This is how to get plates off the table and move customers along.

So if I'm a customer, I want the plates out my way. I don't want to sit amongst dirty plates that no longer serve any purpose. Some restaurants (and guests) are weird about this. They may want you to wait on every single person to be done before busing.

There’s a reason for this: this way no one feels rushed and the party isn’t interrupted multiple times.

I get it, and still think it's absurd. I’ve literally looked at tables with empty plates all over it, but because there was one person still nibbling at their meal, managers wouldn’t let the server pre-bus. I pitied the guests.

And there is a way to clear plates without drawing too much attention to yourself busing the plates or to the person still eating. So no, I don't wait. But there are exceptions:

1) I wait for a 2-top. I want each person to be done. Especially, especially if it's a first or second date. I wait for BOTH to finish.

2) If everyone seems to be eating at the same pace, and the one or two people still eating will be finished soon after those already finished.

3) If it's a more formal group of guests that seem to not want any interruption, I'll wait so I can pre-bus in one shot.

Now on pre-busing:

THIS is how you move people along. I never rush a table, never. But I do want them to move on. This is how I generate volume. The sooner I turn this table, the sooner I can get another in. The more times a table turns, the more sales are made.

Remember serving is a game of output as much - if not more than - as it is of sales.

So when I notice a guest isn't real active in their dining – which is to say they’re just kind of picking at their plate and have been doing so for the past 5-10 minutes – I'll approach and ask if they're done.

“Hi there, can I go ahead and get this out of your way?"

If they hesitate, I don't immediately back off. I'll politely wait for them to give me a clear answer, and USUALLY they're like, "mmmm, okay, yeah I'm done."

If they say, “Yeah, I’d like to keep picking at it,” my response is, “Of course, take your time.”

That’s the difference. I never push anyone to hurry up and finish. I just don’t cater to it and watch them pick at their plate for 3 hours before approaching.

Now on how I pre-bus:

*The same way I drop plates. More in the next.