Top Four Things Your Server Wants You to Know

Top Four Things Your Server Wants You to Know

1. Food Timing

People think that just because their food took a long time, it’s the server’s fault. Actually, 90% of the time it’s the kitchen. Or it’s the fact that you ordered a Chicago, well-done steak. Some restaurants do not have a kitchen large enough to accommodate the whole restaurant when it is fully seated. Not by choice, however because of growth in the city and popularity these restaurants may be most often at full capacity for seating. During a rush your server is extremely busy and they do not want you to wait long for you food. So, please do not take it out on your server because of the kitchen, based on the owner's decisions cannot serve you your food in the time that you've expected.

2. Bringing young children out to eat

When your server is busy and approaches your table to take drink and food orders, please do not make your server have a five minute discussion with your child especially if they are shy. Little Tommy does not know what he wants, so please as the parent please just make a quick decision for him. Your server will really appreciate the help and will speed up the service that most of the time families expect when going out to eat with their children.

3. What makes your server crazy?

When a server approaches a table they are hopeful that the trip over will result in some sort of a bill that will reward them in the end with a tip. Unfortunately, there are moments when a guest requests a "hot tea" or "hot water with lemon". This request has got to be the biggest pet-peeve in serving. This requires for hot tea, filling a tea pot with hot water, steeping the tea in hot water, preparing a tea set up with cream, milk and a sugar caddy. All of these steps make your server rush and for a $2.00 charge. For hot water and lemon similar steps and most often the table can't get their free hot water fast enough. After all of this, when the bill is brought to the table the guest thinks, "I only had some hot water, so my server didn't do very much for me today". Wrong!

4. The perks to being a "great" regular

If you want to eat out regularly or have a favorite place to go on special occasions here a few things you should know about becoming noticed by management and servers.

First, on your first visit be forgiving, use your manners, and tip your server nicely. Most people don’t know this however, as servers we have very good photographic memories. It is a part of our job to remember faces, voices and to read people everyday. If you follow that first step the next time you visit, servers might even flip a coin to get you in their section.

Second, the more you come in the restaurant staff will know what you drink, how you order your food and which table you prefer. The minute you come in the host will take you to your favorite table, the bartender will start to poor your favorite drink, the manager will walk over to greet you and your server will enjoy your presence. Everything that you enjoy about eating out will being to happen without you having to ask for a thing.

Third, with these perks you never need to wait for a table again. So, the next time you're out to eat, take a look around and if you wonder why some tables get noticeably good service and attention from the staff, it is because they are great regulars.

Cheers!