Customer Reviews

The Waiter & Waitress and Waitstaff Training Handbook: A Complete Guide to the Proper Steps in Service for Food & Beverage Employees

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Opening a dining establishment is complex. There are many different things that need to be taken into consideration from food costs to training of employees. For those who have never had a restaurant before, the training of employees could be a little intimidating, especially when it comes to those who interact with the customers and whose service could make or break the business, the wait staff. This book takes the bewilderment out of hiring and training these very important people.

The book is comprehensive and follows a logical pattern which eases the reader into the business almost effortlessly. It is an all inclusive book which details different jobs which make up the wait staff from hosting to bussing. Most of the book is centered on service of the tables though. It explains everything from how to set the table to presenting the check at the end of the meal.

There is a special section on how to deal with the youngest of the customers as well as important issues which the customer does not see such as side work and dealing with customer complaints and the difficult customer. There are even tips on laws that regulate the industry such as alcohol and IRS laws. As with any other job in the restaurant, safety and sanitation is also a very important part. Taking the complexity out of hiring and training of these employees is bound to help everyone out.

This book covers all of the details that are so often left out while training waitstaff and associated restaurant employees. We use it extensively for initial training and reference.

This was not particularly useful to me. It contained very rudimentary information, mostly common sense stuff. I was looking for a much more detailed description of high-end waitstaffing, or something more in-depth about the tricks of the trade. This was a very matter-of-fact, limited description of the work. It felt like something from a High School Guidance Councilor's office.

This handbook in a must for anyone in the restaurant business - from the restaurateur to the staff. It covers every aspect of restaurant service such as: the basics of waiting on tables; table settings; menu knowledge; customer service troubleshooting; wine and liquors/beverage service; tips, taxes and the IRS; security and sanitation/hygiene and that's just to name a few! It is concise, useful and easy to read. Anyone in restaurant management should implement this manual into their training program as there are chapters devoted to the specific duties of each position in the restaurant service staff.

The strength of this book lies in the idea that each restaurant employee in the service area is a "host" and the customer is their "guest" (as discussed in Chapter 3.) If you provide exceptional customer service and are knowledgeable about what your restaurant has to offer (from food to drinks) you will ensure a happy, loyal customer base that comes back again and again. This handbook teaches how to do just that - going the extra mile to provide the best service possible, even suggesting that you provide cameras for guests celebrating a special occasion and umbrellas should it be raining when they leave. It is this special attention to detail that makes this book excellent!

Throughout the book there are photographs, illustrations/figures and helpful forms as well as Internet links offering additional information on topics discussed. The last chapter is like a bonus section of especially useful forms, posters, information and diagrams for restaurants taken from a book entitled "The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Forms" (Atlantic Publishing) which sounds like a good companion book to this one.

If you are in the restaurant business or would like to learn more about what goes behind running a great restaurant (in terms of service) this book is for you. On an end note, part of the proceeds of the sale of this book go to The Humane Society of America, in memory of Bear, the book publisher's (Atlantic Publishing) beloved dog. It is always nice to know that by purchasing this book, you are also donating to a great cause and getting a noteworthy read in return.

More then training it's a restaurant set up book. It could help to the ones who are starting from 0. For professionals I would not recomend.

I really wanted a book to be able to use as a course for people who work in my restaurant who have never sat down in a reasonable restaurant. In that respect it worked, it has all of the basic notions which have to be learned. I would have preferred that it was more class like, with ideas for practice sessions, exams, some kind of grading system, as obviously it is to improve the service in a restaurant by teaching the staff.

This is a very good product for the price I paid. Is helpfull in my job and to improve my skills.

A good introductory book for F&B professional and those who are tinkering of getting in the F&B industry. www.neovitagroup.com

This is an excellent book. It's very thorough and the section on alcohol service was especially good. Highly recommend!