Server Tips: How Do You Become a Good Waiter or Waitress? 

Have you ever had a server who made your dining experience truly unforgettable? Perhaps they were incredibly attentive, had a great sense of humor, or recommended the perfect dish. Being a good waiter or waitress is more than just taking orders and bringing food; it's about providing exceptional customer service that leaves a lasting impression.

In this blog post, we'll explore the essential tips and tricks to help you become the best server anyone’s ever had.

Is Being a Server Difficult?

Being a waiter or waitress has the potential to be a rewarding line of work. However, just like any other profession, working as a waiter or waitress has its advantages and disadvantages. When you work in the service industry, your tips are impacted by your performance.

In the waiting industry, a server's main responsibility is to accept customer orders and deliver food and beverages, with the customer experience being their top concern. As a result, servers must always be available and prepared to engage with clients. Providing a successful customer experience plays a key role in developing good server abilities.

How Can You Be a Better Waiter or Waitress?

So, what makes a good server? Here are the four qualities of a good waiter and waitress:

Be Personable

It's essential to build a connection with customers and have a likable personality they can relate to. The relationship between server and customer is delicate, with a great part depending on the quality of service. Gaining the trust of customers and coworkers requires a positive, optimistic attitude.

Know how to read the nonverbal cues of your patrons. You can intuit a lot from body language, eye contact, and the length of their responses. With a little practice, it is easy to glean, with just a short exchange, the level of involvement a table will be happy with. Additionally, a skilled server knows how to remain calm in front of customers, manage a conflict, and take feedback to improve.

Manage Your Time

Being an effective server requires time management skills. When you work in a restaurant, there is so much simultaneously going on. On any given night, you can serve multiple tables, all of them at different stages of their meal. In the time that it took you to get water for your new table, another group may be ready to order their appetizers, and another may want the check. Stay on top of this seemingly endless barrage of tasks without getting overwhelmed or stressed. You have to know how to prioritize, communicate, and stay in constant contact with your tables.

Know Your Menu

You should be prepared to handle questions from customers regarding the menu, so it’s best to be knowledgeable about what you are offering. As a server, it's your responsibility to understand the menu, recommend dishes, inform customers about add-ons, and address customer concerns about ingredients or allergies. Knowing the menu will enable you to seat more guests and handle more checks per shift while maintaining or possibly reducing your table turn time.

Be Adaptable 

Each restaurant setting has different expectations of servers, which means adaptability, friendliness, and expertise are great skills for success in almost any hospitality environment. For example, a fine dining business may value wine knowledge, while a breakfast joint may value quickness and precision. A good waiter or waitress should be able to adapt to these changes.

What Are the Responsibilities of Being a Waiter or Waitress?

Waiters and waitresses play an important role in ensuring that patrons have a nice dining experience. They must be well-organized, present, and dedicated to table management. They need to be in constant communication with the kitchen and bar to notify them of customer preferences, dietary requirements, and special requests.

They are often the first face someone sees when they enter an establishment. Greeting customers is a great introductory experience and sets the tone for the rest of the evening. 

The front-of-house duties are handled by waitstaff, including refilling drinks, clearing dishes, and setting tables. Servers are responsible for maintaining cleanliness, handling sales, issuing checks, and facilitating payments. Their trustworthiness is crucial as they determine charges, issue checks, and return customer's cards and signatures.

Given that health inspections may take place on a regular basis, servers need to be aware of the restaurant's alcohol, safety, and cleanliness rules. For restaurants to operate efficiently, there must be effective communication on meal progression times among waiters, cooks, and hosts.

How Do You Get More Tips as a Server?

Here are top serving tips that are been proven to work when trying to maximize your earnings:

Introduce Yourself By Name

You'll come across as more likable and establish the basis for positive relationships with your customers if you introduce yourself by name. If you have the option to write your name down somewhere, do so because this will help your customers refer to it and remember it.

Make It Personal

Paying attention to your customers' needs and fulfilling their interests with excitement can help build a sincere connection between you and your customers. Describing in detail the qualities of a particular meal you enjoy and highlighting the taste and flavor profiles will make room for your customer to appreciate the honesty of your recommendations.

Repeat the Customer’s Order

Repeating a customer's order offers several advantages because it demonstrates that you’re an excellent listener (and note-taker), which in turn establishes trust. However, there is also a psychological effect behind this practice. Servers who repeatedly repeat orders to customers subconsciously create a connection with them, as people tend to like those who mirror their gestures and speech.

Learn How to Upsell

Instead of upselling products, try upselling experiences. To upsell effectively, you must ask discovery questions (questions that reveal more about the customer), pay attention to what they say, and then make a suitable suggestion in response. For example, if serving a customer during a special celebration, try offering a bottle of champagne instead of an individual glass and make sure to recommend the perfect pairing.

Additionally, be descriptive. For example, when offering dessert, don’t just say you have a chocolate cake. Offer a rich slice of a warm, gooey chocolate cake, served with a decadent scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with an in-house chocolate sauce. Watch how many people order after that!  

Always Provide Excellent Service

Customers expect good food and good service. In order to receive a generous tip, you must go above and beyond their expectations. A superior survey anticipates a customer's needs. For example, instead of being asked for another refill, have one ready when you notice that their drink is low. A well-tipped server is typically one that is enthusiastic about each and every table.

What Are the Best Tips for Waitstaff?

Here’s a list of tips for waitressing you should incorporate in the workplace:

• Master your restaurant's point-of-sale system for efficient service
• Ask customers about their day and special occasions
• Regularly check on customers to identify any needs
• Write "Thank you" on guest checks to increase tips
• Understand customer preferences and suggest drinks, appetizers, main courses, and desserts
• Offer genuine recommendations based on customer preferences and experiences
• Hold plates by the bottom and glasses by the stem to avoid contact with the surface the customer touches
• Respond with "Let me find out" if unsure about a customer’s question
• Never remove plates with food without customer's consent
• Maintain consistent service throughout courses
• Avoid interrupting customer conversation
• Avoid customer over-ordering
• Provide advice and inform about portion sizes
• Inform customers of out-of-stock items promptly
• Place checks in neutral locations to avoid personal biases
• Remember customers' names and faces for customer recognition
• Actively listen to customers
• Greet customers with a positive, welcoming attitude and smile

How Can I Improve as a Server?

A final way to ensure you're a great server is to take a certified server training course. Try our online courses if you think you have what it takes to make a career as a server. We offer approved training courses that are acceptable in many jurisdictions for serving and selling alcohol. Our courses are 100% online, so you can work at your own pace to complete them.  To learn more, view our full catalog of options today!