Tips for wearing a non-slip waiter’s tray

Learning how to carry a non-slip waiter’s tray is an essential step into the world of hospitality; however, it can be a challenge, especially when starting out.

Lack of practice and fear of accidents can lead to embarrassing moments. Quite a nightmare, isn’t it? Well, nothing that a little training can’t fix.

Want to find out the best ways to use the waiter’s tray? If so, you’re in the right place. At Monouso, we have a handy guide of dos and don’ts to improve the quality of your service.

How to wear a waiter’s tray

The non-slip tray is made to remain stable in the waiters hand, however, there is a set of techniques you should remember to avoid inconveniences during service. For example:

• Hold the tray lightly on your fingertips. The palm seems the ideal choice, but it does not have enough balance for fast movements or heavier weights.
• Support the base of your thumb. This way, you can offer a second support and stabilise the weight of the non-slip tray.
• Use a handkerchief over your hand when the tray or its contents are too hot.
• Distribute the weight in the centre of the tray. Placing it at the ends would make it susceptible to the slightest shift in its centre of gravity.
• Wear appropriate shoes. It is no use having balance in your hands if you neglect your gait. Slippery shoes will make your job very difficult, if not impossible.

What not to do when carrying the tray

Now all that remains is to find out what you should avoid when using a non-slip tray. Pay attention to the following tips and you will become a great waiter:

• • Don’t use your right hand or both hands.This is one of the most common mistakes in restaurants. Why is it a mistake? Appearance and mobility. A waiter must exhibit good command of the tray at all times. Failure to use the left hand will cause obvious problems when serving.

• • Avoid overloading it. Sounds pretty obvious, doesn’t it? In reality, many waiters try to impress diners or rush their delivery time with this method, causing accidents.

• • Don’t pass the tray over the diners. The customer may not notice you or the plates over their head, and you can imagine what happens next.
  • Don’t rush. Excessive speed may cause you to stagger, trip, slip, etc. In time, you will adapt to the back-and-forth of the trade, just be patient and go at your own pace.

Handling the waiter’s tray is not an impossible mission. Just follow our suggestions and you’ll see amazing results in no time. Finally, if you’re looking for the perfect tray for your restaurant, you should take a look at the available items in the Monouso shop to find out which one is best suited to your premises.