Rules of Thumb: How To Present Plates While Serving

Rules of Thumb: How To Present Plates While Serving

Author: Kara Restaurant Group May 2, 2024 Duration: 18:19

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of being a human is having opposable thumbs that make it easier to grasp and manipulate objects firmly, but when you’re serving tables, the standard is only to use them for stabilization. Noelle, Liz, and Nick are getting handsy and answering etiquette questions, including: 

  • What is the proper use of thumbs while delivering plates at a restaurant?
  • Do you require your servers to use trays when delivering drinks, food, and/or extra utensils?
  • How have cleanliness standards changed in restaurants since COVID?
  • Are you grossed out when bartenders use their hands to add garnish to your drink?
  • As a customer, have you ever grabbed something – be it fruit or something else – from behind the bar?

Behind every great meal is a story that’s often messy, chaotic, and surprisingly funny. Restaurant Punk is that story, told straight from the trenches by the team behind Kara Restaurant Group. This isn't a polished, corporate guide. It's the raw, unfiltered conversation that happens after hours, where decades of hard-won experience collide with the absurd reality of running restaurants. You'll hear the kind of hilarious, cringe-worthy anecdotes that only come from a life spent in hospitality, paired with genuinely humbling advice on building a business that actually treats people well-staff and guests alike. Each episode feels like pulling up a stool next to veterans who have seen it all, offering a necessary release valve for the industry's daily pressures and a spark of inspiration for entrepreneurs brave enough to try it themselves. It’s a blend of business savvy, artistic struggle, and comedic relief, all served up without the pretense. Tune into this podcast for a unique mix of lessons learned the hard way and the unvarnished truth about creating a place where people want to be, all delivered with the kind of energy that keeps the kitchen-and the conversation-moving.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 219

Restaurant Punk
Podcast Episodes
Restaurant Survival 101: How to Handle Coworkers Who Overshare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:36
Ever worked a shift where a coworker turned the floor into their personal therapy session? In this episode of Restaurant Punk, we dive into one of the service industry’s biggest pet peeves: oversharing at work.From emoti…
Serving Drama: When Restaurant Employees Overshare With Customers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:43
In this episode of Restaurant Punk, the crew dives into the all-too-common workplace dilemma: when personal problems spill into professional spaces. From baristas unloading their life stories at the counter to coworkers…
Honey, I’m Home: Who Is Head Chef in a Restaurant Household? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:36
What happens when restaurant pros head home for dinner? In this episode of Restaurant Punk, we’re serving up real talk about life beyond the kitchen line—from first-date meals to who really handles the home cooking when…
Restaurant Creativity: Should the Front of House Staff Have Any Say? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:43
In this episode of Restaurant Punk, the team dives into a hot-button topic in the hospitality world: How much creative freedom do front-of-house staff actually have?From table settings and service styles to guest interac…
Seat Yourself Sh!t Shows: Restaurant Rants from the Host Stand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:16
Ever had a guest just waltz in and seat themselves—then wonder why no one shows up with a menu? In this chaotic and hilarious episode of Restaurant Punk, the crew dives deep into one of the most frustrating front-of-hous…
From Chaos to Clarity: Why Team Meetings Matter in Restaurants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:52
In this episode of Restaurant Punk, the crew dives deep into the art (and chaos) of staff meetings in the restaurant world. From one-on-one convos to full-house team huddles, they debate what works, what doesn't, and how…
Halloween Hijinks & Holiday Dress Codes: How Far Is Too Far? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:23
In this episode of Restaurant Punk, we dive headfirst into the debate over staff dressing up for holidays like Halloween and Christmas. Is a cat nose cute or cringe? Do full-blown costumes kill the vibe or bring the fun?…