🍸 TRL Weekly: Server's Last Impression

Your weekly lesson and tactical reminders inside.

January 05, 2025

Happy Sunday, future server/bartender millionaire.

In today’s lesson Brandon is teaching us 3 methods for leaving a great last impression.

Our Last Three Lessons:

You can read the rest of the past weekly lessons here.

Today at a Glance:

  • Weekly Lesson: Server’s Last Impression

  • Tactical Reminders: Your Video Lessons + Announcement

🍸 Weekly Lesson:
Server’s Last Impression

I have tried hundreds of different ways to leave a last impression before the guest writes down what they are tipping me.

To be honest, most of them didn’t affect much at all.

However, there are a few that made quite the impact over time.

I should preface by saying that giving great service, guiding the guest instead of selling, and being personable help more than these ending lines.

Method 1 - Saying Their Last Name

The first method is mentioning the guest’s last name.

“Thank you so much Mr. Smith. Hope to see you all soon.”

This small touch shows that you are aware and simply, better than all of the other servers. The guest sees you as someone that goes above and beyond and someone who truly cares. The best is actually when they have a difficult last name.

I will make it into a fun game and say “Thank you so much Mr…… Is it Hartshorn or Hartshorn?” and obviously pronounce it slightly differently the second time.

And when they tell you the right way to say it, you can pretend to turn around and come back to do it again the right way. It sounds cringy, but they always get a kick out of this.

Method 2 - Topic Flashbacks

Method number 2 is mentioning something that you have already spoken about.

A lot of the time, I would have conversations with the guests about little things.

Maybe they had a nice hat and they told me where I could get it.

In this case, I would end with “Thank you all so much. Truly a pleasure and I will 100% be getting that hat from XYZ. Thanks.” 

This adds a nice personal touch and sometimes even strikes up a last minute small talk.

Method 3 - Owner’s Favorite Method

The last method is your owner’s favorite method, just better!

Tell the guest about an upcoming event. Instead of just telling them, you should ask a question first. Kind of like I always talk about how you should “guide the guest” instead of selling them on a dish.

To do so, all we have to do is ask a question that sets it up:

“Do y’all have plans Saturday?” or playfully say “You are obviously coming back on Saturday, right?” and then usually they will ask “Why, what is Saturday?”

For this one, you can play around with it, but it should be fun.

I would always do this with tables that I had a good connection with.

Oftentimes I would combine methods 2 and 3.

Or combine methods 1 and 3.

(PS - Don’t do this one just because the owner wants you to… Do it because it makes you more money when you create regulars).

🚀 Tactical Reminders:

  1. Brandon - Stop asking “Are you ready” -

    Video Lesson: Click here.

  2. Brandon - Pre Shifts -

    Video Lesson: Click here.

  3. Jess - Verbal Check ins-

    Video Lesson: Click here.

That’s all for week thirty eight.

See you next week,

The Restaurant Launch Team