The Wallet Shoppe
We review and recommend the best server books for waiters and waitresses below! For those who want to see the list asap, take a look at the table right here. Otherwise, read on for our reviews!
Two full-length hidden stash pockets, a wipe-clean cover and a choice of prints.
Brinero — a dual-core writing surface, zipped coin pocket and external pen loop.
Waiter Wallet Deluxe — opens like a traditional bifold with a clear pocket and a built-in order pad.
Fabric construction, divided zipped cash storage and a separate zipped coin pocket. Made in the USA.
The older Of Course magnetic design is covered below too.
Why do you need a Server Book?
The work life of a server is a hectic one.
Sometimes you might be juggling six or more tables at a time. Splitting checks for a party at an 8-top, making change for six teenagers who each split the bill different ways…it’s easy to find yourself in the weeds and have cash flying everywhere (and not in a good way).
You’re here because you’ve probably tried using the standard check presenter (and gone through five of them). Or maybe you’ve gotten into a bad habit of throwing credit card slips, bills and change in your apron or even your pockets.
This isn’t a great idea. While it is “doable”, it is definitely not “professional”. It makes you give off a vibe of disorganization and sloppiness. Even if you’ve got a system, it can creep up on you before you know it.
You need a solution. What is it you might ask? It’s the Server Book or Wallet. We’ve spent some time examining which server books are legit and which ones are junk. You don’t have to break the bank to get a good book, but we will add that you do get what you pay for.
Where to Buy Server Books
It’s no surprise that Amazon is a hugely popular place to order server books, nevertheless, there are other options (you may want to go the brick and mortar route for instance):
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Local Restaurant Supply Stores: Clearly an option if you can find somewhere local, but not always the best value as they tend to be focused on supplying larger volumes of goods, rather than single sales
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Stationery Store: A good bet is an old-school dedicated stationery store, but you can find them sometimes in a larger outlet with a stationery section. Staples is definitely a solid option, but we’ve also had luck with Walmart and even the larger Walgreens sometimes have a (very) limited choice (like - one server book amongst the notebooks)
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Online: Like so many things, you’re going to find the widest range of choices online. You can peruse Etsy, Staples and Walmart online of course, but as we’ve said before, there’s a huge range available on Amazon
And with that, let’s move on and go through our shortlist of the best server books!
Our Shortlist of the Best Server Books for Waiters and Waitresses
Read our picks below — we hope you find something that will help you get organized during a busy shift!
Server Wallet by SERVER BOOK
Closed size: approximately 5 x 8 inches
The first server book on our list is made by, well, SERVER BOOK. While we won’t give them points for originality in their name, we will give them points for making a high quality product. Its maker guarantee offers replacement or a refund within 90 days if it doesn’t meet your needs.
Function — This book is super functional for waiting tables. It comes with two long stash pockets (hidden) for storing change and tips. There’s also a great pocket for storing credit card checks and receipts. The book also includes a really cool pocket for you to keep your POS/ID card and a nice pen holder. No more, “Where’s my pen?!”
Durability — SERVER BOOK uses wipe-clean material on the inside and outside. The open pockets don’t seal your paper against spills, but the cover can be wiped with warm water or a non-chlorine sanitizer solution, following the maker’s instructions.
Colors — This is one of the more “fun” brands in terms of colors. They have prints and patterns for everyone if you’re looking for “cute” server books.
Server Book by Brinero Leather
Format: Large book with a firm writing surface and zip pocket
Brinero Leather’s server book is one of the highest quality books on the list. The version linked here uses a firm writing surface and dual-core construction, with an outside pen loop and zipped coin storage.
Function — Pockets, Pockets, Pockets! This little guy has nine, count them, nine pockets! This also includes a handy little zippered pocket for your loose change. It’s made to write on and has a very functional location for the pen on the outside of the book, as opposed to the middle like most that we’ve reviewed.
Durability — The faux-leather cover and dual-core backing give you a firm place to write. The zip pocket is useful for coins; avoid overfilling it if you want the book to close flat.
Colors — Sometimes less is more, as is the case here. The rich black of this server book looks extremely professional — your coworkers and customers will notice.
Waiter Wallet Deluxe | Unique Server Book + Order Pad
Closed size: 5 x 6.75 x 0.75 inches · Order pad: 4 x 6 inches
Think of Waiter Wallet as the “OG” of server books. They pretty much took the original concept, beefed it up on steroids, yet made it small, functional and durable. This thing can do everything!
