Waiter

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A waiter is a person who "waits" on tables, often at a restaurant. A female waiter is often called a waitress, though the gender-neutral term "server" and collective noun "waitstaff" are gaining ground.

Related Topics:
Restaurant - Gender-neutral

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Waiters' duties include preparing tables for a meal, taking customers' orders and serving drinks and food in a restaurant. Depending on the type of restaurant, this may involve other uncommon duties, such as singing a birthday song to customers who are celebrating a birthday. A theme restaurant may even require waiters to dance.

Related Topics:
Theme restaurant - Dance

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"Silver Service" waiters are specially trained to serve at banquets or high-end restaurants. They follow specific rules of service and it is a skilled job. They generally wear black and white with a long, white apron (extending from the waist to ankle).

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The head waiter is in charge of the staff of waiters, and is also responsible for assigning seating. This person can also be referred to as the maître d'hôtel.

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In the United States and some other Western countries, it is traditional to tip a waiter after a meal. In the U.S., waiters often are paid a minimum wage lower than the legally required minimum wage for most other occupations, as their income is increased by tips they receive.

Related Topics:
United States - Tip - Minimum wage

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In contrast to this practice, waiters in many East Asian countries refuse tips, where they are sometimes considered an insult. Many cultures in the region believe that leaving a tip implies that the waiter is not being paid enough by his or her employer.

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Tipping is not traditional in Australia or New Zealand and is not factored into wages of waitstaff. Tips are however appreciated especially if the customer or party has been unusually difficult, or has left a mess. Many parents of small children leave a small tip. Tips in Australia, because they are not a significant part of the income of the service staff are usually token amounts rather than a percentage of the bill. Contrary to popular opinion, wages for Waitstaff in Australia are not high compared to average wages and conditions.

Related Topics:
Australia - New Zealand

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'Waiting tables' is one of the most common occupations in the U.S(along with nurse, and teacher). The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are over 2.2 million (1) persons employed as waiters and waitresses in the U.S

Related Topics:
Nurse - Teacher - Bureau of Labor Statistics

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