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The Perfect Server DVD

Create a waitstaff that dazzles, delights, and delivers results.

$124.95

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Overview:

The Perfect Server offers a comprehensive look at what it takes to provide top-notch service in a restaurant environment.

Viewers will learn from the successes of the "perfect server", Jane, and laugh at the blunders of "bad server" John as they attempt to satisfy guests, up-sell graciously, and increase their final tips. Professional reviews

DVD details

TRT: 94 minutes
Region: Free. This DVD will play in any DVD player regardless of its region encoding.

For people who like: education

Features & specs:

Module-based programming
Printable extras
Interactive quizzes
Printable certificate of mastery

Your waitstaff can make or break your restaurant

As you know, your waiters and waitresses are the most crucial link between your customers and your success.

In today's competitive restaurant landscape, average or less than average waiters will wreak havoc with your ability to compete. On the other hand, a polite and well-educated staff will make each customer's meal an experience to remember.

Give your waitstaff the competitive advantage

By giving your servers the tools they need to succeed, you increase their earnings and your retention rate. The Perfect Server DVD is not intended to replace all of your current waiter and waitress training methods. Shadowing, role-playing, and training seminars are all excellent ways to educate your waitstaff.

Waitstaff training and commentary provided by knowledgable host
Your host will provide insightful tips and commentary.

The Perfect Server was created to add an element of uniformity, complementing and reinforcing those hands-on techniques. The more training you can provide, the better.

Follow two servers through an entire meal

The main program allows viewers to spend an entire meal with John, the “bad server”, Jane, the “perfect server”, and a knowledgeable host who provides on-going commentary.


Learn from the perfect example of Jane.	Learn from (and laugh at) the blunders of John.

Comprehensive Video Instruction

Instruction topics include

The Basics:	Advanced and Bonus material:
Looking presentable Prepping the restaurant Approaching a new table Presenting the menu Serving the meal Closing the sale	Reading body language Tableside manners Selling Wine & Alcohol What to do if disaster strikes Up-selling techniques Sanitation & Food Safety

Short training modules make it easy to find time for waitstaff training

We know it's difficult to find time to train new employees or to provide refreshers for seasoned veterans. That's why we created The Perfect Server so that it can be used in variety of ways.

Watch one training module and go back to work. Or, a waiter or waitress can take the DVD home and watch the entire program in one sitting. It's completely up to you.

Interactive Quizzes reinforce mastery of the material

There are seven interactive training quizzes on The Perfect Server. Each quiz focuses on a different area of instruction. We designed The Perfect Server so that a staff member could watch the section on up-selling, for instance, take the accompanying quiz, and come back to the DVD at a later date. The Perfect Server does not have to be completed in one sitting.

Video quizzes will reinforce waiter and waitress training knowledge.
Pass all of the quizzes and receive a printable certificate.

No software to install

All you need is a DVD player. The quizzes are taken using your DVD remote control.

Verifiable training for your entire staff

Upon successful completion of quiz sections, your servers will receive their own unique completion codes that can be authenticated online to earn a printable certificate of mastery.

Completion codes verify that your servers have learned from our video.

Each copy of The Perfect Server DVD can be used to train as many servers as you would like. There are no hidden fees or subscriptions for verification.

Watch a Video that explains the verification system

Note: You will be emailed a unique DVD-ID code within 24 hours after your purchase. This code will be required in the verification process.

Bonus Printable Material

Put The Perfect Server DVD into any computer's DVD-ROM drive to access a host of useful, printable documents.

Printable extras include:

Wine pairings cheat sheet (to keep in their order slip folder)
Common alcohol brands cheat sheet (to keep in their order slip folder)
Kitchen prep terms (4 pages, over 80 terms covering 'Al dente' to 'Wok')
Common server lingo (42 terms covering '86'd' to 'Turn and Burn')

These printable extras ensure that even seasoned professionals will learn something new.

Create a Graceful Waitstaff

The Perfect Server DVD teaches and enforces graceful and unobtrusive up-selling techniques. It also emphasizes that great serving is achieved through the execution of simple things flawlessly, with elegance and style.

Waitress training creates a graceful waitstaff
Ensure your guests leave delighted and ready
to spread the word about your great food and service.

The 55-minute Main Program creates a foundation for success

By following Jane, the "perfect server", and John, the not-so-perfect server, through an entire meal, your staff will learn how to impress your guests through the simple art of graceful execution.

