How to Serve Multiple Tables

It is not easy to serve multiple tables at one time. When a hostess poorly places three or four tables of customers in your section, something wrong is bound to happen. Though I can't keep the rush of the moment from hitting you, I can offer you some good tips on how to serve multiple tables and through the process of sheer quantity, increase your tips.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 
   Meet n greet!

   As soon as you see those tables being filled, get to the first one and greet them. At this point, try to get their drink and appetizer orders. This serves three purposes - the customers see you getting to them quickly, you can get drinks rolling and get an appetizer order placed. Repeat these same steps at the next couple tables that were seated in your section. Now you have made contact will all the customers, got drink and hopefully, appetizer orders. You have bought yourself a few minutes while they are looking through the menu to get the drinks pulled together and appetizer orders placed.

2. 
   Now, take their orders.

   Once you have delivered all drinks and placed the orders for the appetizers, go back and take each table's orders. You may notice out of the corner of your eye, more tables being seated. The trick is to treat each small group of tables as one table and do it repeatedly. Take the orders of all of the group of tables you have already given drinks to and go place them. In the meantime, gather salads & soups and deliver any appetizers that have come up. If you have time, offer more coffee or water or tea.

3. 
   Now for the tough part ...

   The hardest part in serving multiple tables is that their food may all come up at one time. Someone is bound to be unhappy about something. It is best if your restaurant has an expeditor but if they don't, just do your best to get the food to the table quickly while it is still hot. Hopefully someone can help you - a server who is not busy, a manager but if you are on your own, do your best. When you have laid out the food, go back around and clear any unused dishes on the tables and refill drinks.

4. 
   Yum Yum!

   While your customers are eating, make it a point of refilling drinks, clearing dishes and catching up with other tables or starting new ones. Then, offer dessert, coffee, hot tea, etc., for after the meal. Once you have your desserts and after-meal drinks served, again focus on clearing plates, offer coffee and lay the bill down. I know it gets crazy and many customers do not appreciate the hard work you do, but I know how hard it can be. I hope this article helps you to handle multiple tables more efficiently! Please see my resource below called, "The Waiter/Waitress Manual" for more tips, available at a low price.

Tips & Warnings

• Please see my resource below called, "The Waiter/Waitress Manual" for more tips, available at a low price.

Resources

• The Waiter/Waitress Manual

[predd8193]

on 10/1/2009 good article