Showing up to work looking clean and smart is very imports. Make sure your fingernails are clean, your hair is out of your face and your uniform is free of wrinkles or kitchen smells from the previous shift you worked on. Never take alcoholic drinks as a waiter in the Middle East.
Always make offers to sell more that ordered but in an indirect way
Helping clients decide to add to their bill also increases your tip. But the key is to do it without making it seem like you are making them spend more, which will quickly turn off your guests. You can get a feel for people’s budgets often by whether or not they order right away and how much they are buying. If the food is flowing, for instance, and let’s say you’re working at a restaurant, then try selling a more appealing snack. Asking if anyone wants coffee and dessert is another good tactic. If the guests seem to know exactly what they want or are regulars, then don’t try to pitch them on extras as it could actually hurt your tip.
Know the menu forward and backward
You should always expect guests to ask questions about the restaurant menu, so as such you should know what you are serving. It’s also very important to learn what different dishes contain and their components so you can speak with authority when asked about food allergy ingredients like gluten or peanuts, as well as whether a menu item is truly vegetarian or vegan.
Be easy to be liked
Always be friendly with guests, but not too friendly. You don’t want to appear to be overly friendly as this will likely make your table feel uncomfortable. Instead, you want to come across as professional. Come up with a way of greeting your tables that slides off your tongue well (this is different for everyone) and stick with it when first talking to your customers.
The customer is always right
The best way of being a good server is to remember the customer is always right. This is a job for you, but for the client, it is value they are paying good money for. As such, if the food comes out not to their satisfaction, don’t try to argue. Instead be polite, immediately offer to take it back and get them something else and then tell your manager, who will usually come to the table and speak directly to the customer. This will also help ensure the likelihood you still receive a good tip at the end of the meal.
Master Several Skills
During any given shift, a server acts as equal parts party host, mind reader, salesperson, acrobat, customer service rep, and encyclopedia. Therefore, be a great leaner on the job which will add to better tips.
Study and Memorize the Steps of Service
Restaurants work with structured approach to serving the customers and have steps they take to make the experience of the customer as wonderful as possible. This approach eases your work since you predict what to expect.
Should not have long fingers
A waiter or waitress needs to be trustworthy as they determine total charges, issue the bill, take payment, give the bill and payment to the host or manager, and return a customer’s credit card, signature slip, and any change.
Be adaptable
The best restaurant waiters understand how to read their customers and tweak their approach to their needs.
You meet all different kinds of people, and you have to adapt. Some customers are really friendly and some are not. It is about having that kind of personality where you can adapt to that and not being afraid to approach the table. For instance, maybe one table wants a few minutes of friendly small talk, while another is anxious to get their meal and get on with their day.