Tag Archives: waiter

Helpful Tips for New Bussers

So you’re new to the restaurant biz. By now, you’ve probably learned that restaurant jobs entail several hours on your feet while constantly having to run around picking up empty dishes and clearing tables. Oh, and then you get to remain on your feet as you spend even more time washing them in the kitchen.

But hey, you still play a key role in the restaurant. While you may believe that it’s far from glamorous, these are just the humble beginnings on your journey to becoming an award-winning chef someday. And even if being a head chef is not your ultimate goal, you are building a work ethic that will last a lifetime and cultivating your ability to work with a team.

In the meantime, here’s some of our tips for new bussers.

Don’t wait till the end of the meal to clear all of the dishes

People eat a lot of food and order a lot of different dishes throughout their meals. So unless you want to see Mount Dish Monster begin to rise up on tables across the restaurant, work with the waitstaff to clear dishes throughout the meal. You’ll thank us later.

For example, clear appetizer plates and soup bowls from earlier in the meal to make room on the table for the entree plates. Just remember to always ask if the customer is done with their plate before you take it from them. Imagine the horror of a five-year-old kid looking over to discover that his plate of half-finished mac and cheese has suddenly vanished. Now you have a screaming kid in full tantrum mode in the middle of your restaurant. Way to go. Nobody wants to deal with that, so just ask.

Be invisible when removing dishes from tables

Since you don’t have an actual cloak of invisibility on you, you’re going to have to improvise here. The best bussers are quiet and nonchalant while removing dishes from tables and taking them back to the kitchen to be washed.

Only use your hands to clear a table while customers are there. This means that you shouldn’t be rolling out large trays, buckets, or dish racks while your customers are eating. Nothing says ambient and peaceful dining like dishes clanking together on a dirty tray with leftover pasta sauce seeping through it.

Don’t forget about the unused tables

Obviously, it’s important to ensure that the tables being used by customers are cleaned prior to being used. When a customer is seated, they should find a clean table awaiting them. However, don’t ignore the other tables scattered around the restaurant that aren’t currently being used.

Imagine that you’re being seated at a restaurant. Your table is clean and set for you, but the table right next to yours is covered in used napkins, ketchup smears, and the other busser is asleep on the booth chair. That’s not exactly the look that your restaurant is trying to capture, and the customers notice this. Even if their table is clean, other nasty tables may give them the impression that this restaurant is dirty, so make sure that all tables are constantly being cleaned. Remember, you are part of a team.

Be helpful wherever you can, but recognize if you can’t

You’ve probably heard this before, but you should always go the extra mile. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it will also get you noticed by your superiors. Good bussers should learn as much as they can about the restaurant and its menu so that they can answer customer questions when they arise. Also, if you notice a small customer need such as a drink refill, you can help out with these simple tasks as well.

However, if a customer needs something or asks a question that you don’t know or don’t have the authority to complete, promptly find them a staff member who can help. Remember, these are still your humble beginnings, so it’s not time to go all executive chef right now. Help out where you can, get noticed, and start climbing up that food ladder!

Want to learn more about what SR Max® can do for you? Check us out at www.srmax.com

How to Keep Calm When You’re in The Weeds

As a member of a restaurants waitstaff, you are probably all too familiar with the term “In the Weeds”. For those of you that don’t, this term usually refers to a time during a waiter’s shift when they begin to feel stressed by multiple customers demanding their attention.

 

In an industry that usually relies on tips in order to make ends meet, you can’t afford to let stress impact your ability to serve everyone in a charming, professional manner. Check out these tips on how to manage those extremely busy shifts stress-free and with ease!

Communication is Key

As with most professions, it is important to communicate with fellow employees and customers. This still rings true in the restaurant industry. Even when you are extremely busy, it is important to take the extra few seconds to introduce yourself to your table, take their order, and make sure they feel like you are there for them.

Prioritize

This one might seem less important, but trust us, you are going to want to prioritize your customers based on where they are at in their meal. Make sure to greet customers that have just been seated as quickly as possible. From there you can prioritize customers based on who needs refills, or changes to their order, who just got their food, and who is ready for their check. As a server, it is up to you to figure out the sweet spot between checking in on your customers too much, and not enough.

Come Prepared

The last thing you want to do when you’re in the middle of a busy shift is stop to complete small tasks such as folding silverware or brewing coffee. One easy way to prevent these minor yet important tasks from piling up and affecting your productivity is to simply do as much as possible ahead of time. It not only keeps you focused on your tables, but it will also keep you from rushing, which can potentially lead to poor service for customers.

Most Importantly, keep your cool.

Don’t let the pressure get to you. Break a seemingly endless list of requests and duties down into single tasks that you can check off your mental to-do list. This will not only help you focus, but it will give you small, manageable goals. Breaking the endless list down will make it easier for you to concentrate, stay on task and keep calm, all of which will translate into a positive experience for your customers. Because at the end of the day, happy customers leave better tips!

 

For more tips like this, and information about our slip-resistant shoes, visit us online at srmax.com

What are the main causes for slipping in the workplace?

