We were all rookies at one time. We walked in confident the first day at a new restaurant only to end up with a deer-in-the-headlights look by the first rush. I’ve worked at plenty of restaurants over the years and know the feeling all to well. I have most certainly been “that guy†as well. […]
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The Economics of Tipping
I still occasionally get the guest who will say, “I can buy this wine for half this price at the store.â€Â Which is true, but it doesn’t come with a staff to serve it and a crew of chefs ready to cook you an incredible meal from a fully stocked kitchen. I wonder if the […]
Restaurant Etiquette: Pop Quiz
Restaurants truly want you to feel comfortable in their establishments. It is the hospitality industry. We want you to feel like guests in our home when you eat at our restaurants. At the same time certain societal norms need to be upheld. Just as you wouldn’t put your muddy shoes on a host’s coffee table, […]
Restaurant Etiquette: Quiz Answers
If you missed the quiz portion, go back and check it out. If you are coming from the quiz, welcome. Please pass your tests to the left to grade. We are working on the honor system here folks. No cheating. Question One: The minimum socially acceptable amount to leave as a tip for proficient, but […]
About The Author
David Hayden was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He took his first serving job in 1996. Since that time, he has worked for over a dozen different restaurant companies. He has held both hourly and salaried positions at independent and corporate restaurants. He has waited on over 100,000 guests and trained hundreds of servers. He has been named "Best Server in Kansas City" the last three years by the local weekly paper.
Critiquing The Server
As you are reading this, I am most likely sitting in a courthouse awaiting a trial. Not my trial or anything of that nature. I was summoned for jury duty. If this is the last post for a while, you will know I was sequestered for the crime of the century. In anticipation of my […]