Create a positive first impression without resorting to cheesy banter or offensive one-liners.
Learn practical time management skills to avoid embarrassing and costly gaffes.
Avoid potentially embarrassing assumptions that can sour a customer forever.
Learn how taking drink orders presents an excellent opportunity for unobtrusive up-selling.
Present specials in a way that increases entreé and appetizer orders.
Practical, time-tested, and guaranteed up-selling techniques that are not pushy, invasive, or obnoxious.
Spotting up-selling opportunities that most waiters miss.
Learn how to properly time the placement of orders so that your diners aren't waiting for their meal.
Learn how to avoid the dreaded "food auction".
How to check on your table unobtrusively once they have their meal.
Turn simple tasks such as dropping off the check into opportunities to garner bigger tips.
And much, much more!

Our extensive Bonus Sections target key success areas

Body language

This section shows that your own body language is just as important as correctly reading your guest's body language.

Tableside manners

To be a great doctor, you must have great bedside manner. To be a great server, you must have great tableside manners. This section covers the art of elegant interaction with your guests.

Waitstaff training DVD covers tableside manners.
Learn proper tableside etiquette.

Selling wine & alcohol

We simply cover the basics here. Selling wine and alcohol is a complicated task and requires more training beyond the scope of this DVD. However, this will get your staff started and help them avoid common mistakes such as incorrectly opening and serving wine.


Learn the basics of mixed drinks and wine service.	Learn tips and techniques for flawless tableside wine service.

What to do if disaster strikes

Mistakes happen. Learning how to deal with them can make a huge difference in the success of your business.

Disasters happen. Train your waitresses and waiters to handle them properly.
Learn to turn big mistakes into big rewards.

Spilling a drink on a customer can seem like the worst possible scenario for your restaurant. If handled properly, however, it can create a positive lasting impression. The Perfect Server DVD teaches your waitstaff how to handle these situations with grace and style.

Up-selling techniques

Up-selling, if employed poorly, can be annoying and a real turn-off for guests. That's why we stress graceful, unobtrusive and seamless upselling techniques.

Food safety and sanitation

No waiter or waitress training program is complete without mention of food safety and sanitation. This section covers the basics.


Food safety and sanitation is the entire restaurant's responsibility.	Something as simple as proper hand washing can save you from food safety nightmares.

$124.95

I have a burning question about this product!

Is there something you need to know about this product that we've omitted?

Send us an anonymous question and we promise to answer it within 1 business day. The answer will be displayed below.

