Favorite Servers: Maddie Stokes

Just Like Home

Serving runs in Maddie Stokes’ family. She started as a server at age 15, following in her mother’s and aunt’s footsteps by working at BJ’s Market Café in North Little Rock. When her family moved to Houston, Texas, she added more restaurant experience to her resume before returning to Arkansas. Since 2022, Stokes has been a full-time server at Homer’s Kitchen Table in Little Rock.

“I like [working at Homer’s] because I can communicate with people and get to know them. I bond with them, I guess, more than most servers do,” Stokes said. “I like to be personal. I like to make [customers] feel like they’re part of a family.”

At Homer’s, known for its Southern home cooking, Stokes has found her niche. She focuses on the little details to deliver exemplary customer service and takes pride in remembering diners’ preferences.

“I’ll remember people’s names, their drinks, their food to where they don’t really have to say much. It’s like they’re going over to their grandma’s house to eat,” Stokes said.

She understands that some customers do not want to leave as soon as the eating is over.

“There are some people that I can tell will sit there for a little bit because they haven’t seen each other for a while, so I’ll prebus their table to where all they have is their drinks in front of them.”

The servers at Homer’s cooperate as a team and cover for each other.

“We all communicate with each other when we’re in the weeds,” Stokes said. “When we’re behind and we know that we can’t give our best effort to the table, we’ll ask one of the other servers if they have time to help us out so every table can get good service and good food.”

Stokes thrives on social interaction and loves serving large groups.

“I do not get overwhelmed with big parties. I make them laugh,” Stokes said. “I had a party of 18 people last night, and I just made them laugh the entire time.”

Photo by DeWaine Duncan.