A good indication that your tables are ready to order is closed menus. Begin with the women at the table and then proceed in clockwise rotation. This not only exercises politeness, but also keeps an order to follow that will help when dropping the meals off.

Write it down!
Many servers, especially after they’ve been in the industry for some time, begin to feel comfortable with memorizing orders. When you write it down, its harder to forget the requests made and easier to satisfy your tables. Writing it down, no matter how much experience you have is good habit to get into early.