Secret glances, a nod of the head or a quick wave of the hand – when the restaurant is full, the employees usually have no choice but to communicate with each other non-verbally. And that is also very important so that operations run smoothly.
This is the secret sign language of restaurant waiters
If you pay close attention to hand signals or a wink, you can understand the secret language of the waiters – and recognize whether they are talking about you.
This sign means there is a celebrity in the restaurant
The waitress raises her hand and forms a “V” with her index and middle fingers? This means that this guest is a “Very Important Person” (VIP). In a slightly different way, the victory sign in combination with an outstretched thumb and a wave to the kitchen could also be an indication of a VIP guest.
Waiter points to his belly button: It’s someone’s birthday at the table
If you’re celebrating your birthday, the entire service team in good restaurants will know what’s going on in a flash. How it works? A waiter points at his own belly button and the staff knows that a birthday is being celebrated at your table.
It’s similar with weddings or anniversaries. Looking at the ring finger should signal to the rest of the team: There is a romantic occasion for these guests.
Waiter puts hand on lapel? He needs help
If the restaurant gets crowded and busy, you can sometimes see a waiter putting his hand on his lapel. With this he indicates that he needs support with his tasks or that things could get hectic, writes the online magazine “wmn”.
“Table 17”: Waiter has to go to the toilet
Also interesting to know: If you hear people talking about “table 17”, then one of the waiters will probably want to quickly disappear to the toilet.
This is how waiters communicate worldwide
Waiters around the world also use hidden gestures to communicate with guests.
In Great Britain, for example, anyone who is particularly friendly to the staff at a restaurant when making a reservation over the phone will have a “VNP” written next to their name. This stands for “very nice person” and can be considered a real compliment.
However, in Great Britain you should pay attention: If the staff orders “Change the Tetley’s”, this does not mean changing the keg of Tetley’s beer, but rather calling the police.
In US restaurants, waiters have also developed their own language to communicate about tasks and guests. For example, those who are referred to as “campers” should slowly make their way home, because these guests have been occupying the table for far too long.
Secret language of waiters differs in restaurants
In order to make everyday life easier and always keep a friendly face, well-rehearsed teams in restaurants like to think of little things to improve communication between each other.
Anyone who pays attention can discover a lot that has not been said and understand the work of the cellars better. Of course, these secret symbols are not universal and can vary from team to team.