7 Ways to Excel as an IHOP Server

Working as a server at IHOP can be a rewarding and challenging experience. With its reputation for serving up delicious breakfast and brunch items, IHOP restaurants are often bustling with hungry customers looking for a great meal. As a server, excelling in your role requires a combination of excellent customer service skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask. In this article, we'll explore seven ways to excel as an IHOP server, from providing top-notch customer service to effectively managing your table assignments.

To succeed as an IHOP server, it's essential to understand the importance of providing exceptional customer service. This means being attentive to customers' needs, responding promptly to their requests, and ensuring that their dining experience is enjoyable and satisfying. By doing so, you can increase customer satisfaction, drive repeat business, and ultimately boost your earnings.

1. Provide Excellent Customer Service

Providing excellent customer service is crucial to excelling as an IHOP server. This means greeting customers warmly, taking the time to understand their needs, and responding promptly to their requests. It's also essential to be knowledgeable about the menu, including ingredients, preparation methods, and nutritional information. By being attentive and informed, you can ensure that customers have a positive dining experience and are more likely to return.

One way to provide excellent customer service is to use the IHOP customer service model, which emphasizes the importance of being "guest-focused" and "solution-oriented." This means being proactive in addressing customers' needs and finding solutions to any problems that may arise. For example, if a customer requests a substitution or has a food allergy, you should be able to accommodate their request and provide a suitable alternative.

Key Customer Service Skills

• Active listening: Pay attention to customers' needs and respond promptly to their requests.
• Empathy: Be understanding and sympathetic when dealing with customer complaints or issues.
• Knowledge: Be informed about the menu, ingredients, and preparation methods.
• Problem-solving: Be proactive in addressing customers' needs and finding solutions to problems.

2. Be Knowledgeable About the Menu

Being knowledgeable about the menu is essential to excelling as an IHOP server. This means being familiar with the different menu items, including ingredients, preparation methods, and nutritional information. You should also be able to make recommendations and suggest pairings to customers. By being informed, you can help customers make informed decisions and increase sales.

One way to stay up-to-date on menu items is to review the IHOP menu regularly and familiarize yourself with new items and promotions. You can also ask questions and seek feedback from customers to gain a better understanding of their preferences and needs.

Menu Knowledge Tips

• Review the menu regularly: Stay up-to-date on new items, promotions, and ingredients.
• Ask questions: Seek feedback from customers to gain a better understanding of their preferences and needs.
• Make recommendations: Suggest pairings and recommend menu items to customers.

3. Develop Strong Communication Skills

Developing strong communication skills is essential to excelling as an IHOP server. This means being able to effectively interact with customers, colleagues, and management. By being clear, concise, and respectful in your communication, you can ensure that customers' needs are met and that orders are fulfilled accurately and efficiently.

One way to develop strong communication skills is to practice active listening and ask clarifying questions to ensure that you understand customers' needs. You should also be clear and concise in your communication, avoiding jargon and technical terms that may be unfamiliar to customers.

Effective Communication Tips

• Practice active listening: Pay attention to customers' needs and respond promptly to their requests.
• Ask clarifying questions: Ensure that you understand customers' needs and preferences.
• Be clear and concise: Avoid jargon and technical terms that may be unfamiliar to customers.

4. Be Organized and Efficient

Being organized and efficient is essential to excelling as an IHOP server. This means being able to manage table assignments, take orders, and fulfill requests accurately and efficiently. By being organized, you can ensure that customers receive their food and beverages in a timely manner and that orders are fulfilled correctly.

One way to be organized and efficient is to use a system to manage table assignments and orders. This can include using a checklist or a mental system to keep track of orders and ensure that they are fulfilled accurately and efficiently.

Organization and Efficiency Tips

• Use a system: Develop a system to manage table assignments and orders.
• Prioritize tasks: Focus on fulfilling orders and requests in a timely and efficient manner.
• Stay organized: Keep track of orders and ensure that they are fulfilled accurately and efficiently.

5. Develop a Positive Attitude

Developing a positive attitude is essential to excelling as an IHOP server. This means being friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic in your interactions with customers and colleagues. By having a positive attitude, you can create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for customers and increase their satisfaction with their dining experience.

One way to develop a positive attitude is to focus on the positive aspects of your job and to find ways to make customers' experiences more enjoyable. This can include making recommendations, offering samples, and providing exceptional customer service.

Positive Attitude Tips

• Focus on the positive: Emphasize the positive aspects of your job and find ways to make customers' experiences more enjoyable.
• Be friendly and approachable: Create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for customers.
• Be enthusiastic: Show genuine interest and enthusiasm in your interactions with customers and colleagues.

6. Be Proactive and Anticipatory

Being proactive and anticipatory is essential to excelling as an IHOP server. This means being able to anticipate customers' needs and respond promptly to their requests. By being proactive, you can ensure that customers receive exceptional service and that their dining experience is enjoyable and satisfying.

One way to be proactive and anticipatory is to pay attention to customers' body language and verbal cues. This can include noticing when customers are finished with their meal or when they need refills on their beverages.

Proactive and Anticipatory Tips

• Pay attention to body language: Notice when customers are finished with their meal or when they need refills on their beverages.
• Anticipate needs: Respond promptly to customers' requests and anticipate their needs.
• Be proactive: Take initiative to address customers' needs and provide exceptional service.

7. Continuously Improve and Learn

Continuously improving and learning is essential to excelling as an IHOP server. This means being open to feedback, seeking out training and development opportunities, and continuously evaluating and improving your performance. By continuously improving and learning, you can stay up-to-date on best practices and provide exceptional service to customers.

One way to continuously improve and learn is to seek out feedback from customers, colleagues, and management. This can include asking for feedback on your performance, seeking out training and development opportunities, and continuously evaluating and improving your performance.

Continuous Improvement and Learning Tips

• Seek out feedback: Ask for feedback from customers, colleagues, and management.
• Take training and development opportunities: Seek out opportunities to learn and improve your skills.
• Continuously evaluate and improve: Regularly evaluate and improve your performance to provide exceptional service.