Your questions that have been answered by the Vat19.com staff

Q: I am currently in charge of training wait staff for a private club; fine dining experience. Will this cover how to pace courses - ordering (fire) etc.
A: Yes, The Perfect Server covers the pacing of courses. It explains the factors to take into account when sending orders to the kitchen. For example, the preparation time of the dishes, how crowded the restaurant is, your table's progress through the meal, use of the expeditor (if you use them). The Perfect Server also tries to teach body language cues that can help guide the staff in determining the pace that the guests desire.
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Q: If I purchase the perfect server and after viewing it I don't think it meets my needs for my servers can I return it for a full refund
A: Yes. We stand by the quality of our products and offer a 30 day return policy, regardless of the reason for the return. Unless there is a shipping problem, however, we are unable to refund your shipping fees. If you used the free shipping, we will deduct the cost of the original shipment from your refund.
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Q: i am trainer of banquets department but some is different than restaurant...
A: Because The Perfect Server is divided into shorter modules, you can feel free to use only those modules that are appropriate for your environment. You could also offer comments to your employees about how your banquet service's needs differ from those of the restaurant seen in the video.
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Q: what is a succesful server according to you
A: A successful server conducts him or herself in a graceful and efficient manner, not only satisfying the needs of the guests, but also taking advantage of unobtrusive opportunities to up-sell as well as increase his or her final tips. But there is plenty more to it than that! The Perfect Server will lay it all out for you.
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Q: is there any charge when you certify waiting staff upon taking the quizes?
A: No, there are no charges whatsoever after you're purchased your copy of The Perfect Server. You can certify an unlimited number of staff members from one copy of the DVD.
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Q: Is it possible to download this dvd after buying instead of getting dvd by shipping?
A: The Perfect Server is not available for download at this time.
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Q: I am a teacher at Oman Tourism College. Is it possible to have a sample copy?
A: Sorry, we do not give out sample copies.
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Q: I work on a charter boat and we serve meals that we prepare. I am trying to find a training video that covers "what happens if someone gets sick" from the meal. (nausea, vomiting, shellfish allergy)
A: The Perfect Server covers what to do if the waiter is sick, but it does not cover what to do if the customer gets sick from the food. There is a section on food safety and sanitation so the waitstaff can prevent illness caused by the food.
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Q: Can i get a print copy on upsellling techniques
A: The up-selling content on The Perfect Server is only available in DVD format at this time.
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Q: Does this product cover American & French "Fine Dining" standards/procedures?
A: The Perfect Server's approach to waitstaff training teaches staff members to interact with a level of poise, skill, and respect that it well-suited to even the finest dining establishments. While some instructional materials focus on specific steps and conversational scripts, The Perfect Server's "intelligent training" method takes advantage of the critical thinking skills that every employee has, encouraging servers to use their knowledge to enhance the overall experience of the customers. Skills like making educated menu suggestions, dealing with problems, and reading customer body language are fairly universal; and poised, respectful responses to those situations are appropriate in any type of restaurant.
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Q: do you have the dvd in french?
A: No, the Perfect Server DVD is only available in English.
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Q: Can this product be shipped to St. Kitts in the Caribbean?
A: Yes, Vat19 ships worldwide.
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Q: I am a caterer. Will this help me outside a restaurant enviroment. What if i am caterering to a wedding or a coporate luncheon or dinner.
A: While you'd probably find some of the information to be irrelevant for your purposes, there's a lot of material that would be helpful in any food service situation. Sections on looking presentable, prepping the eating areas, reading body language, serving etiquette, and food safety will definitely enhance the training of anyone serving food directly to guests. The fact that the DVD can be viewed in short training modules would allow you to pick and choose which of those sections were most applicable to your unique situation.
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Q: I am considering purchasing this dvd but since the establishment does not currently have a liquor license, I am concerned that much of the dvd is directed toward increasing alcohol sales. True?
A: While selling alcohol is covered thoroughly, so are all of the many other aspects of competent and graceful service. The Bonus Section covering wine and alcohol sales is fairly extensive, but you could direct your employees to skip this section until your establishment secures a liquor license.
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Q: Does this waiter training DVD cover all formats of table service or just basic service? And in how many days will it take the order to reach India?
A: The Perfect Server covers basic waiter service and duties, but it also covers topics such as up-selling techniques, pacing of courses, wine pairings, and knowing how to properly explain daily specials and menu items. If you choose UPS Worldwide Expedited, the DVD will arrive within 5 business days.
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Q: i woked as a waitress for 5 and a half years now im studying the question is : if i buy this dvd privately can i get a certifcalt of a diploma efterwards
A: Anyone who purchases The Perfect Server can complete the course and enter the confirmation codes online to get a printable certificate of completion.
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Q: What is the cerification paper you get at the end? Will it help me get a job as a server? Does every state accept this certification?
A: We can't speak for all employers, but the Perfect Server's certification is definitely the sort of thing you can list on a resume to show that you're serious about what you do. To our knowledge, there is no formal, government-approved waitstaff certification program in any state (barring basic food safety training). While it's a good way to demonstrate your level of commitment, it doesn't provide any kind of state-approved certification.
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Q: what do you have for banquet servers for a hotel
A: While we don't have any DVDs that are specifically developed for banquet servers, many of the techniques and principles in The Perfect Server would be applicable to your setting. Your servers would learn useful skills from the sections on customer interaction, etiquette, food safety, and body language, among other things.
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Q: Is it possible to order from Bangladesh? We do not have paypal. Beside this training video, how many Hospitality Training Video you have??
A: We can't ship from Bangladesh, but we can ship to Bangladesh. We also accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. At this time, we do not have other related training videos.
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Q: Would this be appropriate for high school aged students?
A: Yes. The only parts that may not apply to high school students are the parts about serving alcohol, as many places don't allow under age servers to deal with alcoholic beverages. The material in The Perfect Server is definitely clear enough for the average high school student to comprehend, though.
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Q: I am Interested in purchasing one of these DVD, to be ship to Barbados, how much will it cost me including taxes
A: To get a precise shipping quote, you can add the items you need to your cart and use the "Shipping Estimate" tool to determine the cost based on your country and/or postal code.
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Q: would this be a good traing DVD for a college dining service that caters meals but does not include cash sales
A: While the DVD wouldn't be 100% applicable, you'd probably find a number of the sections to be helpful. In particular, the parts on personal appearance and manners, serving, body language, disaster control, and sanitation would be very relevant. Because The Perfect Server can be watched in sections or all at once, you can pick and choose which sections you wish to have your employees view.
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Q: How to get the training stuff. Is it available in India
A: We are not aware of brick-and-mortar stores in India that carry The Perfect Server DVD, but we do ship worldwide, so we can certainly ship a copy to you.
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Q: Does this DVD cover wait staff etiquette? The silent service code, proper side to serve and remove food, etc?
A: Yes, The Perfect Server definitely covers the issue of waitstaff etiquette and serving methods. As far as "silent service" is concerned, that depends on exactly what you're hoping to teach your staff. The Perfect Server discusses the importance of not "over sharing" or hovering, and also discusses a number of non-verbal cues that servers can use to determine when it's most appropriate to intervene. However, it doesn't specifically indicate that interaction after a certain point should be silent.
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Total number of Burning Questions answered to date on Vat19.com: 4,669

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