#hostess tips

(via Bully Says: Comics Oughta Be Fun!)

10 Tips for Successful Summer Entertaining

1. Some elderly people prefer tables instead of booths because they are harder for them to get into. 

2. Make sure you give elderly people the lower tables if possible. Seat them in a quieter area. They complain about loud music. 

3. If you’re getting frustrated because people don’t want the tables that you give them, and keep requesting a certain area (eg. by the window, or in the corner booth) which causes you to double seat servers, and you’re having a hard time saying no to customers, then put a reserved sign on a table or booth that you don’t want to seat for a while. When a customer asks for that table, tell them that it’s reserved. You’re technically not lying, because it is reserved... for people who come in later/next. 

4. Being a hostess is a lot more work than most people would imagine. You are in charge of creating the flow of the restaurant. Just remember that some things that beyond your control.

5. You’re going to have bad days. People are going to be rude, unhappy, or offended - but don’t blame yourself for everything. Remember that some people are just rude, or they might have had a really bad day/week.

6. Learn to stand up to the customer, no matter how much they try to manipulate you into getting a table/booth when they want, and where they want it to be. You are in charge. You tell them NO, and say why... 

7. If you’re going to double seat a server, because the customers ask for a booth in their section say, “I can seat you here, however, your server may take a while, because she is busy right now” more often than not (you’d be surprised), the customer will change his/her mind and stay at the table where you've seated them. If the customer still wants to move to that table, at least you've let them know that their server is busy, so it’s less likely that they will complain about it taking a long time. Your server will appreciate this too.

8. It’s better to over-estimate the wait-list time, than to underestimate it... You can’t always predict when a table is going to be leaving. If you say that it could be fifteen minutes, then fifteen minutes passes and there are still no tables open, you’re going to have a problem. Give them your minimum amount, and your maximum. 15-25 min maybe? 

9. NEVER ask how long a customer is going to be eating or staying at their table. It will always come off as you being rude. It looks like you’re trying to rush them. Even if they’re sitting at a table that has a reservation in 10 min. Always have a backup plan of some sort. Next time, let the customer know that there is a reservation before you seat them there (at least two hours before the reservation), and ask if they’d still like to sit at that table. Don’t tell them, “oh by the way, there’s a reservation here for a large party, at this table” when they are already onto their entree, and especially don’t try to move them to a different booth. They will be so mad at you and might even try to get the manager to complain about it. If someone is going to do this, make sure it’s not you.. unless of course, that is, you want to be yelled at... then yeah, go for it.