Waitstaff Duties

Waiting tables can be a great career option. People who have full-time work but want a little extra income can earn "fun money." Waiting tables is an excellent option for students and others who need flexible hours, and is a full-time career for many. People who haven't worked in the restaurant industry may not completely understand what is expected of waitstaff and thus may pass up a job that can be lucrative.

General Duties

The duties of waitstaff or servers vary from restaurant to restaurant, but the most important in any restaurant is taking care of customers. This includes greeting customers; taking orders and submitting orders to the kitchen quickly and accurately; checking back with tables to see if they need anything; and removing dishes as people finish courses. Waitstaff are responsible for accurately recording what each customer is ordering so the bill is correct. They gauge when diners are ready for the bill and then may collect payment. In some restaurants, food runners bring out dishes and take them away; in smaller restaurants, waitstaff may do this.

Hosting and Payment

Hosting means showing people to their table.

Waitstaff occasionally may also act as host or hostess at the restaurant. Duties include greeting diners at the door, explaining nightly specials and showing them to their seats. Hosts also take reservations over the phone or online and keep track of how many people are in each section of the restaurant so the servers in each area have tables but aren't overwhelmed. Hosts often keep an eye on the whole restaurant and try to make sure the workload is balanced among the various employees, and may need to communicate with the kitchen to help keep things running smoothly.

Prep Work

Prep work gets the restaurant ready for diners.

Before a restaurant can open for lunch or dinner, a large amount of prep has to happen. Servers are often responsible for the bulk of that work. Tasks may include things like wrapping silverware in napkins, filling condiment bottles and wiping and setting tables. Often, before a traditionally busy night, servers taste food specials and review the menu with kitchen staff. Since waitstaff are at the front line of customer service in a restaurant, it is crucial for them to know the food and be able to answer questions about it.