Favorite Servers: Ricardo Morales

A Passion for Service

Ricardo Morales has been a fixture at Brave New Restaurant in Little Rock for the past 20 years. He began his serving career in Mexico City when he was a college student. At age 22, he joined his family in Arkansas, completing a short stay in Hot Springs before settling in Little Rock.

The secret to Morales’s success can be summed up in three P’s: passion, patience and personability.

“You have to have the passion, and you have to be patient. You keep [giving] 100 percent and just listen to your customers, and everything will be great,” he said. “I really love to be interactive, one on one, with my customers.”

Morales emphasized the importance of added attention and effort to ensure customer happiness.

“I like to take care of my customers and go an extra mile for whatever they need,” he said.

At Brave New Restaurant, known for its upscale American cuisine and stunning river views, Morales has become an integral part of the dining experience.

“I have a really great connection with my clientele,” he said. “They always want me to come to their table to say hi.”

Morales also plays a mentoring role for newer staff members. He emphasized the importance of “working smarter, not just harder.” He advises his colleagues to make their work easier by being efficient in their movement throughout the restaurant and paying attention to more than one table at a time.

“I’ve got people looking at me as an example,” he said.

Morales’s advice to aspiring servers captures his approach to the profession.

“Just be patient, listen, always bring a great attitude to your table, and then just be professional,” he said.

Morales’s commitment to his craft and his genuine care for his customers’ experience have made him an invaluable asset to Brave New Restaurant and a beloved figure in Little Rock’s dining scene.

Photo by DeWaine Duncan.