What should you do before placing an order from the dining room?

Before placing an order from the dining room, it is essential to ensure that the kitchen is ready to handle additional orders, especially during busy service times. Knowing whether the kitchen is busy helps the server gauge how quickly they can expect the food to be prepared and served. This is crucial for managing guest expectations about wait times and ensuring a smooth dining experience.

Checking with the manager and assessing inventory availability are important procedures in a restaurant, but they typically do not directly influence the immediate task of placing an order. Similarly, waiting until the dinner rush is over might not always be a practical approach, as it could delay service and affect customer satisfaction. Keeping communication open with the kitchen about their workload ensures efficient service and helps the server maintain a high standard of guest experience.