Guide to Being a Good Waitress and Making More Tips

Waitressing can either be a good paying job, or just another one of those that keeps you getting by week the week. Your income depends on how good business is for the restaurant you are working at and by the customer's that you are waiting on. Most waitresses make below minimum wage, so your customers will be your main source of income.

Every customer is different in their method of tipping. Some give the same tip amount everywhere they go, some give a percentage of the bill, and some others tip depending on the quality of the service. It is important to provide a good dining experience for your customer, even if you are unsure if they will tip or not. Your attitude and quality of service will most often affect your tip amount.

The first thing that your customers will notice about you is how you look. Therefore, it is important to have your look put together. Whether you are wearing a uniform or something of your own, you should look nice and match the other waiters as close as possible. Your hair should be pulled back away from your face. Nobody wants to have to worry about their waitress's hair in their food. Your makeup should be applied lightly. Its okay to want to look good at work, but don't overdo it. Think about the impression that you want to leave on your customers. You want them to like you so that they will leave a good tip and first impression is a lot of the time all that they have of you. Make sure to leave them with a good impression by dressing neatly and appearing pleasant.

Always keep a smile on your face when waiting tables. Your positive attitude will keep your customers happy and they will think that you are happy to see them even if you are not. Even if you are not happy to be at work, you have to think about other people. When you go out to eat, a sour faced waitress can ruin your experience at a restaurant.

Okay, now that you have made a good first impression, it is time to impress with your skills as a waitress. One of the most important things is to know what you will be serving. Memorize the menu and be ready to answer all questions. You will pick up on this gradually with each time that you work, but having a basic knowledge of the dishes is good to have at first.

Possibly the most important part of being a waitress is timing. You have to know exactly when to ask for refills, when to pick up plates, and when to bring the check. If you time things wrong, you will seem either like you are rushing your customers or like you don't care about them.

Here is a rundown of the things that you should do in a normal situation as a waitress. You should first greet them when they walk in the door and seat them. After they sit, give them a menu and take their drink order. When you bring the drinks back, either tell them that you will give them more time to look over the menu or take their order if they are ready. Don't ask if they are ready to order if they obviously have never been to the restaurant before and never looked at the menu.

Take their order and be sure to keep their drinks filled if necessary. When you bring the food out, ask if they need any condiments or extra napkins. A few minutes after your table receives their food, come back just to make sure everything was prepared properly. Keep an eye on the drink levels and refill if needed, but don't pester them. When one or more people at the table looks finished, wait a minute or two and then pick up the empty plates.

When at least half of the table of people are finished eating, ask if they have room for dessert and if not bring them back the check and thank them for their business. If the customers stay to talk, make sure that you have cleared all of the plates away to make things more comfortable for them.