I’ve been waiting tables for a long time and I have made a lot of mistakes. I even had a table call me “the worst server they ever had”…yikes. Over the years I’ve picked up things that can set you apart and set you back as a server. Here is a list of things I would do as a server to set myself apart from the pack:
1. Be more knowledgeable about wine. Whether you are working in a fast casual restaurant or fine dining, you should know about wine. Knowing about varietals and regions gives you an extra boost of confidence when approaching a table. You can take courses online, there are countless books and a few quick Google searches can all help you learn more about wine. I am still not as well versed in wine as I should be. Never pretend you know about wine (or anything) if you don’t. If you have a table asking about wine, and you don’t know the answer, excuse yourself and find someone who does. There is nothing worse than lying to your table. Nine times out of ten, they will know more than you about whatever topic they are asking about and you will end up looking silly and feeling very embarrassed.
2. Never hover or linger at a table. There are few things worse than a clingy server. Nick and I went to Bob’s with BeauxBeaux a few weeks ago and our server was insufferable. She would not leave the table and let us enjoy our meal. If she wasn’t commenting on “how much time we had left before the baby got tired” she was reminding Nick, he had a martini on a table… it was bad. So bad that we wanted to put in our Open Table notes not to seat us with her again. Always read your table and never linger at the table more than necessary. People are at dinner to talk to whomever they are with and to enjoy a meal, not to make a new friend.
3. Take so much pride in your side work. I used to work with a woman named Debbie. Debbie was an industry lifer and I’ve never seen someone a better job at side work. Debbie took extra time to make her side work perfect. The way she folded linens to the way she cleaned the bathrooms, everything she did was done methodically and completely every time. Taking a deep sense of pride in your side work will set you apart because the average server is just trying to get it done as fast as possible and get to the bar. If you take the extra ten to twenty minutes to perfect your side work, a good manager will take notice.
4. Always be early and ready to work. Do not show up to work in clothes other than your uniform (unless it is on a hanger, and you change immediately upon arriving to work). Being early to work gives you time to adjust to a work headspace and prepare yourself for the shift. It also gives you extra time to do opening side work. Showing up early to your shift will set you apart from everyone else trudging into work right on time, hungover and not prepared to work.
5. Do not drink at bars in the same neighborhood as your restaurant. Optics are important, if your manager sees you out drinking every night, they are going to form an opinion about you. Whether that is fair or not doesn’t matter because its true. If you want to go out for a drink, pack clothes that are not your work uniform and go to a different location to drink. Never go out drinking in your work uniform. It just isn’t a good look.
6. Take extra time in how you present yourself. Make sure you look “company ready” (stole that from my mom, if we were having people over to the house, she said our rooms had to be company clean and we had to be company ready). This means your hair is brushed and out of your face, your teeth are freshly brushed, you have on an appropriate amount of makeup, your nails are manicured, your lips aren’t chapped, you smell clean (deodorant, light perfume, soap), dry cleaned uniform and not a trace of cigarette smoke. Taking pride in your appearance is so important, especially when you are serving people food. Never twirl your hair, bite your nails or put your hands anywhere near your mouth. All these things will set you apart from the group.
7. Do not smoke before or during your shift. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get rid of the smell. If you cannot go a whole shift without smoking, try popping a Zin in your mouth for a few minutes during a break and see if that helps. There is nothing worse than smelling cigarette smoke on someone handling your food.
8. Make aggressive eye contact with everyone you speak to on your shift. Eye contact is important because it conveys honesty and attention. You want your guests and colleagues to know you are focusing on what they are saying and that you are honest when speaking to them. A lot of times, when we get busy, we forget to look up and make eye contact with whomever we are talking to. Always remember to keep your head up and on a swivel.
9. Do not eat on your shift unless you are on a break and outside of guests view. Never let a guest see you eating or drinking while on your shift. Make sure to eat enough before you go to work.
10. Stay calm and ask for help. Do not try to be a hero. At the end of the day, the guest experience is the most important, how you make that happen doesn’t matter. Ask for help, do not try to take on more than you can handle for the sake of being able to brag about your cover count. Asking for help and remaining calm will (almost) always result in happy guests.
11. Always treat back of house staff with respect. Know everyone’s name that works in the restaurant.
12. Run food…constantly. Running food is so important. Always keep an eye on expo and help run food as much as you possibly can.
13. Never, ever drink at work. Even if you are doing a tasting, spit it out. Drinking of any kind at work is never a good idea.
14. Write detailed shift notes. If you are required to write shift notes at the end of the night, make them detailed and informational. You are asked to write shift notes to help managers and owners know what’s going on during the shift. Don’t waste people time with filler and fluff. Get to the point and be informative.
15. Help your co-workers. If you see another server struggling, help them without having to be asked.
16. Check your section with a flashlight before asking your manager to check you out. This will save everyone time and it will ensure that your section is clean.
17. If something is bothering you about work, never rage text your manager or co-workers. Reach out to your manager and set up a meeting, sending overly emotional texts doesn’t play well in everyday life and it certainly doesn’t play well with colleagues.
18. Never ask to be cut unless it is a true emergency. The manager knows you are there, they haven’t forgotten about you. Asking to be cut is like asking your mom if your friend can spend the night in front of your friend. Just don’t do it.
19. Wash your hand constantly throughout the shift. Be overly conscious about cleanliness. Always have a Tide stick in your apron for stains you get mid-shift.
20. Do not ever lose your cool on the floor. We all get frustrated sometimes but that is not an excuse to lose your temper. If you feel yourself getting worked up, step outside and take some deep breaths. Do not draw attention to yourself and wait until the end of the shift to bring whatever is going on up to your manager. Nothing can be solved mid dinner rush.