How many tables should I be expected to serve?
Q. I work in a hotel restaurant. Because of business demands on weekends, we only have one server who handles everything, hostessing, waiting tables, bussing, and bartending. We also have to plate our own soups and desserts. I recently had a busy weekend where I had a table of ten plus several other tables and people at the bar. Is it reasonable for management to expect one person to handle all this? Any specific guidelines to how many people, tables, etc. I should strive to be able to manage would be greatly appreciated.
Asked by Brooke22365 - Sat Feb 28 10:15:15 2009 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. It depends on a lot of things. It's obviously been done in the past. A lot of chain restaurants have strict guidelines on how many tables a waitress can cover, but private places have very different rules. The restaurant that I work in now is very similar during the lunch shift. There is one person who is the waitress, hostess, busser, and bartender. We also always make our own salads and desserts. It's a 25 table restaurant. Now, there's never that many tables, but you just have to do the best you can. Usual is probably about 10 or 11 tables, but you're always going to have rushes you never saw coming. There's no set amount of tables that you can expect to have to deal with. Just try to make everything you do a bit more efficient. Check… [cont.]
Answered by Nicolina - Mon Mar 2 13:00:40 2009

What math formula can I use to get the best setup for tables in a room?
Q. I need to optimize the space in a given room to hold the most amount of tables possible. The tables need 3 feet space between them. Thank you.
Asked by apateluiuc - Tue Nov 28 09:31:55 2006 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. you might try addition and subtraction this is not complicated just add table-space-table till you reach the room dimensions ( in each direction ) no matter what shape the tables are in the formula they are effectively square or rectangular ( actual dimension plus the 3' of clearance )
Answered by seemynewname - Tue Nov 28 09:34:55 2006

What is the general level of employment that is below waiting tables?
Q. Isn't there a single level of employment that includes such positions as busing, dish washing, sweeping parking lots, etc. I thought I heard it referred to as general utility work but I'm not sure enough to put it on an application and I am really searching for a job but probably don't have enough formal employment experience to land a job waiting tables. Thanks.
Asked by delectable - Fri Jul 11 21:24:53 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Some people go directly to waiting tables; it's in how you present yourself, your appearance, speech etc. You are asking a restaurant to let you be their representative to their customers, so you need to look neat, speak clearly and be friendly. Saying you have other experience may help, since you know something about how a restaurant works.
Answered by Wawa - Fri Jul 11 21:41:23 2008