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The Waiting Tables' Life Trivia Quiz

I work in the service industry, so I thought it would be fun to make a quiz based on things from work that some people may have not know about behind closed doors at restaurants! It's my first quiz! So enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by jennymyers888. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jennymyers888

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
394,487

Updated
Mar 18 25

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
497

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: bigwoo (9/10), Guest 100 (6/10), mandy2 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What does it mean when something is "86'ed" in the food industry? Hint

The restaurant has too much of the item

The restaurant is out of the item

The item is seasonal

The item is available and for sale

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What does it mean when a waiter has been "stiffed"? Hint

No tip has been left for the waiter

The waiter has quit their job

The waiter has terrible posture

The waiter tried to fight the cooks

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Who does the waiter sometimes have to tip out (give a percentage of their tips to) at the end of their shift? Hint

The guests

The bartender

The manager

The owner

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. In the US, do you have to have a special license to serve alcohol at the tables? Hint

Yes, but only if you are serving minors alcohol

Only in the city

Yes

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What does it mean when a waiter is in the weeds? Hint

The waiter is bored

The waiter is busy or overwhelmed

The waiter is taking a break

The waiter is sick

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In the USA, what is a good standard tip to leave when a waiter does a good job? Hint

15%

10%

25%

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What do you call the person who sits people in the restaurant? Hint

Friend

Host

Busser

Chef

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Beginning in 1991, what was the minimum hourly pay for wait staff in the USA, not including tips? Hint

4.50

5.50

2.13

7.25

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What is a gratuity? Hint

A nice written message to the waiter

A ticket for a free meal

An invitation to come back to the restaurant

An added percentage of your bill, that goes to the waiter as their tip

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What does FOH mean in the restaurant industry? Hint

Food on house

Fun on hunger

Front of house

Full open hoise

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Most Recent Scores

Mar 25 2025 : bigwoo: 9/10
Mar 23 2025 : Guest 100: 6/10
Mar 19 2025 : mandy2: 10/10
Mar 11 2025 : Guest 50: 7/10
Mar 04 2025 : Guest 12: 9/10
Feb 28 2025 : Guest 104: 8/10
Jan 30 2025 : Guest 69: 9/10
Jan 29 2025 : Guest 174: 9/10
Jan 28 2025 : Guest 74: 10/10

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What does it mean when something is "86'ed" in the food industry?

Answer: The restaurant is out of the item

When an item is "86'ed" it means the restauraunt is out of the item. When they have more then they will "68" it back on the menu.

2. What does it mean when a waiter has been "stiffed"?

Answer: No tip has been left for the waiter

When a waiter has been stiffed, it means that no tip has been left for that waiter. In the U.S. waiters and waitresses are paid low wages and depend heavily on tips for their income.

3. Who does the waiter sometimes have to tip out (give a percentage of their tips to) at the end of their shift?

Answer: The bartender

In restaurants, it is custom for the waiter to tip out a percentage of their own tips to the bar, bussers, hosts, and sometimes dish washers.

4. In the US, do you have to have a special license to serve alcohol at the tables?

Answer: Yes

You have to have a license to serve alcohol. In the U.S. you should NEVER serve minors alcohol. The restaurant itself has to obtain a liquor license as well.

5. What does it mean when a waiter is in the weeds?

Answer: The waiter is busy or overwhelmed

When the term in the weeds is used in the serving industry, it means that they are busy, and need help from co-workers.

6. In the USA, what is a good standard tip to leave when a waiter does a good job?

Answer: 15%

A widely acknowledged standard tip for an overall good experience is 15-20% in the USA.

7. What do you call the person who sits people in the restaurant?

Answer: Host

A host's job is to seat the people who come into the restaurant according to their wishes, the number of people in the group or party and so on.

8. Beginning in 1991, what was the minimum hourly pay for wait staff in the USA, not including tips?

Answer: 2.13

Wait staff are only required to be paid $2.13 an hour, unless combined tips are under minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. They live mostly on tips.

9. What is a gratuity?

Answer: An added percentage of your bill, that goes to the waiter as their tip

A gratuity is a certain percentage of the total bill that goes to the waiter. This helps ensure that the waiters get paid their tips.

10. What does FOH mean in the restaurant industry?

Answer: Front of house

The (FOH) front of house staff includes: servers, bussers, bar tenders, and hosts.

Source: Author jennymyers888

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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