Article by Lindsay Cleghorn

 

Slips happen. No matter how careful you try to be or how many safety meetings you sit through, they still happen. As you will notice, wearing no-slip shoes cannot prevent some of these causes. However, knowing what to look for might be all it takes to prevent a slip and fall accident.

Whether you’re a nurse, waiter,  janitor, or have any job requiring you to work in what can sometimes be considered a slick environment, these main causes will more than likely apply to you.

Here are the top causes of slips and what you can do to prevent them in your workplace:

Loose Laces

This one seems fairly straight forward, and you’re probably wondering why we would bother mentioning it at all. Securely tying your shoelaces can be the difference between another day at work, and a painful trip to the hospital! Something this simple is an easy fix, so make sure your shoelaces are knotted twice to help prevent them from coming undone while on the job.

Your Outsole has no Sole! 

The outsole of your shoe assures that you can do your job quickly and effectively, without any accidents. Beware of worn down soles, soles that are flat ,or have a flat edge to the outsole.

When shopping for a slip resistant shoe, remember the space and depth of the tread are important for gripping. If you see the outsole is worn down, then it may be time for some new slip resistant shoes.

Roadblocks

Slippery surfaces, trash and foreign objects are common in most restaurant, hospital, and hospitality professions. Make sure to remain conscious of where you’re walking and take the extra second to clean up any debris in the way.

Being aware of your surroundings and wearing proper slip resistant shoes can make the difference between a productive workday and an accident.

 

Want to learn more about our product line? Check us out at srmax.com

When Should You Replace Your Work Shoes?

So far you’ve been able to collect vital information from our blog on how to choose and clean your work shoes. But what happens when you’ve had your work shoes for years and they have lasted you countless shifts and they are slowly telling you that they’re ready for retirement?

Now, some people may go to the extremes of turning their work shoes into a D.I.Y. project and try and repair the shoes themselves. Is this a way to save money? Well sure, but will this improve your safety while on the job?

Absolutely not! It is a better idea to assess what you may need in your next work shoe and invest in a quality pair of shoes that will be able to do the job, while you’re on the job! Here are a few things that will let you know, without a doubt, that it’s time for a brand new pair of work shoes!

check your tiresCheck Your Tires

The tires of your car are one of the most important things to check on a regular basis. Why? Because they make sure our cars can get from place to place safely. The outsole of your work shoe functions the same way.

The outsole of your shoe assures that you can do your job quickly and effectively, without any accidents. If you see the outsole is worn down, then it may be time for a pair of new shoes.

Don’t Let Your Shoe “Talk”

talking shoes

The outsole of your shoe starts to separate from the upper, we refer to this as “talking”. Any sign of your shoes starting to separate is an apparent sign that it is time to invest in a new pair of work shoes. Not only can this look bad in your place of work, but it can also be very dangerous in a fast paced environment.

Do Your Soles Have Holes?  

Holey shoesUnder no circumstance shoe your shoe be “hole-y”! This is not only an unappealing issue, but it is also a safety issue. Depending on your work environment, small holes could quickly turn into big holes and leave you in a very unsafe situation. It’s important when you notice your shoe is worn in this way, that you work quickly to replace them.

You’ll Have to Replace Them Eventually 

There’s no hard and fast rule about the age of slip resistant shoes or how often you should buy new ones. Depending on your work environment, your shoes could last shorter or longer. Generally, slip resistant shoes will last between six and twelve months in the average work environment. Some may last longer, some not as long. Every pair of shoes has to be replaced eventually.

If you realize that you are running into these issues with your work shoes, then head over to the srmax.com website and see what shoes may be best for your industry.

Why Should I Wear Slip Resistant Shoes?

Would you drive without a seatbelt or airbags?

Would you base jump or skydive without the right equipment?

How about ride a motorcycle without a helmet?

If you choose to do these things, you understand the inherent risks involved. But do you understand the risk you take if you don’t wear proper slip resistant shoes to work? You may have no idea of the risk you are taking, and how wearing the right safety shoes can alleviate those risks. Continue reading →

What’s in a Name? – An Explanation of “SR Max”

We often get asked about our company name, SR Max. How do you pronounce it, what does it mean? Is it an abbreviation or code? And what is the proper way to write it out? From S.R. Max and S-R Max to SRmax and srMax, we’ve seen more variations than you’d think possible.

There’s even a story about one of our executives going out to dinner with some employees, all wearing their SR Max logo polos. They chose to eat at one of the restaurants we provide slip resistant shoes for and the manager came out to tell them how much he liked our shoes. Our exec was quite glad to hear this, until the man proclaimed with a smile, “Oh yes, we love the Senior Max shoes!” which set the whole table into peals of laughter. Continue reading →

Our Top 3 Greatest Waiter Shoes

Whether you’re working your way through college or an experienced veteran of the restaurant industry, being a waiter can be grueling on your body. Carrying food, running in and out of the hot kitchen, and above all being on your feet take a toll on your body. Because of this, having the right restaurant shoes is even more important. Continue reading →