Babbling

[fugglesss]

if you were serving a table for two and they both order the same dish, what do you do??

here are the options:

input their order as taken

sugguest a similiar dish they might enjoy

bring out a sampler dish of something else so they might try something different on their next order

this job app is for a waiter, backfood runner and host.. i just wanna be a backfood runner because it sounds like it means i wont have to deal with customers. plus, i get to be on my feet ( i sit down 8 hours a day at the job i already have ) 

so whats the best answer ? my instincts say go with the first one... but i dont know.... any waitress types know the answer?

[The_Pirate-King]

I've never waited tables but I'd say the first one is a perfectly safe pick. Ain't nothing wrong with ordering the same dish.

[Buddyroe274]

That's stupid.......Why wouldn't give them what they asked for be an option?

[fugglesss]

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Buddyroe274 wrote:

That's stupid.......Why wouldn't give them what they asked for be an option?

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it is... its said as "input their order as taken"

why do they put stupid questions like this on job apps? its gotta be some kind of trick

[distorted_reasoning]

i dunno.
i never waited tables before.
why would it matter if they bothe ordered the same dish anyways?
they still buying stuff.

[Buddyroe274]

I actually misunderstood the first choice because I kinda glossed over this, but yeah.......that one.

[fugglesss]

k

/end thread

lol

[Glodson]

The second one and the third one are answers they are looking for.

Especially the second one. As a waiter, they want you to be a salesman. Anyone can write down an order. The trick is to push certain dishes, and to be ready to do so. Maybe they have more fish than expected, so push fish before we have to toss it. Or they have a new dish they want out there. Or maybe a dish has a greater profit margin.

I would go with the second one. The third one could be good, but I would not take it without putting a note out there that you would do so only with a manager's permission.

The trap here is the first option.

[fugglesss]

already submitted

but i did get to copy my resume which has tons of actual sales and sales training stuff on it :-/

i want to be one of their backrunners tho and i hope that means no customer contact... but if i have to serve food i will..but ill quit next month once school starts

[Glodson]

Yup. After many years in the industry, I know what most places are looking for.

Hell, with the expense of training anyone new, they better believe you are in for the long haul, not just for a few months. If you get the job, study the menu hard. And pay attention to the seating chart, know the positions on the table.

Ignoring all that is a great way to not keep the job.

[FussyMcFusserson]

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distorted_reasoning wrote:
i dunno.
i never waited tables before.
why would it matter if they bothe ordered the same dish anyways?
they still buying stuff.

---

Yeah, I've never heard of that being a problem before. There's this one little place that's my Mom's favorite, and when we eat there, we always order the exact same thing each time, 'cause we like it so much. We've also ordered the same dishes at other places, and NEVER, not ONCE, has the waitstaff suggested something different.

[fugglesss]

hmm... well i already have a full time job and im suppose to get off at 6 pm so i wanted to work nites 

how do i explain i can only work nites? i think ill lie and say that my "husband" works while i watch my daughter.. then i can work nites.. yah.. thats what ill say... kinda true since i am my own husband i work days lol

[Glodson]

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FussyMcFusserson wrote:

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distorted_reasoning wrote:
i dunno.
i never waited tables before.
why would it matter if they bothe ordered the same dish anyways?
they still buying stuff.

---

Yeah, I've never heard of that being a problem before. There's this one little place that's my Mom's favorite, and when we eat there, we always order the exact same thing each time, 'cause we like it so much. We've also ordered the same dishes at other places, and NEVER, not ONCE, has the waitstaff suggested something different.

---

It depends on the restaurant. An expensive one, and many chains, want waiters to sale food.

But also, waiters are supposed to read tables. If you are not going for our stuff, it is best to shut it down. And also, not every waiter actually does what the management wants them to do.

[Glodson]

Well, many places will hire you, but be ready to work weekends. Like everyone.

And they might try to get you in for lunch on the weekends.

Try looking for a restaurant that only does dinner.

[fugglesss]

well this place is in one of the rich cities.. well the part i work in is very very rich.. so i think its upper end type of restaurant

it does ask what  kind of food places you worked at before and one of the choices is a high end/expensive one...

its called a china bistro?? sounds expensive... 

 im willing to work weekends but the application doesnt ask about that.. just days vs nights

id just love to do something on my feet thats fast after sitting around all day 

[Glodson]

PF Chang's?

[fugglesss]

hey howd u guess that -_-

[distorted_reasoning]

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Glodson wrote:

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FussyMcFusserson wrote:

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distorted_reasoning wrote:
i dunno.
i never waited tables before.
why would it matter if they bothe ordered the same dish anyways?
they still buying stuff.

