TikTok Server Questions Whether “Hey, Guys” Is the Best Table Greeting
Restaurant servers have built a sizable presence on TikTok by sharing workplace experiences, customer-service advice and conversations about the industry. The account @millionaire_server_club recently turned one routine part of restaurant service into a debate: how servers should greet their tables.
In a video that has attracted more than 306,000 views and 1,800 comments, @millionaire_server_club asks whether servers commonly use “Hey, y’all” or “Hey, guys” when approaching customers. The creator warns that the subject may be controversial, arguing that some guests do not appreciate being addressed as “guys.”
“Servers, do you greet your tables by saying, ‘Hey, y’all’ or ‘Hey, guys’? If so, you’re gonna wanna watch this video.”
The Creator Encourages Servers to Use Natural, Inclusive Greetings
Rather than arguing that every server must abandon familiar language, @millionaire_server_club says staff should build on the rapport they naturally establish with each table. The creator also suggests that some diners interpret language literally and place a high value on professionalism and manners.
“We live in such a literal society, and people just take those words and they run with it. People eat up professionalism and manners,”
As alternatives to “Hey, guys,” the creator mentions “hey, folks” and a greeting shaped by experience at a restaurant where servers were expected to call their tables family.
“What about ‘hey, folks,’ or me personally? I used to work at a restaurant that required us to call our tables family. So sometimes I say, ‘Hey, family.’ My tables eat that up. They love it,” she says. “It’s very important to be your authentic self.”
At the same time, @millionaire_server_club clarifies that using “guys” is not automatically wrong. The point, according to the creator, is to recognize that guests may have different preferences about how servers address them.
“If that’s naturally how you greet your tables, I’m not telling you that you’re wrong,” she says. “But there are a lot of people that say that they don’t like when servers greet them with ‘hey, guys.’ They just find it to be rude.”
Servers and Customers Debate the Right Way to Greet a Table
The video ends by inviting both restaurant workers and customers to share their preferred introductions. The comments reflected regional differences, the makeup of the table and each server’s approach to customer service.
One commenter connected the phrase to regional speech patterns:
“I serve in the South so I feel like ‘hey y’all’ is appropriate,” one commenter wrote.
Another commenter said they avoid “guys,” especially when a table does not include men, and listed several alternatives:
“I never say ‘guys.’ I think that’s crazy especially if there’s no men at the table! I work lunches so I love to say hey family or hey girls hey party people,” the commenter said.
Other users said they assess the situation before choosing how to address customers. One commenter summarized that approach by writing:
“Honestly i read the room,” one commenter wrote.
The responses suggest that no single greeting will suit every restaurant table. A server’s choice may reflect regional language, the restaurant’s expectations, the group of customers present or the server’s own communication style.
Why This Matters
Greeting a table is one of the first points of contact between restaurant staff and customers, so even a casual phrase can shape the tone of the dining experience. The discussion around “Hey, guys” highlights the balance servers face between speaking naturally, meeting workplace expectations and remaining attentive to how guests prefer to be addressed.
For @millionaire_server_club, the broader message is not that every server must adopt one replacement phrase. Instead, the creator encourages servers to remain authentic while recognizing that customers may respond differently to familiar greetings. The TikTok discussion leaves the decision with individual servers and the specific table in front of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did @millionaire_server_club question the phrase “Hey, guys”?
The TikTok creator said some guests dislike being addressed as “guys” and may consider the greeting rude. The creator also emphasized that servers are not necessarily wrong for using the phrase naturally.
What alternatives to “Hey, guys” were mentioned?
The video and comments mentioned “Hey, y’all,” “hey, folks,” “Hey, family,” “hey girls” and “hey party people” as possible alternatives.
What was the main advice for restaurant servers?
The creator encouraged servers to use greetings that feel authentic while reading the room and staying aware that customers may have different preferences.