Function — The thing that we like the most about the Waiter Wallet is that it’s the most like a traditional wallet than any one of the books on this list. It looks like a wallet, feels like a wallet and “acts” like a wallet (just for a server). To start, the wallet opens like a traditional bifold. Inside, you’ll find two items right off the bat — the exclusive transparent pocket and the order pad.
Most of the books we’ve looked at don’t have either of these. This one is definitely the most unique server book from a functionality standpoint. The order pad is self-explanatory, but the clear pocket might not be.
Most waiters will use it to carry around little notes/hints to make them better at their job. Upsells, specials, 86ed list, wine lists and more. All things that you need to get to at a moment’s notice to make more money!
Inside the wallet is where you’ll keep your change secure, multiple credit cards if you have them, your ID/Access card for the kiosk, etc..
On the back of the wallet there is a super handy “stash” pocket for the current table’s credit card that you need to get processed quickly.
Durability — The Waiter Wallet is well constructed and made from a rich, durahyde material along with industry strong stitching.
Colors — Again, these guys keep it pretty simple with a professional look — a smooth, rich durahyde finish with a choice of colors.
Of Course Magnetic Server Book
The Of Course High Volume design is an older option with a magnetic pocket closure and eleven-pocket layout.
Format: Older magnetic-pocket server organiser
This is one of the more striking waiter wallets we’ve seen on the market. The layering that they’ve done on the interior (with the pockets) is really functional and - it just looks really cool. Oh, did we mention it’s magnetic?
Function — The magnetic closure sort of steals the show here. It allows for an expandable pocket to remain secure, but grow as your day gets busier ($$$). And there is something very satisfying about that “click”…
There are eleven (11) pockets in this bad boy! Basically, you don’t have to worry about running out of places to put stuff. We really like the fact that the pockets are really flexible.
Some of the server wallets we looked at had really stiff pockets or sections. They seemed like they’d be difficult to work with during a shift — difficult to get CC slips into and out of, etc.. The zipper pocket for coins can be accessed without opening the main section, and we really like the way they’ve added two pen holders.
Why? Some people swear by interior pen holders so they don’t fall out, some people swear by external ones for access. Of Course have provided both - pick what works for you!
Durability — Its faux-leather finish can be wiped clean, while the expanding pocket makes room for a larger stack of slips. The magnetic closure’s usefulness depends on leaving enough room for the flap to meet the magnet; stuffing every pocket defeats the point.
Colors — Another simple take on colors. When in doubt, go with a plain black finish. It will never go out of style.
Deluxe Server Book by iServ
Format: Fabric server book with divided zipped cash storage
To round out our list, we wanted to include this waiter cash organizer by iServ because it comes with all the bells and whistles. It hits on all the must-haves and is manufactured in the USA. This is an excellent option for waiters who need to keep their server bank secure.
Function — iServ uses two zipped pockets: one for coins and one for cash. The cash compartment is divided so small bills can be reached through the front opening while larger bills stay behind. Other pockets hold an order pad, receipts, cards and shift notes; an order pad is included.
One iServ owner, Joy C., liked the water-resistant fabric but found the book a tight fit in their apron. That’s a useful buying check: measure the actual pocket opening, not just the space inside.
Durability — iServ describes hand-sewn fabric construction using materials similar to first-responder gear. It is stain- and water-resistant, with rounded corners for pocket carry. Keep the order pad out of spills; the open pockets leave paper exposed.
Colors — The dark fabric finish is understated and easy to pair with a work uniform.
Choosing a Book for Your Shift
Measure your apron or uniform pocket, your order pad and the receipts your restaurant uses. The Waiter Wallet Deluxe takes a 4 x 6-inch pad; the Jr. Deluxe takes a 3 x 5-inch pad and is smaller overall. Matching the refill size saves you from cutting down paper every shift.
Decide where you need fast access: POS card, small bills, current card slips or a pen. Zipped coin storage helps if you make change; a large expandable pocket is more useful for stacks of receipts. A wipe-clean cover makes spills easier to deal with, but an open book still exposes the paper inside.
Before You Go
Magic wallets (you remember, those wallets that flip cash from one side to another as you open them from different sides) are another compact way to carry folded bills. They’re fun, but a server book gives you dedicated storage for an order pad and a full shift’s paperwork.
Check out our list of magic wallets here!
