Restaurant waiters say there's one thing they look out for as soon as they greet a customer

Restaurant waiters have provided us with some eye-opening insight into what they really look out for when they serve you.

As those who have worked in the hospitality industry will tell you, the job consists of long hours, rude customers and a lot of time on your feet.

Server of 20 years Chuck Anderson told HuffPost: "There were folks [who] would come in … and barely acknowledge you and couldn’t remember what you look like."

Treat waiters with respect. (Getty Stock Images)

Now, it turns out that front of house are not just being polite for the fun of it when they greet you at the door, and neither are the waiters.

The age old idea that the waiter is being nice to you just because they want a decent tip is not the only reason why they do it.

Why waiters greet you nicely

Restaurant servers will often size you up by not just what you say, but by your body language.

It's an indication on what the rest of the shift is going to be like for them.

Kelly Ennis, who was a waiter for 15 years, said: "[Being a server] teaches you how to read people’s behaviours on a dime.

"You can tell when you walk up to a table if they’re in a bad mood, if they’re in a rush.

"It’s [all about] understanding body language and developing a rapport quickly."

What waiters look for

Servers look for who you're sat with, what food you are having, as well as how you are sat.

Simon, a waiter who spent six years in the industry, explained: "Is it two friends? Is it a date? … You fish those things out just by talking to the guests and find out why they’re there.

Don't mess with the people who handle your food. (Getty Stock Images)

"You don’t know how lax the parents are in terms of keeping the kid in their seats or letting them run around the restaurant, or how dirty underneath the table is going to be."

When you split the check

It's also the way you split the bill, as Simon complained: "If someone wants … to split the bottle of wine three ways and … the appetiser two ways and then the entrees four ways, that’s going to be really confusing."

Meanwhile, blogger at The Bitchy Waiter, Darron Cardosa, added: "To me, the biggest indicator that someone was going to be friendly, or at least nice, is eye contact."

And how diners treat the other people at the table is a big clue too.

He continued: "If someone is dismissive of their spouse, their date or their kids, then you don’t have much hope that they’re going to treat you better."

So now you know, make eye contact with your waiter, keep your kids under control, and don't demand the waiters do crazy math if you're splitting the bill and your evening will likely go a lot smoother.