moonstreet
Guests
ok, inspired by Karice and "secrets of a cashier" heres my Secrets of A Waitress
1. The best time to visit a restaurant is 1 hour after opening or 1 hour before closing. Just cos the times states 12pm to 8pm, dont arrive at 11.45 and expect to be given a table. The chefs wont have food ready before 12pm, and the front of house will most likely be still setting up.
2.The same at closing time. Most chefs start breaking down the kitchen around an hour before last orders. So if you arrive a few minutes before closing, the chefs will be in the middle of cleaning the kitchen and the food that you will get just be the end of the food prepared for that service. All the staff will be tired and just want to go home and so dont expect good service.
3.If you happen to be the last customers in the restaurant, dont hang around. Many restaurant staff dont get paid overtime. If they are late finishing their shift because you decide to talk and talk , they wont get paid for the extra time they have to stay to clean up after you leave.
4.If its not on the menu, DONT ASK FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL. If the menu says main course pork and lamb, dont ask for chicken!! This does not include dietry requirements, though so never be shy about asking if you are allergic to nuts or gluten etc.
5. TIPS
ok, so I know this is a delicate area. Please look carefully at your bill. If it says service charge of 12% included on your bill, you dont have to pay it. Ask the waiting staff do they recieve the service charge. Many restaurants dont give the waiting staff the service charge. Most waiting staff only get to keep the cash tips. The same when paying by credit card. Dont add the tip to the final amount being taken from your card, as most likely your waiter wont recieve it. If you want to give a tip, give cash only to your waiter. That way you garentee that the money is going to the service staff and not the company. Also, bar staff and kitchen staff most likely wont recieve any tips.
6. Sending food back
When sending food back, please make sure it is for a valid reason. Getting angry at the waiting staff wont get you anywhere. Having food returned to the kitchen is a waiters worst nightmare. Chefs get very defensive about their food. Remember that when you send food back, the waiter has to interupt the chef from service, explain the sitution, and most likely other people will have to wait longer for their food as your problem skips the queue and gets sorted out.
7. Waiting staff dont just look after 1 table at a time. Other people are looking for thier attention too. Dont worry, you are not being forgotten, it could be that another table has a problem that is taking time to sort out. The same with your food. Just cos you ordered before that table, yet they are now eating, dosnt mean you have been forgotton. Maybe thier food took less time to prepare, maybe their order went into the system before yours, there are many reasons.
1. The best time to visit a restaurant is 1 hour after opening or 1 hour before closing. Just cos the times states 12pm to 8pm, dont arrive at 11.45 and expect to be given a table. The chefs wont have food ready before 12pm, and the front of house will most likely be still setting up.
2.The same at closing time. Most chefs start breaking down the kitchen around an hour before last orders. So if you arrive a few minutes before closing, the chefs will be in the middle of cleaning the kitchen and the food that you will get just be the end of the food prepared for that service. All the staff will be tired and just want to go home and so dont expect good service.
3.If you happen to be the last customers in the restaurant, dont hang around. Many restaurant staff dont get paid overtime. If they are late finishing their shift because you decide to talk and talk , they wont get paid for the extra time they have to stay to clean up after you leave.
4.If its not on the menu, DONT ASK FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL. If the menu says main course pork and lamb, dont ask for chicken!! This does not include dietry requirements, though so never be shy about asking if you are allergic to nuts or gluten etc.
5. TIPS
ok, so I know this is a delicate area. Please look carefully at your bill. If it says service charge of 12% included on your bill, you dont have to pay it. Ask the waiting staff do they recieve the service charge. Many restaurants dont give the waiting staff the service charge. Most waiting staff only get to keep the cash tips. The same when paying by credit card. Dont add the tip to the final amount being taken from your card, as most likely your waiter wont recieve it. If you want to give a tip, give cash only to your waiter. That way you garentee that the money is going to the service staff and not the company. Also, bar staff and kitchen staff most likely wont recieve any tips.
6. Sending food back
When sending food back, please make sure it is for a valid reason. Getting angry at the waiting staff wont get you anywhere. Having food returned to the kitchen is a waiters worst nightmare. Chefs get very defensive about their food. Remember that when you send food back, the waiter has to interupt the chef from service, explain the sitution, and most likely other people will have to wait longer for their food as your problem skips the queue and gets sorted out.
7. Waiting staff dont just look after 1 table at a time. Other people are looking for thier attention too. Dont worry, you are not being forgotten, it could be that another table has a problem that is taking time to sort out. The same with your food. Just cos you ordered before that table, yet they are now eating, dosnt mean you have been forgotton. Maybe thier food took less time to prepare, maybe their order went into the system before yours, there are many reasons.
