Nine things restaurant servers do better than most people

Restaurant servers are known as the people who serve food and drink, typically at restaurants/events. They are often treated with little respect and are bossed around regularly from guests and management, not to mention the amount of death stares they endure from the cooks. But at the end of the day, they are mostly hardworking individuals trying to make an honest living. And over time, they develop skills greater than perhaps other people.

Nine things restaurant servers do better than most

Listen

Servers have to listen. If they don’t, they will likely not last a week on the job. From hearing stories from guests at their tables while they order to chefs explaining the ingredients and cooking prep of a dish, servers are constantly listening. And if they don’t listen carefully, the kitchen will let them know they better or else. No one wants to remake a steak because the server didn’t pay attention for how the guest wanted its temp.

Run while making it look like a fast walk.

This one comes out of necessity but once perfected, it’s used often and is an efficient tool in getting the job done. It takes time to perfect it though, as one needs to have balance and grace so as not to bump into others, especially guests, and do it with a swiftness that looks effortless.

Able to work multiple FOH positions

Servers often do not start in the position of server when starting out in the industry. Typically one will have to enter as a host or busser, two of the easier ways to get into serving. But even if they do jump right in, they will likely have the skills to do most Front Of House (FOH) positions. They can seat people, bus tables, run food and answer phones. Many will even be able to bartend if they have to. But this is not true the other way around. A host will likely not be able to jump in and serve unless they’ve been trained on the full menu, including beverages, how to input an order with coursing and what to do with allergies.

Get creative with napkins

Some servers are downright artists when it comes to what they can do with a napkin. From swans to rollups, from fans to animals, most servers can do a thing or two when it comes to making a napkin look nice on a table. And don’t even get them started with wrapping up leftovers in foil!

Speak with their eyes

It can be a beautiful thing to see the connection between a busser and server when they have a full conversation with nothing more than their eyes. It’s like a pitcher/catcher relationship. The server makes signals with their eyes to let their busser know information on what to do next. Hand signals can be used also and is just as beautiful.

Hold incredibly hot plates with their hands and arms

It may be all the time servers have to endure insanely hot plates in their hands and on their arms as their guests move out of the way so they can place them on the table, but whatever it is, servers have an almost superhuman power to hold scolding hot plates. Of course, it could also be the skin on server’s fingers have been burned so many times that heat no longer affects them.

Be concerned about the safety of others

Without being too dramatic, servers often hold people’s lives in their hands, if these people have life-threatening allergies. Allergies are serious business, especially nuts and shellfish. Some people are so allergic that they need to carry antidotes with them at all times for the just in case moments. These people need to eat out too though, so servers take this very serious. Also worth noting is the skill of alerting others they are in the way or someone is behind them with warnings such as “Behind you!” or “Corner!”

Eating as quickly as possible

Yes, restaurants are a place where food is plentiful but that doesn’t mean time is. Most shift meals are rushed through a quick break or pre-shift meeting and often times, servers eat standing up or in a contorted position so as not to dirty anything, including themselves.

Leave work at work

It’s fair to say servers leave their work at work. Few want to remember the guest who talked with their mouth full or the manager that wouldn’t leave them alone for having a shirt untucked, While a shift drink certainly helps, the moment servers walk out the door is likely the moment they forget what just happened, all except for the money in their pocket.