Great service is the cornerstone of any thriving restaurant. To achieve this, mastering restaurant staffing and crafting compelling server job descriptions are not just beneficial—they’re essential. This guide dives deep into creating a Restaurant Server job description that not only attracts top talent but also sets your establishment up for service excellence.
We will explore:
- The fundamental role of a restaurant server.
- A comprehensive restaurant server job description sample.
- Crucial tips for building a team of exceptional servers.
What is a Restaurant Server?
Restaurant servers, often known as waiters or waitresses, are the face of your restaurant. While their core duties include taking customer orders, relaying them to the kitchen, serving meals, and processing payments, the reality of a restaurant server job description extends significantly beyond these basics. A server is the primary point of contact for your guests, making their role pivotal in shaping customer experience.
Hiring the right servers presents your restaurant with a golden opportunity to make a positive and lasting first impression. A server who is not only friendly but also possesses deep menu knowledge, maintains composure, and operates with efficiency can elevate the entire dining experience, turning first-time visitors into loyal patrons. Conversely, a server exhibiting a negative attitude, appearing flustered, or frequently making errors can unfortunately leave a negative impression, impacting customer satisfaction and potentially their likelihood to return.
Beyond direct customer interaction, effective restaurant service staff are invaluable team players. They often undertake additional server responsibilities crucial to smooth restaurant operations. These can include greeting and seating guests in the absence of a dedicated host, clearing tables promptly, managing takeout and delivery orders, preparing silverware sets, polishing glassware during quieter periods, and handling various other tasks as needed. It’s important to note that the specifics of a fine dining server job description will differ from those of a casual or family restaurant server job description, reflecting the varying demands and service styles of each dining environment.
Restaurant Job Application Template
Restaurant Server Job Description Sample
Now that we’ve outlined the server’s role, let’s examine a sample job description. Feel free to customize this food server job description template to fit the unique needs and culture of your restaurant.
Job Description
[Your Restaurant Name], a bustling family-friendly restaurant known for [mention your restaurant’s specialty or ambiance, e.g., delicious home-style cooking and warm atmosphere], is seeking enthusiastic and experienced servers to deliver outstanding service to our valued guests. As a key member of our front-of-house team, your primary responsibilities will encompass taking and accurately processing food and beverage orders, serving meals with attention to detail, and efficiently handling guest payments.
The ideal candidate will be genuinely passionate about providing exceptional customer service and will bring prior experience in the restaurant or hospitality industry. If you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, maintain grace under pressure, and enjoy collaborating with both front-of-house and back-of-house teams to create memorable guest experiences, we encourage you to apply.
Female restaurant server delivering food to customers.
Server Responsibilities
- Warmly greet guests upon arrival and efficiently seat them at tables according to the restaurant’s seating chart and server rotation.
- Promptly provide water service and present menus, ensuring cleanliness and current specials are highlighted.
- Expertly take food and beverage orders, demonstrating menu knowledge to answer questions and offer thoughtful recommendations based on guest preferences or dietary needs.
- Accurately communicate detailed orders to kitchen and bar staff, noting any special requests or allergies with precision.
- Serve beverages and meals to guests in a timely and professional manner, adhering to restaurant service standards.
- Proactively check in with guests throughout their meal to ensure satisfaction, address any concerns promptly, and provide attentive service.
- Clear tables efficiently once guests have finished eating, adhering to hygiene and table turnover standards.
- Offer dessert and beverage suggestions, and present guest checks accurately and promptly once tables are cleared.
- Process guest payments using POS systems and handle cash transactions accurately, adhering to all cash handling procedures.
- Collaborate effectively with team members by assisting with seating guests, running food for other servers when needed, and supporting overall team efficiency.
- Maintain restaurant cleanliness and organization by completing sidework duties such as rolling silverware, polishing glassware, and restocking server stations during slower periods.
- Execute all responsibilities in a consistently prompt, friendly, and organized manner, reflecting the restaurant’s commitment to excellent service.
Server Requirements and Qualifications
- Proven experience working as a server in a fast-paced restaurant environment, demonstrating the ability to manage multiple tables and tasks effectively.
- Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills, with a genuine passion for engaging with people and creating positive interactions.
- Demonstrated ability to perform effectively under pressure while maintaining a friendly, patient, and professional demeanor.
- Strong time management and organizational skills, characterized by a prompt and methodical approach to all responsibilities.
- Ability to work seamlessly with kitchen, host, and bussing staff within a high-energy, team-oriented setting.
- Familiarity with standard cash handling procedures and experience using restaurant POS (Point of Sale) systems for order entry and payment processing.
- Commitment to maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for guests, adhering to food safety and hygiene standards.
- Demonstrated honesty, integrity, and a proactive, self-motivated work ethic.
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred; additional hospitality or customer service training is a plus.
Three server sidework checklists.
Tips for Hiring Restaurant Servers
With a solid food server job description in place, let’s explore key strategies to help you hire the best servers. Given that a negative hiring experience can deter a significant portion of job seekers, optimizing each stage of the applicant journey is crucial.
What to Include in Your Server Job Description
While each restaurant’s server job description will have unique elements based on the establishment type and service style, some core components are universally important. To attract the right candidates and set them up for success, ensure your job posting is clear, comprehensive, and appealing. Include details such as:
- Restaurant Type: Clearly specify the style of your restaurant (e.g., fine dining, casual dining, sports bar, family restaurant, café). This helps attract candidates whose experience and preferences align with your establishment.
- Shift Availability: Outline the number of shifts and weekly hours you need to fill, along with specific shift times (days, evenings, weekends, specific days of the week). Clarity here helps manage expectations and attract candidates with suitable availability.
- Experience and Education Requirements: State whether prior serving experience is mandatory or preferred and specify any educational requirements (e.g., high school diploma, specific certifications). Be clear about whether you are willing to train entry-level candidates.
- Essential Skills: Detail both hard skills (e.g., POS system proficiency, bartending knowledge, foreign language skills) and soft skills (e.g., positive attitude, communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving abilities) that are crucial for success in your server role.
- Compensation and Benefits: Clearly state the pay rate (hourly wage, tip structure, or combination) and any benefits or perks you offer. This could include health insurance, paid time off, employee discounts on meals, flexible scheduling, or opportunities for advancement. Highlighting benefits makes your job posting more attractive.
- Restaurant Culture: Briefly describe your restaurant’s work environment and culture. Is it fast-paced and high-energy? Team-oriented? Emphasize aspects that make your restaurant a great place to work.
Male server holding a try in a busy restaurant.
What to Look for in a Restaurant Server Resume
In a competitive labor market, especially within the restaurant industry, hiring efficiently is paramount. However, avoid the pitfall of rushing to hire just anyone. Hiring the wrong server can lead to rapid turnover, costing your restaurant time and resources. Focus on identifying candidates who are genuinely a good fit for your team and your restaurant’s service standards. When reviewing server resumes, prioritize these key indicators:
- Relevant Experience: Carefully examine the candidate’s work history. What types of restaurants have they worked in? How many? For how long at each? Look for consistency and progression in their experience. Consider whether their past restaurant environments align with your restaurant’s style and service demands.
- Required Certifications: Check for any necessary certifications relevant to serving in your area, such as alcohol service permits or food handler certifications. Compliance is crucial, and these certifications demonstrate a candidate’s preparedness and professionalism.
- Soft Skills Indication: While resumes primarily list hard skills and experience, look for clues that suggest strong soft skills. Keywords like “customer-focused,” “team player,” “problem-solver,” “excellent communicator,” or descriptions of roles that required these skills can be indicative of a candidate’s soft skill strengths.
- Longevity and Stability: While job hopping is common in the restaurant industry, look for patterns of reasonable tenure at previous jobs, suggesting reliability and commitment. Frequent, very short-term positions might be a red flag.
Server Training Checklist
With a clear understanding of the restaurant server role and a robust server job description sample at your disposal, you’re well-equipped to attract and hire exceptional service staff. Remember, your next crucial step is to develop a comprehensive new hire checklist to ensure your new servers have all the tools and training they need to thrive and contribute to your restaurant’s success.
by Katherine Pendrill
Katherine is the Content Marketing Manager at TouchBistro, where she creates content about the latest trends in the food and restaurant industry. Always eager to explore new cuisines, she embraces culinary adventures, from sampling camel burgers to enjoying octopus dumplings.
Topics: FSR, Labor
