Before my first week working in the restaurant at The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC) I have never worked as a server. I once worked as a hostess and always thought “Waiting tables is a piece of cake.” Now, being one that can admit when I am wrong, I can honestly say that I was wrong.
One may view the wait staff at a restaurant as a group of people that take an order and deliver food to the table when appropriate. While this is one of the duties of a server, it is just a small portion of the job.
Just think, when you walk into a restaurant and you are seated at a table you have right at your fingertips a beautifully set table with everything you need to enjoy your meal. Your glasses are polished and your napkin is folded to perfection and all of the silverware is spotless…thanks to your server.
When your server approaches your table they immediately want to give the guest an enjoyable night out. They offer a drink. To the guest this is just a formality but for the server they want to start the meal out as a relaxing experience to the guest. Not only can they take a drink order but they are the informed representative of the establishment to answer any questions regarding your drink of choice from water to wine.
Once the guests are set with a beverage the server then offers to take the food order. This may also be seen as yet another formality to the guest but the server is actually the voice of the chef. Not only do you place your order but you can ask any questions you feel necessary to learn more about the food, food preparation and general questions about the kitchen and/or establishment. The server is highly trained to answer these questions and takes pride in doing so.
Next, the server brings the food to the table. Most guests feel this is the most important part of dining out. While eating your food is the main reason for being in the restaurant, what are you using to eat that food? How was it presented? Do you have clutter taking up valuable table space? This is where the smallest details of dining out come into play. I never noticed before how all of my dining utensils magically appeared for each of my courses or how my empty glasses just disappeared…as I was not meant to. The server makes sure that all of your needs are met before you need anything.
Finally, the server assists the guest in concluding the meal by what many see as a required question: “How was everything this evening?” Keep in mind that the server wants to know. Again, they are the link between the guest and the rest of the house. The server wants to know about your experience, good or bad. They are the one that will let the kitchen know if the steak was not cooked properly or will let management know if the bathroom is not up to par.
In conclusion, when going out for any dining experience, never underestimate the job of a server. Keep an open mind and know that having open communication with your server not only benefits you as the guest but you just may have an even more enjoyable meal because of it!
