How to Take an Order in Restaurant || Order Taking Skills

Summary

This video provides a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to take food and beverage orders in a restaurant or food outlet. The process includes preparing yourself, approaching the table with a smile, and interacting with guests through greetings and personalized questions. The waiter should first take beverage orders, offer drink suggestions, and ensure the guest has enough time to decide on their food. Once the food orders are taken, the waiter repeats them to confirm special requests and informs the guest of the expected serving time. The process concludes with thanking the guest and collecting the menus. This video is a helpful resource for waiters looking to improve their order-taking skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Prepare yourself and observe the guests before taking their order. Ensure you have your captain order and pen ready.
• 😀 Greet the guests with a friendly smile and introduce yourself, making eye contact and asking a personal interaction question like 'How was your day?'
• 😀 Always ask guests if they are ready to place their order, using polite phrasing like 'May I take your order, sir/madam?'
• 😀 Start by taking the beverage order first, offering options like still or sparkling water, and suggesting a pre-meal drink if appropriate.
• 😀 Ensure the beverages are served first and give the guests enough time to decide on their food orders.
• 😀 After serving drinks, check if the guests are ready to place their food orders and offer menu suggestions if they need assistance.
• 😀 When taking food orders, suggest items from the menu, including starters and wine pairings, especially if the guests ask for recommendations.
• 😀 For groups, suggest sharing-style menu options, and ensure to take orders from eldest to youngest, starting with the ladies and then the men.
• 😀 Confirm the orders by repeating them to the guests, making sure to address any special requests or modifications.
• 😀 Politely inform guests about the estimated time it will take to serve their order and thank them once the order is confirmed.
• 😀 After receiving confirmation, collect the menus from the table and express gratitude before leaving the table.

Q & A

What is the first step in taking a guest's order at a restaurant?

The first step is to prepare yourself by ensuring you have your order pad and pen ready, and observing the guest to anticipate when they are ready to place their order.

How should a waiter approach a guest's table?

A waiter should approach the table with a smile, greet the guests politely, introduce themselves, and ask a personal interaction question to engage with the guest.

Why is it important for the waiter to ask a personal question when greeting the guest?

Asking a personal question helps to create a connection with the guest and makes the dining experience feel more personal and welcoming.

What should the waiter do after greeting the guest?

After greeting the guest, the waiter should ask if the guest is ready to place their order, such as by saying, 'May I take your order, sir/madam?'

What is the correct order of taking the guest’s drink order?

First, ask the guest about their water preference, then introduce the beverage menu and suggest pre-meal drinks, such as cocktails. Inform the guest that beverages will be served first.

What should a waiter do after taking the beverage order?

After taking the beverage order, the waiter should input the order into the system, serve the drinks, and check if the guest is ready to place their food order.

How should a waiter approach taking a food order if the guest isn’t ready?

If the guest isn't ready, the waiter should politely ask if they need more time, such as by saying, 'Would you like me to take your order or would you like some more time?'

When taking food orders for a group, what is the suggested order of service?

The suggested order is to take orders from the eldest lady to the youngest lady, followed by the eldest man to the youngest man, and the host should order last.

Why is it important to repeat the order after the guest has placed it?

Repeating the order ensures that the waiter confirms the details and any special requests, avoiding mistakes and ensuring accuracy.

How should a waiter inform the guest about the time required for their order?

The waiter should inform the guest of the estimated wait time, for example, 'Your order will be served in 10 minutes,' to set expectations.