Carrying hot plates through a busy restaurant is no joke, but it’s a skill every server needs to have. If you’ve ever wobbled under the weight of a full tray or mixed-up table numbers mid-service you know exactly how important yet tricky great plate carrying is.
Luckily, this in-depth “How to Carry Plates” tutorial by Real Server Training is here to take your skills to the next level. Whether you’re a total newbie or a seasoned pro looking to brush up on your technique this video lesson will have you carrying tall dishes in no time.
Table of Contents
How to Carry Plates as a Server
As a server carrying multiple plates is an underappreciated yet super important skill. When servers can carry dishes from kitchen to table quickly and smoothly it not only gets the food out faster but also the whole dining experience.
IIn this post I’ll share tips and tricks for balancing plates like a pro, straight from a great video tutorial by Real Server Training. Whether you’re a hospitality newbie or a formal dining serving veteran read on to become a plate carrying master!
The Technique – The Sequence
- Start with the Third Seat: When carrying plates for a multi-guest table, always pick up the 3rd guest’s plate first with your non-dominant hand (left hand for righties). This leaves your dominant hand free for the final plate.
- The Grip: Grip the first plate with your thumb on top, pinky underneath and back of plate against your fingers.
- Adding the Second Plate: Next add the 2nd guest’s plate on top of the first, placing it on your thumb, pinky and inner forearm to create three points of contact for a stable, slip free carry. Don’t let the plates touch each other, stacking bottom to top is a health code violation!
- Finally: Pick up the 1st guest’s plate with your free hand gently, trying not to touch food surfaces or plate edges if possible.
Order Priority
When carrying finished dishes verbally confirm the seat order before the table number. For example, “Seat 3, Seat 2, Seat 1, Table 10” as you carry the stack. Prioritizing seat order reduces the chance of getting the orders mixed up!
Pro Holding and Handling Tips
- Grip plates without harboring the edges
- Adjust your position to avoid food contact
- Carry smoothly no sudden movements
- Keep your hands and nails clean
Advanced Techniques
Once you have the basics down try adding more plates for an extra challenge! With practice servers can balance:
- 3 plates in one hand
- 4 plates with elbow grips
- Side plates on forearms
Just be careful and prioritize stability and care over speed or fancy moves. Dropped dishes are disaster!
Carrying plates like a pro not only gets the food out faster and improves customer satisfaction – it’s a sign of a server’s skill.
So whether you’re a newbie or looking to fine tune your technique implement these plate carrying tips and you’ll be a pro in no time. Bonus points if you can carry a plate tower without spilling a drop!izing stability and care over speed or risky maneuvers. Dropped dishes can spell disaster!
Bring Your Plate Carrying to the Next Level
Mastering the graceful dance of transporting dish-laden plates not only speeds up service to positively impact customer satisfaction – it also indicates mastery of a nuanced serving skill.
So, whether you are just starting out or looking to refine your technique, implement these plate-carrying pointers to elevate your capabilities. Bonus points if you can effortlessly carry a towering tetrahedron of plates without spilling a drop!
Bonus Tips to Keep Your Cool While Carrying Plates
Balance is Everything
Carrying heavy platefuls takes skill! Keep your shoulders square to your direction of movement and your spine aligned to establish a solid base. Move at a moderate pace and fluidly. Wobbly servers can’t impress customers!
Follow Health Codes
Hand hygiene is nonnegotiable when handling dishware going to hungry guests. Wash your hands with warm soapy water before and after plate carrying to get rid of bacteria. Make sure your uniform is crumb and stain-free too. We serve food, not contamination!
Carry with Your Strong Hand
Serving with your dominant hand? Support the plate bottom with the other hand using flat fingertips along the rim to stabilize. Weight shifting between hands gives you more control and less chance of dropping.
Run Food Like You’re Running Late
Running orders is a recipe for disaster! Confirm before you leave, communicate with the kitchen to avoid collisions and travel at a steady pace. Nobody wins if the mac and cheese ends up on the floor!
Map the Table Seats
Having trouble remembering the seating chart? Visualize the table numbers from a set spot and mentally assign the seat numbers as you go. These spatial cues will keep the servings on track not lost in space!
Conclusion
There you have it the inside scoop on being calm and carrying on like a server superstar! Implement these tips until carrying entrees feels like a breeze. Soon you’ll be winning the “most balanced” award along with the big tips!
Let me know in the comments what other serving skills you would like me to cover in future articles and videos. I love hearing tips and tricks from fellow hospitality pros in the trenches!
