Restaurants require numerous positions in order to run efficiently, from front-of-house roles such as host/hostess/waiter/waitress and busser to more specialized roles such as the Sommelier (Maitre d) who advise diners on wine choices and manage cheese selection.
These positions tend to offer flexible schedules and lucrative tips, with top servers and bartenders earning six-figure salaries. A strong attention to detail, customer service skills and willingness to work a fast-paced environment are required qualifications for these jobs.
Food Runner
Food runners are an often unsung hero of any restaurant, responsible for quickly bringing food out to tables as promised – often spending their entire shift standing. Therefore, food runners must possess exceptional stamina and attention to detail to perform their jobs effectively.
Food runners must be fast both physically and mentally. Their job involves quickly assembling orders on a line before quickly transporting them to customers’ tables in full-service restaurants or taking takeout orders at the counter – these employees interact directly with customers so must be friendly and personable.
Food runners play an invaluable role in any busy restaurant; their primary task is communicating server notes to kitchen staff. Furthermore, as customer-facing employees they must always remain professional even during chaotic and stressful periods. Finally, food runners need to remain organized in their duties in order to quickly determine which plates belong at each table and keep track of everything that comes out of the kitchen – this task often requires patience but must not be overlooked!
Busser
Bussing may be just what you’re looking for if customer service is your passion! As an entry-level restaurant job, bussing requires clearing empty plates from tables, resetting and cleaning tables as needed and refilling beverages – as well as possessing excellent interpersonal skills and being comfortable working within a fast-paced environment.
Restaurant bussers must understand and abide by health, safety and sanitation standards. They should also have experience operating a point-of-sale (POS) system and handling cash transactions accurately. Furthermore, great bussers will quickly address customer inquiries or complaints while remaining upbeat under pressure.
Front-of-house positions represent the face of any restaurant. This includes roles like hosting (known as maitre d’ in more upscale venues), serving (or waiter and waitressing), bussing and busser duties. Some establishments also employ people specializing in wine or cheese advice or managing inventory of these products.
Restaurant jobs can be demanding and tiring, yet rewarding and enjoyable if you find the role that suits you best. To attract and retain top talent, employers should provide competitive pay and benefits, flexible scheduling arrangements and opportunities for advancement. Employers may also promote from within to reduce staffing costs and improve productivity; KioskBuddy can assist in increasing front-of-house productivity with our self-ordering solution!
Server
Your customers’ experiences at your restaurant depend on its service staff. A knowledgeable, well-trained, and professional team is critical for its operational success and will ensure your restaurant delivers on its promise of quality while creating loyalty among patrons.
Hosts and hostesses are usually the first people who encounter your guests when they enter your establishment, greeting guests as they arrive and facilitating seating arrangements to minimize wait times. They serve as point of contact for guest requests such as managing reservation books and creating waitlists; additionally they handle takeaway orders while also aiding dining room maintenance such as refilling salt/pepper shakers/restocking condiments/rolling silverware up in napkins etc.
Counter servers represent your operation to both in-person and delivery customers. They must greet them warmly, explain menu items’ features and benefits, answer their inquiries quickly, efficiently enter orders into the point-of-sale (POS) system and process payments efficiently while simultaneously handling inquiries or complaints from customers.
Sommeliers are wine experts who assist guests with selecting wines to complement their food and beverage selections. Sommeliers also organize wine-related events, create wine lists and manage inventory in restaurants.
Hostess
Hosts (or hostesses, depending on gender neutral terminology) are responsible for greeting customers as they enter a restaurant, seating them comfortably and providing menus. Hosts should interact with patrons to ensure a great dining experience and address any complaints or problems as soon as they arise; additionally they must be able to remain standing for extended periods while performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
Hosts oversee the flow of service in the dining room, allocating tables evenly among servers to reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction. Hosts may also need to manage reservations, cash out customers and operate a point-of-sale system as necessary.
Hosts must often deal with upset patrons or those dissatisfied with their dining experience, which can be stressful during peak shifts. Aiming to remain professional under pressure and ensure all operations run smoothly is crucial; especially as many restaurants now provide online and curbside ordering options that require them to accurately package carryout orders before double-checking them and packaging carryout orders accurately. Furthermore, hosts should have sufficient knowledge about the menu in order to answer diner queries quickly and satisfactorily.
Waitress
New York is well known for its skyscrapers and yellow taxi cabs, but it also boasts an amazing variety of restaurants of every size – from fast casual vegan burgers to old world mahogany-paneled steakhouses – offering something for every palette and budget in this vibrant city that never sleeps!
Staff play an essential role in any restaurant’s success. From seating guests to taking takeout orders, first-rate staff ensure each guest enjoys an unforgettable dining experience – this is especially important in full-service establishments.
Waitstaff are at the core of any restaurant. Their duty is to ensure a seamless dining room experience by working closely with kitchen and bar staff to serve each table efficiently and quickly. Waitstaff must possess knowledge about menu items and ingredients, be able to answer customer inquiries, work under pressure without losing professionalism in stressful situations and always remain professional when serving each customer table.
Restaurant managers are charged with overseeing an enormous team of employees, from hiring and firing them, training, to developing marketing strategies. Furthermore, they help set menu prices and purchase supplies; managing front-of-house operations and resolving guest issues is also their duty.
Bartender
Bartenders are responsible for serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks in restaurants or bars, taking orders, making the drinks themselves, taking delivery orders from customers, working closely with kitchen staff to create meals, as well as answering customer inquiries about menu items or ingredients contained within drinks they serve quickly and accurately.
Drink designers need to be creative and imaginative in their drink creation. This involves using various mixing techniques, garnishes and presentation styles that create visually appealing and unique drinks. Furthermore, they must possess exceptional customer service skills so as to establish relationships with customers while promoting new drinks and menu items.
Bartenders must be able to identify underage patrons and comply with state laws regarding the sale of alcohol. When dealing with problem patrons, bartenders should remain calm and professional when confronting them; stress should never become an issue!
Other restaurant positions include managers, chefs and general managers as well as more specialized roles such as sommeliers who advise diners on wine selection and manage storeroom operations. Many of these roles tend to operate behind-the-scenes without coming directly into contact with diners but they remain essential in ensuring smooth operations of any establishment – large chains typically employ administrative, HR and management positions, while smaller establishments may only need general managers or owners.
