In his early years, Frippin Dave earned his way through college (and slightly beyond) by waiting tables. Not bragging, but FD always earned the highest tips. Why? Because I treated it like any other sales position. And in doing so, I made sure that I treated my clients well, knew my product, took advantage of sales opportunities, and followed up to ensure my clients were satisfied.
Make no mistake, waiting tables is a sales position. You earn money based on a percentage of the bill. Thus, your income is based on the quality of the service you provide and the amount of the sales you create.
As with everything else, Frippin Dave has some advice for those who wish to be successful food servers (whether you are doing this as a profession or to earn money to enable you to do something else).
Make every customer feel special. Whether you are serving food at a five-star restaurant or a diner, people go out because they wish to be treated well. Treat people in a way that makes their experience special.
Know the menu. Just like any sales person, you should know your product line. That includes ingredients, and people's response to the item. Knowing the menu is also your opportunity to entice people to buy additional product (like starters, or sides).
Don't tell me you don't eat that. Or make any other comments about your habits. If someone asks you how something is, provide a description, and tell its features.
Write down the order And have a system for knowing who has ordered what. I am not impressed that you can remember my order. But I sure am pissed when you bring me the wrong thing.
After you serve the food, come back in 3 minutes. Or less! That's when people realize that they need something, or discover some problem. And it's very frustrating to have to delay eating while those around you are chowing down.
Walk by regularly You don't necessarily need to say anything. But make sure you are accessible. And if a drink is empty, offer another (That's a sales opportunity).
Figure out the customer's expectations about clearing plates. In actuality, it's rude to clear plates before everyone is finished eating. But people's expectations differ. So figure out what is expected, and do that.
Know how to handle problems. They will occur. Know how to handle a problem, and what the policy/practices of your restuarant is.
Feel free to e-mail me fd@frippindave.com with your Server questions. Remember, Frippin Dave isn't just a jerk! He lives in a crappy house, volunteers hours a week for nothing, and is an unsuccessful businessman, too!
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