How to Serve at a Formal Dinner

A successful formal event can hinge on the level of service provided for the evening. In order to be a successful server in a formal setting, it is important to know exactly how to carry out your job.

Things You'll Need

• Proper attire (uniform, white shirt and black pants, etc.)
• Sturdy shoes
• Apron or serving towel
• Waiter's crumb scraper

Instructions

Preparations

1. Make sure you arrive promptly at the scheduled venue. Be properly dressed according to their server dress codes. Check in with the head server and make sure you understand your individual responsibilities.

2. Check the table at which you will be serving. You may need to help set up the decorations for the table and have any needed condiments and drink items stocked. If there are dinner cards, take the time to memorize who you will be serving.

3. Check in with the cooks in the kitchen and find out your place in the serving line, if there is one. It is also important to know what the main dishes of the evening are. On some occasions, you may need to explain each dish item in detail.

Greeting the Guests

1. Serve appetizers, cocktails and other beverages as the guests arrive. Carefully and slowly move about the entire waiting area to make sure each guest has the opportunity to have something to eat or drink (depending on what you are carrying on your tray). Even at a small formal event at home, the individual serving at the event should attend to each guest.

2. Greet each guest assigned to your table as they approach and direct them to their seats. Answer any questions they may have (such as, "Where is the restroom?") and be careful to move about slowly to ensure that any requests made by the guests are not missed. Depending on the formality of the event, you may also want to help push in the female guests' chairs as they sit down.

3. Check with each guest and make sure they have something to drink. Start with making sure each guest has water and then proceed to ask them if they would like anything else. Depending on the size of the event, this may also be done by the host. The proper way to serve drinks is to come from behind the guest's chair and carefully reach over their right shoulder to obtain their drinking glass. Then, carefully pour their drinks while being slightly turned away from the table to make sure that nothing spills on any guests. Remember to tilt the glass slightly as you pour. For any wine, you may need to wrap the wine with a spill cloth.

4. Announce what will be served, unless the host of the evening does it for the entire dinner party. Make sure that you know what each guest will be having for the meal. You may need to have each guest's meal written down. However, some formal dinners only have one or two main entrees served.

Serving the Meal

1. Enter the room with the appropriate number of entrees to be served. At some formal events, all of the servers line up together and move about the room in a coordinated fashion. At other formal occasions, you may be the only one serving at a particular table. If that is the case, follow the direction of the host as to when to bring each course of the meal to the table.

2. Serve each course of the meal by first serving the female guests at your table. Approach them from behind and place each course down by reaching just to the right side of each guest. Next, serve the male guests the same way.

3. Remove the empty plates once everyone is finished at the table. Remove each emptied dish by approaching them from behind and reaching around their left side (in some places, they consider removing plates from the right side of the guests appropriate). You will know when the guests are finished with their plates when their knife and fork are lined up on the side of the plate. If the utensils are crossed, they are not finished eating.

4. Scrape off of the table any stray crumbs if you are equipped with a waiter's crumb scraper. It is appropriate to do this after each course. Make sure you do not empty the crumbs onto anyone's lap.

5. Serve tea or coffee at the end of the meal and make sure that anyone wanting water is attended to. After dinner cocktails may also be served at this time.

Thanking the Guests

1. Make sure each guest has no further needs at the end of the meal. Be available to answer any questions.

2. Handle any bills or tips according to the directions of the host and refrain from counting any money in front of the guests.

3. Thank the guests for coming and tell them that you appreciated serving them.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to smile throughout the entire evening and make eye contact with the guests. Always be on the lookout for anyone needing help.

Resources

• Waitstuff.com