Work at a Restaurant: Part 3

When your server brings you your drinks, he or she will ask you if you are ready to order. This is not meant to pressure you, so please just be honest with us and tell us if you need more time. At this time, your server should inform you of any special events that evening, if they didn't do so before. If you have any allergies, it is very important to tell your server right away, because they will put an alert with your order to ensure that the kitchen is informed and makes necessary arrangements. Guest safety is our number one priority. We want you to leave full and happy, not in an ambulance or with a rash.

Your server will also brief you on specials for the day (Thursday night is martini night! All martinis for only $4!), and the soup of the day. If you have any questions about menu items, feel free to ask. I know at our location at least, we know the food well, because we eat it ourselves. Personally I couldn't work for a restaurant if I didn't like the food there myself.

Once your server has taken your orders, they go to the Positouch, which is a touch screen computer. Each server has a magcard that they use to unlock the system. Here is where your order is punched in, and it is received on another screen in the kitchen, as well as a screen in the fast lane for the expo.

When an item is first entered, it is highlighted red. Once a cook begins preparing it, they are to "bump" it to the next step, and it becomes highlighted blue on the screen so that the expo and the server knows that it's on its way. When the order is fully prepared, it gets sent across the counter to the expo, and it gets bumped to green. The expo makes sure that it is prepared correctly, and that all side dishes are present as well. They put knives with steak and ribs, spoons with soup, etc.

Once the server gets the okay from the expo, the order is then brought out to the table. We bring everyone's meal at once, even if something is prepared early. No one likes to have half the group finish before the rest even get their meal. When things are very busy, it may not be your server who brings the food to you, someone else who has a second will run the food to you.

Enjoy!