"There are many rules for how a waiter should serve guests: table setting rules, open-hand service, how to clear a table, etc. But the most useful piece of advice I ever received was from my manager when I was a college student and worked in a coffee shop. She said, “You may know as many rules and tricks as possible but still may not be able to build rapport with your guests. Try to meet every guest and serve them as if they are your old friend, and you’ve been waiting for them the entire day.”"