A Lot More Work Than you Think....

So as you all probably know I am a server at the Olympia, WA Outback Steakhouse. I've worked there for a little over a year now, but have only been serving for about 6 months. This is my first time ever being a server and going into serving I didn't really know what to expect. We've all been on the end where we are receiving the meals, but how many have actually been on the serving side?? All of those who have can relate with me then. Before I was a server I never knew what it takes to get people there meals and do it by meeting their expectations. Let me just share with you all what an average day at work for me is like...

I walk in the door to Outback, and the hostess sees me. Not only 2 minutes later she sits me before I had time to clock in and get my apron situated. I rush to clock in, grab my apron and cheerfully greet my first table of the day. I try to find some way to relate to the people sitting in front of me. I get their drink orders head to the bar and drop a ticket if they ordered a special drink. I walk in the back call in the appetizer they ordered. I gets drinks together, grab some bread, reload the bread warmer, grab enough appetizer plates, hand in appetizer ticket to cooks, pick up tray and head to the bar to pick up drink. Go to table #1 and drop off drinks. Go next door to table #2 and greet customers. Get appetizer order and drink orders. Go back and do all that again. Come out and drop off drinks to Table #2. Go back to table #1 and take dinner order. Go to Table #2 and take dinner order. Greet Table #3 and get app and drink orders. Go in back hand in salad ticket for table #1 and #2. get drinks and bread for table #3 and run some food on same tray. Drop off food at someone elses table and they request all kinds of things. Go by Table #3 and drop off drinks check on table 1 & 2 for drink and bread refills. Greet Table #4 and get app and drink orders. Go in back get other persons tables requests, get bread & drink refills for table 1 & 2, turn in app ticket for table 4 and get table 4's drinks and bread. Go by bar if my table had a drink. Drop off requests for someone elses table go by table 4 and drop off bread and drinks. Go by Table 1 & 2 to drop off refills. Grab empty plates and cups. Go back to Table 4 and get dinner order. Look at table 1 & 2 and see they have their dinner. Drop by to ask how everything is. Table 2's steak is not done enough and Table one needs A1 sauce. Go in back drop off empty plates and stack in dish pin. Take steak to cook and have them fix it. Grab A1 and run food. Go by someone elses table and drop off food. They have request. Drop off A1 to Table 1. Run in back turn in Table 4's dinner tickets and ring up all four tables bills.

Ok so you get the point!! I haven't even gotten to the part where things can go bad and when I drop the bill off. It's a nonstop run around the whole time job. I love it!! Yes I do I love staying busy the whole time. Plus for the most part people are really nice.

Anyway my point is There is so much that goes into getting people's dinner and making them happy at the same time. Plus it's even more intense when your trying to please everyone at 4 different tables and adapting to each person's personalities. This table may be in a hurry, but this table wants to take things slow. It's amazing all that goes into one meal. So when you are out to dinner and you are waiting for that drink just remember everything else your server is having to do to make sure you and all those other tables she has gets exactly what they want.

Be patient and be honest. There is nothing more frusterating then when something is wrong with the food and they don't want me to do anything for them. I can't fix the problem if you don't let me. I'm always up for some good critism, but if my table is not willing to tell me what is wrong than I can't change or better myself.