Being a server has it's ups and downs. On the upside, you'll always have cash to take home. On the downside, you'll always feel busy and frantic. Oh yeah, you also have to be able to handle people (crazy, right?). Here's a list I've compiled (in no specific order) the people you're likely to meet on a regular day in your restaurant.
1. The kids table
There's most likely more kids than there are adults, and with that comes crayons all over the table, and most of their mac and cheese on the floor! (Tip: Stickers help calm those little rascals down, most of the time).
2. Salty & Sweet
99% of the time you have an older couple, and 99% of the time you have NO idea what they'll be like. Will they be salty and mean towards you because they don't understand why you don't have malt vinegar ready or will they be the sweet old couple that you secretly wish you could adopt as your own grandparents. It's basically a game of chance, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
3. Easy Peasy
The easiest customers you'll have all day. They're ready for drinks and they know what they want, so they save you the multiple trips to their table. (Bless your soul).
4. The team
You know, when your hostess starts pushing 3 or 4 tables together and you glance at the door and see a whole team of hungry soccer players waving at you.
5. Complicated Order
I'm talking "can I get only 6 sesame seeds on top of my sesame bun and no tomato in my tomato basil soup" level of complication. You've memorized your menu over and over and you didn't think it could get complicated, but you've found the one who proved you wrong.
6. Church group
Some sweet people, but typically always a large group. Make sure to get everything in before their quick group prayer, be respectful and don't interrupt!
7. The Dine & Dash
These people still exist. These people should never be allowed in restaurants ever again. But behold, people who dine and dash are still customers you may encounter (but I hope you never have to).
8. Dad Jokes
You know the table where dad is doing most of the talking, and he throws in his dad jokes and you just awkwardly laugh.
9.The Drinkers
Usually want to sit at or anywhere near the bar, and are only there for happy hour or just casual drinks.
10. Question Master
"What's a 2 for $20?", "What comes in your strawberry lemonade?" "What is on the menu?" What? What? What? Everything they say, usually comes out as a question.
11. Indecisive?
They can never make up on what they want, and when they finally put in their order, they decide to change it one more time. Awesome.
12. The Best Buds
If you could spend your whole shift talking to these people you would. In the short amount of time they've sat in your section, you've found that you have so much in common and you never want them to leave.
13. The Regulars
You sit them in their usual tables, bring them their usual drinks before you greet them and only ask them if they're having their usual dish, just for validation. You make typically ask how their family is doing and vice versa.
