How to Be a Good Restaurant Waitress

An attentive waitress pleases customers.

Because waitresses often make less than minimum wage, pleasing your customers is an important factor in your income. If you do a poor job, your tips suffer and you end up with far less pay. Becoming a good waitress requires patience and practice. When you first become a waitress, it can be difficult to keep customers happy while you are learning the ropes; however, once you are more familiar with the job, you can have a positive impact on your earning potential.

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the specials each day, as well as with the commonly ordered items on the menu. The more knowledge you have of these items, the better you are able to help your customers decide what to eat.

2. Smile at your customers as much as possible. While you want to look genuine, it is important for the customers to feel as though you are happy to serve them. Even if you do not have a smile on your face, use body language -- an open stance, shoulders back and consistent eye contact -- that shows you are there for your customers.

3. Approach the table shortly after your customers are seated. Even if your customers are not yet ready to order, they almost always will know what they would like to drink. It is also important that your customers know who you are so that they know whom to ask for if they need something.

4. Bring the drinks back to the table quickly after they have been ordered and ask your customers if they are ready to order their meals. If they are not yet ready, come back after five minutes to check again; however, be careful not to hover too often if the customers are having trouble deciding.

5. Offer suggestions when asked. Customers wouldn't ask for your opinion if they didn't want it. Avoid saying that everything on the menu is good. If you have a favorite, offer it up. If the restaurant is running some specials, tell the customers which one you would choose.

6. Bring the order as soon as it is ready, to prevent the food from getting cold. Check back after a couple of minutes to ask if everything is to the customer's satisfaction. If there is a delay with the food preparation, let your customers know that it will be a few more minutes, so they don't feel like you have forgotten them.

7. Keep an eye out for empty glasses so that you can offer refills as often as necessary. Bring back the refilled glass as soon as possible.

8. Ask your customers if there is anything else you can do for them, especially when their food is almost gone. Find out if a customer would like a take-home container or dessert. If not, bring the bill so that the customers can pay whenever they are ready.

9. Keep track of customers who frequently come into the restaurant. Try to remember their preferences and typical orders so that you can speed up their service. Happy customers leave good tips and return in the future.

10. Thank your customers for stopping in, and wish them a good day, afternoon or evening as appropriate. Leave them with a good parting impression of you. If they hand a tip to you directly, thank them for their generosity.

Tips & Warnings

• Be friendly, but avoid making conversation with customers that can distract them from interacting with the party with which they came.

References

• Chef Seattle: How to Be a Great Server -- A Food Critic's Guide
• Make Better Tips: Guide For Waiters and Waitresses to Maximize Tip Revenue
• National Restaurant Association: The Career Track: Servers Who Stay