Some nights, it’s not the fancy specials or clever upsells that make the
difference — it’s a dumb little question like:
“How was your day?”
That’s it. That’s the whole tip strategy.
Let me explain.
—
The Quietest Table in the Place
It was a slow Tuesday. One of those shifts where the clock seems drunk.
I had a two-top — an older guy and his college-aged daughter. She was
scrolling her phone. He looked like he’d aged a decade since walking in.
They gave me their drink order like it physically hurt.
No apps. No questions. No eye contact.
Most servers would’ve kept it mechanical — get the order, drop the
food, drop the check. But I felt a weird pull. Like there was a story
sitting between them.
—
So I Asked
While I dropped their entrees, I casually said:
“You two celebrating something — or surviving something?”
The dad looked up, blinked, then smiled. “Good guess. Surviving a long
week. College move-in.”
Ahhh. There it was. The stress. The silence. The exhaustion.
—
The Shift
From that moment on, the energy changed.
They asked questions about the menu. Shared stories. Laughed — like,
*actually laughed*.
I brought them extra bread and made a dumb joke about dorm food.
The daughter opened up about her roommate. The dad softened with
every sip of wine.
It turned from a meal into a moment.
—
What Happened?
They finished their food slower. They lingered.
And when I dropped the check, the dad looked me in the eye and said:
“Thanks. You made this feel… easier.”
I smiled, said something lame like “That’s what I’m here for,” and
walked off.
The tip? **$40 on a $60 tab.**
—
Why It Worked
– I *saw* them. – I didn’t rush the script. – I asked something simple that
gave them permission to be human.
You don’t have to pry. You don’t have to fake deep conversation. But
when you show up as a real person? Guests feel it.
—
What You Can Steal From This
– **Ask small questions.** “How’s your day going?” “What are we
celebrating tonight?” “You look like you just won a court case — or lost
one.” – **Be ready to pivot.** Once the door opens, walk through it. Share a
little. Listen more.
– **Know that connection builds value.** A $60 check felt like a $150
night because I gave them what the food couldn’t: ease.
—
Final Thought
You don’t need perfect timing, charm, or a deep bag of tricks.
Sometimes, all it takes is small talk.
And sometimes — if you do it right — small talk turns into *big tips*
