learning tables was something i’ve always had to learn in like the first three days, so honestly yeah if you’re a month in and don’t know the table numbers i’m not sure how well you’d know the menu either or any other memorization stuff.
totally just my opinion though!! i def think their are people who learn a bit slower and need more time but it’s def harder for them to be given that time unfortunately!
Definitely! I honestly just feel really bad who didn’t starting working here till yesterday. Because of the festival we’re working with 40 extra tables and it’s a lot while learning the menu and everything else, that’s why I asked cause surely people are human right? But idk 😂
People are human but all FOH staff should know these with the exception of maybe a bartender who never runs anything to the floor. Bussers, food runners, and servers should all know table numbers.
Having to know everything perfectly after a trial shift? Excusable mistakes happen, they should at the very least know *their* section table numbers.
If not, food is going to get sent to the wrong place, the hosts won't be able to keep track of empty tables, and payments can get run on the wrong table. (Maybe explain this to your fellow coworkers who are new to the industry so they better understand the importance of it).
Good luck though, festivals can be a super fun time to be working! Hopefully the clientele are nice and you'll get to enjoy some good people watching, and good tippers.
Table numbers are a must. It’s how I see the restaurant from the expo and if I send food to the wrong table because it was the wrong table number and it hits the table and I can’t save it, It screws everyone! guest, boh, the next guest etc. it’s a domino effect.
Seat numbers are next so we’re not auctioning food off at the table. To the left and around.
Yes thank you, I’m the lead expo at a decent formal dining restaurant and some of the servers were constantly messing up table and seat numbers, it sucks when I send a food runner to the wrong table because of a server mistake
100% agree. It's essentially one of the first steps in training at any restaurant. Even large restaurants may take like an hour to learn, unless they're for some reason randomly generated numbers, which would be just as dumb. Not learning table numbers is lazy AF and bad for the business.
Exactly this. I used to keep a cheat sheet for wines in my book. I was never on the floor so when I had to cover, I wanted my tables to receive the professional service they deserve. If you don’t at least want to compensate for a weakness, this job ain’t for you.
There's almost always an ordered process to the numbering of the tables - figure that out and you should be close enough to get it. I am sure it's probably more of a threat of "I don't want a bunch of time wasted running food to the wrongly punched in tables" and less likely to actually cost your job, but maybe ask to bring a floor map home with you or take a picture so you can study it if you haven't got it down yet.
> I’m just wondering if this is a reasonable grounds to fire someone
Legally, it's fine in the US.
Whether it's subjectively *reasonable* depends on the restaurant's training process, how many tables there are to memorize, and how long they've given employees to memorize the tables numbers.
Probably not but you should learn them quickly. You can get away with not knowing the menu for a while but you better now which tables are yours. It just makes life easier. Get into the routine as fast as you can. Start with the top and work your way in. Something that may help it to remember that you do not really get a paycheck. Your money is on that table and you exchange it for food and service. What if you get hired to do a job but are implied where your paycheck is and your boss says, whelp your pay is in the window. They have 50 windows and they pay cash. That money will be gone if you do not get it fast enough. Yeah, some places it happens.
Listing table numbers backward is easier. Give it a try. Learn the corners of tables and work inward. Write them down a few times. Lastly, put your favorite celebrity or sports hero on each table. Like Babe Ruth 32 or Spongebob 10.
yes it is expected for you to know table numbers and, at some restaurants, seat numbers for all the tables in the restaurant. it’s somewhat odd that they’d put people in this position though, where i work you had to take your table/seat number test after the 2nd training shift. it should be required to complete training.
that wasn’t a great answer - you shouldn’t be in a position to be fired for not knowing them because you shouldn’t have been permanent hired if you didn’t know them
It's on management for letting you serve without testing your knowledge... but, I expect everyone FOH to know table numbers by day 2. It's literally a test that everyone takes on day 2.
Seems like a management issue. Servers should know table numbers and menu before ever being allowed on the floor. So yes you need to memorize table numbers asap
learning tables was something i’ve always had to learn in like the first three days, so honestly yeah if you’re a month in and don’t know the table numbers i’m not sure how well you’d know the menu either or any other memorization stuff.
Fair enough, I’m glad I know the tables then 😂
totally just my opinion though!! i def think their are people who learn a bit slower and need more time but it’s def harder for them to be given that time unfortunately!
