It may come as a surprise to some, but waitstaff at restaurants can do a lot more than just take your order and bring out your food. Part of their job is providing you with a great experience, which comes with additional perks that you may be able to ask for. Please note that the following suggestions aren't guaranteed for every restaurant. Always be sure to ask politely and not get upset if they don't offer the following accommodations.
Box Food Leftovers
Many upscale restaurants will box your food for you if you have leftovers. This is a great service, especially if you have kids and are distracted by making sure they're eating their meal. The waitstaff is also usually better than the average diner at packaging food neatly since they do so on a regular basis. They may be able to package things more precisely so that food is less likely to be spilled or spoiled.
If you have to box your food yourself, make sure you ask the waitstaff for a box as soon as you know that you'll need one. This not only ensures that you'll get it but also helps you from eating too much if you're trying not to feel stuffed after your meal.
Bring Special Utensils
If you're eating at a restaurant that serves exotic cuisine or cultural dishes, they may have special utensils that are traditionally used with that type of food. If you're familiar with these, you can ask the waitstaff if they have any available.
Many times they won't bring these utensils, like chopsticks, to a table unless they are requested. This is to cut down on unnecessary waste from disposable utensils or utensils that need to be washed that haven't been used but were brought to a diner's table. Most state sanitary laws require these utensils to be washed if they’ve been brought to a table, as there’s no guarantee they haven’t been touched or contaminated.
Bring Extra Sides
If you have a side like french fries, waitstaff can likely bring you additional side portions for free or a small fee. One example of this is Red Robin, which offers unlimited fries with entrees. Additionally, if you feel like the sides you've been given are too small, the waitstaff can usually bring more if it's brought to their attention. However, don't try to abuse this perk to get more food for free.
Extra sides are usually only a few dollars at most places and can complement a meal if you’re still hungry, yet don’t want dessert or an appetizer.
Split the Meal
If you and someone you're dining with want to split an entree, you can ask the waitstaff to split it for you. Usually, they will take the entrée and put it equally on two different plates, sometimes for a small fee of one or two dollars.
There are several benefits to this: you can save money, save calories, avoid getting too full, and have a smaller meal if that’s what you’re in the mood for. Having the waitstaff split the meal for you also saves you the hassle of doing it yourself on a table that is sometimes crowded by other entrees, drinks, or cutlery.
Remove Customary Table Service
Many times if we see water and drink glasses set up on a table, complete with several different types of menus or silverware, we sigh to ourselves and sit down. We try to move things around the table to have room for our own plates or other items, like gift bags or phones, and make the most of the space we have.
Instead of trying to make do with an overcrowded table, ask the waitstaff if they can remove the things you aren't using. This can free up the table for your meal and also give you more breathing room to have better interactions with your dining companions.
Waitstaff are there to ensure that you have a great experience! As long as you are polite, they are sure to be accommodating. Requesting a better experience isn't unreasonable, so long as it's something a certain restaurant offers. You'll never know what's available to you unless you ask.