---

Yeah, I've never heard of that being a problem before. There's this one little place that's my Mom's favorite, and when we eat there, we always order the exact same thing each time, 'cause we like it so much. We've also ordered the same dishes at other places, and NEVER, not ONCE, has the waitstaff suggested something different.

---

It depends on the restaurant. An expensive one, and many chains, want waiters to sale food.

But also, waiters are supposed to read tables. If you are not going for our stuff, it is best to shut it down. And also, not every waiter actually does what the management wants them to do.

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well shows how little i know on that subject.

my only other thought was that maybe they dont want to run out of food in low supplies.

[Glodson]

Cause they are a chain with the China Bistro name.

The first option was definitely a trap.

[The_Pirate-King]

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Glodson wrote:
The second one and the third one are answers they are looking for.

Especially the second one. As a waiter, they want you to be a salesman. Anyone can write down an order. The trick is to push certain dishes, and to be ready to do so. Maybe they have more fish than expected, so push fish before we have to toss it. Or they have a new dish they want out there. Or maybe a dish has a greater profit margin.

I would go with the second one. The third one could be good, but I would not take it without putting a note out there that you would do so only with a manager's permission.

The trap here is the first option.

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See that sounds annoying to me. I don't want people pushing food on me that I don't want.

[westpark]

Suggest something but be polite about it. The customer is always right.

[Glodson]

That is a consideration, but more for the managers. Any core menu item, only a bad ordering of staples will threaten that. Unless it is something like prime rib. Anything that takes hours to cook might run out too.

It is usually specials that run out, and that is good. Specials either have a big profit margin or they are considered great hooks fir getting people to come back.

And when I say big profit margin, I mean relatively big. Food costs are no joke. Entrees, barring exceptional circumstances in more expensive places, do not make that much in the way of profit. Desserts, appetizers, drinks, and bar drinks make the money.

Great entrees just get people in the door.

Now this varies as an Italian place can make some serious money on pasta dishes. But when I worked for an Italian grill, they still wanted us to push the grilled items, as people could not get those anywhere else.

[FussyMcFusserson]

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Glodson wrote:

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FussyMcFusserson wrote:

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distorted_reasoning wrote:
i dunno.
i never waited tables before.
why would it matter if they bothe ordered the same dish anyways?
they still buying stuff.

---

Yeah, I've never heard of that being a problem before. There's this one little place that's my Mom's favorite, and when we eat there, we always order the exact same thing each time, 'cause we like it so much. We've also ordered the same dishes at other places, and NEVER, not ONCE, has the waitstaff suggested something different.

---

It depends on the restaurant. An expensive one, and many chains, want waiters to sale food.

But also, waiters are supposed to read tables. If you are not going for our stuff, it is best to shut it down. And also, not every waiter actually does what the management wants them to do.

---

Nah, I could understand if the customer asks what's the special or what would you recommend, but to suggest something different after a customer's already ordered?

[fugglesss]

well im in sales in the cell phone business 

and it maybe rude sometimes but its all in your positioning..which is what i get stuffed down my throat on a daily basis... 

you just have to be aggressive towards customers taking the risk that a few find it rude or that u actually get the sale. i hate it.. soo much.. but its my job

LEGALLY, we are suppose to ask permission before we attempt to sale.. BUT .. sometimes i get permission very passively and then occasionally a customer takes offense because they dont want to be sold to.. blah blah blah

but the services we offer or sale usually have a nice benefit to the customer so in the end, whether they take it as rudeness or not, its in the customers best interest..

for instance, i personally think its rude to asked a customer to get MORE internet or add to the cost of their internet ..esp when they are calling about something unrelated.. but its still to that customer's benefit that i let them know that there is MORE internet for them in case the package they have isnt enough or later on they start using more and go over it.....

so i see where glodson is coming from... too bad i already submitted the app and took the less aggressive answers...  its one of my failings at my current position. i just dont like being aggressive and only sell enough to keep the job, lol

i still got lots of commission.. more than im comfortable with.. but blah

[FussyMcFusserson]

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The_Pirate-King wrote:

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Glodson wrote:
The second one and the third one are answers they are looking for.

Especially the second one. As a waiter, they want you to be a salesman. Anyone can write down an order. The trick is to push certain dishes, and to be ready to do so. Maybe they have more fish than expected, so push fish before we have to toss it. Or they have a new dish they want out there. Or maybe a dish has a greater profit margin.

I would go with the second one. The third one could be good, but I would not take it without putting a note out there that you would do so only with a manager's permission.

The trap here is the first option.

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See that sounds annoying to me. I don't want people pushing food on me that I don't want.

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Exactly. If I ask beforehand, fine, but not after I put in my order . . . . .