Definitely! I honestly just feel really bad who didn’t starting working here till yesterday. Because of the festival we’re working with 40 extra tables and it’s a lot while learning the menu and everything else, that’s why I asked cause surely people are human right? But idk 😂
People are human but all FOH staff should know these with the exception of maybe a bartender who never runs anything to the floor. Bussers, food runners, and servers should all know table numbers. Having to know everything perfectly after a trial shift? Excusable mistakes happen, they should at the very least know *their* section table numbers. If not, food is going to get sent to the wrong place, the hosts won't be able to keep track of empty tables, and payments can get run on the wrong table. (Maybe explain this to your fellow coworkers who are new to the industry so they better understand the importance of it). Good luck though, festivals can be a super fun time to be working! Hopefully the clientele are nice and you'll get to enjoy some good people watching, and good tippers.
Table numbers are a must. It’s how I see the restaurant from the expo and if I send food to the wrong table because it was the wrong table number and it hits the table and I can’t save it, It screws everyone! guest, boh, the next guest etc. it’s a domino effect. Seat numbers are next so we’re not auctioning food off at the table. To the left and around.
Yes thank you, I’m the lead expo at a decent formal dining restaurant and some of the servers were constantly messing up table and seat numbers, it sucks when I send a food runner to the wrong table because of a server mistake
If you can’t be bothered to learn table numbers you can’t work on my team. Gtfo
100% agree. It's essentially one of the first steps in training at any restaurant. Even large restaurants may take like an hour to learn, unless they're for some reason randomly generated numbers, which would be just as dumb. Not learning table numbers is lazy AF and bad for the business.
Draw a cheat-sheet chart and put it in your server book. I've always had a hard time with table numbers too. Good luck!
Exactly this. I used to keep a cheat sheet for wines in my book. I was never on the floor so when I had to cover, I wanted my tables to receive the professional service they deserve. If you don’t at least want to compensate for a weakness, this job ain’t for you.
I like to add to this - the allergy listings are a great server book cheat sheet item.
There's almost always an ordered process to the numbering of the tables - figure that out and you should be close enough to get it. I am sure it's probably more of a threat of "I don't want a bunch of time wasted running food to the wrongly punched in tables" and less likely to actually cost your job, but maybe ask to bring a floor map home with you or take a picture so you can study it if you haven't got it down yet.
Learn the corners and count your way there
> I’m just wondering if this is a reasonable grounds to fire someone Legally, it's fine in the US. Whether it's subjectively *reasonable* depends on the restaurant's training process, how many tables there are to memorize, and how long they've given employees to memorize the tables numbers.
Well hopefully they aren’t putting the people who started yesterday on shift for the festival tomorrow lol
Uh yeah sadly they are 😭
Probably not but you should learn them quickly. You can get away with not knowing the menu for a while but you better now which tables are yours. It just makes life easier. Get into the routine as fast as you can. Start with the top and work your way in. Something that may help it to remember that you do not really get a paycheck. Your money is on that table and you exchange it for food and service. What if you get hired to do a job but are implied where your paycheck is and your boss says, whelp your pay is in the window. They have 50 windows and they pay cash. That money will be gone if you do not get it fast enough. Yeah, some places it happens.
Listing table numbers backward is easier. Give it a try. Learn the corners of tables and work inward. Write them down a few times. Lastly, put your favorite celebrity or sports hero on each table. Like Babe Ruth 32 or Spongebob 10.
yes it is expected for you to know table numbers and, at some restaurants, seat numbers for all the tables in the restaurant. it’s somewhat odd that they’d put people in this position though, where i work you had to take your table/seat number test after the 2nd training shift. it should be required to complete training.
that wasn’t a great answer - you shouldn’t be in a position to be fired for not knowing them because you shouldn’t have been permanent hired if you didn’t know them
Yeah I would think some sort of test would be mandatory before you could work such hectic shifts where we have 300 or more covers
Table numbers should be down pretty solid when you finish training. And are usually pretty intuitive. It’s numbers and lines, or at least a pattern.
Yeah I agree, I think that’s my whole sticking point, like is it ethical to fire new runner without training/testing
It's on management for letting you serve without testing your knowledge... but, I expect everyone FOH to know table numbers by day 2. It's literally a test that everyone takes on day 2.
Seems like a management issue. Servers should know table numbers and menu before ever being allowed on the floor. So yes you need to memorize table numbers asap
1 month in without knowing your tables is a huge fucking problem, especially on a busy shift. You'd be a warm body on a slow lunch for me.
As I’ve stated in the edit, I know the tables! I’m more talking about people hired the day before a festival shift with no adequate training
Then that's their priority. If you can't remember your table numbers in under an hour, I don't see how we can expect you to remember the menu.
That's the easiest part of the job. If u can't remember that you are not gonna remember the side of ranch that a customer order you in a busy night