Your Server

How hard is it to be a server in a restaurant?

After years of not working in food service, I have returned. I work at a car hop right now, but would like to be a server @ Bob Evans. I go to school full time and it seems making tips is the only way to survive. How hard is it to balance plates and drinks on a tray? That is my biggest fear! I'm so afraid I'll drop the stuff! How long does it take to learn?

Public Comments

1. Uh very. NOT because you can't balance a tray, but because you can't control for the jerk factor. I feel like people are becoming more and more impatient every day, and that will probably be your biggest challenge.
2. i'm in the industry and i LOVE it! it deff takes a special kind of person to be able to handle all that comes along with the job. its not easy.... and ppl can be mean sometimes! but if you can always have a positive additude you might enjoy yourself
3. balancing stuff on a tray is pretty easy. The hardest thing to learn is how to keep the tray balanced while removing stuff from it without losing the balance or puting the tray down . You can pratice at home with some cheap plastic (unbreakable) plates and glasses , use maybe rice in plastic bags for weights. That way if you drop it you dont have any cleanup to do .
4. LOLA AND ROXY ANSWERED THE QUESTION BEST. THE WORK ITSELF IS NOT DIFFICULT AFTER YOU GET THE HANG OF IT BUT THE A$$HOLES YOU WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH IS THE DIFFICULT PART. PEOPLE CAN BE DOWN RIGHT MEAN, HOLD UP YOUR TABLES FOR A LONG TIME, THEN DON'T LEAVE A DIME AS A TIP. IF YOU DO GO INTO THIS LINE OF WORK TRY TO GET HIRED AT A HIGH END RESTURANT WHERE THE PATRONS ARE MORE SCHOOLED ON PROPER DINNING BEHAVIOR.
5. OMG! I worked at Bob Evans for a year and a half while in high school as a server and it was my FAVORITE job EVER!! The people and managers were amazing, it was always a rather quiet restaraunt, and I built up a lot of muscle. Just for your info, I am only 5'0 tall and weight 100 lbs and I could do it...so you can too. Nothing there is overly heavy at all, although you will learn how to balance trays..especially with drinks on them. You never have to deal with drunk people either, which is a plus, and most of the old people that come in there are sweet (and there are TONS of regulars you get to know). I wish there were Bob Evans in Texas..I would be working there now, sigh. One thing though...make sure wherever you work you wear non slip shoes haha. I have worked at Lonestar Steakhouse, Bob Evans, and many other restaraunts and just love serving. It's hard work but very rewarding when you walk out with a wad of cash. Good luck