100 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

This article, by Bruce Buschel, was posted in two parts on the New York Times Small Business "You're the Boss" blog. The article was discussed on Monday, December 7th's Midmorning with Kerri Miller from Minnesota Public Radio. Yesterday's blog has a link to listen to that discussion. Many Minnesota servers and customers called to voice their opinion during the one hour program. The article ends with a quote from Bill Gates that we can all relate to, "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning."

Source: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/

By Bruce Buschel

Herewith is a modest list of dos and don’ts for servers at the seafood restaurant I am building. Veteran waiters, moonlighting actresses, libertarians and baristas will no doubt protest some or most of what follows. They will claim it homogenizes them or stifles their true nature. And yet, if 100 different actors play Hamlet, hitting all the same marks, reciting all the same lines, cannot each one bring something unique to that role?

1. Do not let anyone enter the restaurant without a warm greeting.

2. Do not make a singleton feel bad. Do not say, "Are you waiting for someone?" Ask for a reservation. Ask if he or she would like to sit at the bar.

3. Never refuse to seat three guests because a fourth has not yet arrived.

4. If a table is not ready within a reasonable length of time, offer a free drink and/or amuse-bouche. The guests may be tired and hungry and thirsty, and they did everything right.

5. Tables should be level without anyone asking. Fix it before guests are seated.

6. Do not lead the witness with, "Bottled water or just tap?" Both are fine. Remain neutral.

7. Do not announce your name. No jokes, no flirting, no cuteness.

8. Do not interrupt a conversation. For any reason. Especially not to recite specials. Wait for the right moment.

9. Do not recite the specials too fast or robotically or dramatically. It is not a soliloquy. This is not an audition.

10. Do not inject your personal favorites when explaining the specials.

To view complete article visit: http://hospitalitytrainingcenter.com/12001.html
Hospitality Careers Training Center
2751 Hennepin Ave S #297
Minneapolis, MN 55408-1002
(612) 216-3987

For a complete list of TAP Series online programs offered by the Hospitality Careers Training Center as well as upcoming ServSafe class dates and locations, course description, cost, online registration, and ServSafe Essentials 5th Edition Textbook, visit: http://www.hospitalitytrainingcenter.com/