Just as much as the guests are confused, so are many of the waiters. Every time a new dish or promotion comes out guests have many different questions that us as waiters have to answer. The more you know and knowledgeable you sound, the more likely your guests are to trust you and order those dishes. 

DON'T:

1) Never Judge Anybody or Assume Anything

      - As hard as this is to most servers, one of the worst things you can do is judge your tables based off of how they look. Not all cliches are true, and it is important to overlook them and treat all of your tables the same. My uncle, Robert Braun, told me a story the other day that I just have to share and relates exactly to this. While out to dinner with his family for his wife's birthday his waiter made a huge mistake. Without my uncle even saying anything he offered to give him the senior citizen discount. He is only 52 years old, 10 years away from being able to receive that discount. He felt very insulted, embarrassed, and kind of annoyed with the waiter resulting in a smaller tip then he would usually give. Lesson learned; never assume anything because..well you know the rest of that saying. 

2) Try Not to Let Your Personal Life Affect the Way You Work
      - We all know that it is impossible for people to be happy every day. Unfortunately, the guests at your table usually don't care about the fight you just had with your boyfriend, or that you drank to much last night and are now paying the consequences. Even when you are having a bad day, it is important to always greet your table with a big smile and worm welcome. I know it can be hard, there have been plenty of times when I couldn't even take my own advice because of what was going on in my life. But looking back, I can see that it really did effect my tips because I know I was not giving them the proper service. 


3) Never Lie to Your Guests 

      - I have been told many times by my guests that they appreciate my honesty when they ask me questions like "Is this dish popular?" or "What do you think about this dish?" I have no problem telling them what I think, what other people think, and if I am unsure I will always ask a manager to find out the truth for them. It is important to have an open and honest relationship with your guests if you want them to enjoy their meal and leave happy and full. If any of my guests are not happy with their food I want them to be able to tell me and be honest. Guests value your opinion, and they usually end up taking your advice.  

4) Try Not to Your Guests Your Favorite/Lucky Pens 
   - One thing I have learned after working in a restaurant is people WILL take all of your pretty, interesting, and good pens. I'm superstitious so if I get a really good tip when I give a table a certain pen I consider it to be lucky. However, somehow by the end of the day that pen is gone. All of my favorite pens have been taken, and it just makes me laugh. My employees and I have definitely learned to keep your most valued pens to yourself!