1. Do not have a personal conversation with another server within earshot of customers.
2. Do not eat or drink in plain view of guests.
3. Never reek from perfume or cigarettes. People want to smell the food and beverage.
4. Do not drink alcohol on the job, even if invited by the guests. “Not when I’m on duty” will suffice.
5. Never say, “Good choice,” implying that other choices are bad.
6. Saying, “No problem” is a problem. It has a tone of insincerity or sarcasm. “My pleasure” or “You’re welcome” will do.
7. Do not compliment a guest’s attire or hairdo or makeup. You are insulting someone else.
8. Do not curse, no matter how young or hip the guests.
9. Never acknowledge any one guest over and above any other. All guests are equal.
10. Do not gossip about co-workers or guests within earshot of guests. (Wrote by Bruce Bushel that was published in The New York Times)
We hope you enjoyed this quick list of what not to do as a reminder to those in the service industry and a tip for those soon to be. Always stay positive and keep a smile on your face, and remember, the guest will always judge your facial expressions and appearance, so make sure you always head to your shift with a smile, a clean uniform, and your ISERV server book (@ www.iserv.us ) to keep you organized, stress free, and give you the look of a professional.