What do you think?
Rate this book
Turning Tables
Hospitality fuels local economies, with dining out being a favorite activity of millions of Americans. Many people spend their early careers working in hospitality, and while some leave it off their résumé once they move on to new careers, the skills learned in hospitality can have a lasting impact.
Based on years of interviews with servers and bartenders across America, Turning Tables connects lessons from food service to professional success. The attributes that make a great server—organization, multitasking, upselling, and maintaining a positive attitude—translate directly to roles in sales, customer service, and leadership.
This insightful resource reveals how the work done behind the scenes to bring delicious, hot meals to diner’s tables neatly aligns with what it takes to be a top seller, customer service representative, or supervisor. The ability to deliver under pressure, think on one’s feet, and exceed expectations is as valuable in the office as it is behind the bar or in the kitchen.
Whether hospitality is someone’s forever career, they’re looking to make a switch, or they’re responsible for hiring and managing a team, Turning Tables provides practical lessons to elevate any career. From nurses to real estate agents to Capitol Hill staffers, countless professionals got their start in food service—and their success is rooted in the skills they learned there.
With a behind-the-scenes look at restaurant life, Turning Tables shows how to apply hospitality-driven principles to thrive in business and beyond.
Based on years of interviews with servers and bartenders across America, Turning Tables connects lessons from food service to professional success. The attributes that make a great server—organization, multitasking, upselling, and maintaining a positive attitude—translate directly to roles in sales, customer service, and leadership.
This insightful resource reveals how the work done behind the scenes to bring delicious, hot meals to diner’s tables neatly aligns with what it takes to be a top seller, customer service representative, or supervisor. The ability to deliver under pressure, think on one’s feet, and exceed expectations is as valuable in the office as it is behind the bar or in the kitchen.
Whether hospitality is someone’s forever career, they’re looking to make a switch, or they’re responsible for hiring and managing a team, Turning Tables provides practical lessons to elevate any career. From nurses to real estate agents to Capitol Hill staffers, countless professionals got their start in food service—and their success is rooted in the skills they learned there.
With a behind-the-scenes look at restaurant life, Turning Tables shows how to apply hospitality-driven principles to thrive in business and beyond.
180 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2025
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 19, 2025
This is a little gem of a book: easy to read with engaging stories but also easy-to-digest business wisdom. Being a new business owner with no business background at all, I found many useful tools and tips in the book while also having fun reading it.
September 17, 2025
Turning Tables by Bruce Bryan is a fun and inspiring read that proves you don’t need an MBA or a corner office to learn about business, leadership, and success. You can learn it from waiting on tables.
The author takes everyday restaurant stories from his own experience and by interviewing others - like smiling through a rough shift, remembering a customer’s favorite drink, or grinding through the side work no one notices - and turns them into smart, relatable and easy to digest lessons about business and life.
If you’ve ever worked in service, you’ll nod your head in agreement. If like me you haven’t, you’ll come away with a whole new respect for what servers really do and how those lessons apply almost everywhere.
Highly recommended.
The author takes everyday restaurant stories from his own experience and by interviewing others - like smiling through a rough shift, remembering a customer’s favorite drink, or grinding through the side work no one notices - and turns them into smart, relatable and easy to digest lessons about business and life.
If you’ve ever worked in service, you’ll nod your head in agreement. If like me you haven’t, you’ll come away with a whole new respect for what servers really do and how those lessons apply almost everywhere.
Highly recommended.
July 7, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this journey behind the scenes of service - particularly restaurant service - and the life lessons tucked in between drinks, plates, reservations, chefs and all the other food service components which lead to a great dining experience. The author brings heavy helpings of humor, insight and reality, disguised as food service, to share invaluable expertise for anyone seeking to grow their understanding of excellence in any industry. It's a truly entertaining read which shares sage wisdom in fun and relatable tales.
August 15, 2025
It was a great read! So fun to peek behind the scenes and learn the back story of so many servers and bartenders. As a former server, many of the references and concepts really hit home with me. As someone now who dines out often, I know first-hand how a server's attitude can make or break a nice meal. My husband and I always joke that we went to 'customer school' (pro tip: turn your empty oyster shells over, so the server knows you're done). I believe once you've been a server, you will always be more compasionate and patient when dining out.
I’d definitely recommend this book!
I’d definitely recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews