What does a food server do?

What is a Food Server?

A food server is someone who performs a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in full-service restaurants, casual dining eateries, and other eating and drinking places. They are employed in restaurants, schools, hospitals, cafeterias, and other dining places. The majority work part time, which often includes early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.

What does a Food Server do?

Waiters and waitresses typically do the following:

• Prepare and clean assigned work areas
• Replenish and stock service stations, cabinets, and tables
• Take customers’ orders for food and drinks
• Serve food and drinks to customers
• Greet customers, escort them to their seats, and hand them menus
• Answer customers’ questions about menu items and specials
• Accept payment from customers
• Clean tables and dining areas
• Set tables for new customers

Food servers are the front line of customer service in full-service restaurants, casual dining eateries, and other food service establishments. Depending on the establishment, they might take customers’ food and drink orders and prepare and serve food and beverages. Most work as part of a team, helping coworkers to improve workflow and customer service.

Some food servers are referred to as counter attendants because they mainly take orders and serve food over a counter in snack bars, cafeterias, movie theatres, and coffee shops. They fill cups with coffee, soda, and other beverages, and may prepare fountain specialties, such as milkshakes and ice cream sundaes. They may take carryout orders from diners and wrap or place items in containers. They clean counters, write itemized bills, and sometimes accept payment. Some act as carhops, bringing orders to parked cars.

What is the workplace of a Food Server like?

Food servers work in full-service restaurants, casual dining eateries, coffee shops, and other eating and drinking establishments.