About the Waiter/Waitress role
A Waiter or Waitress takes care of guests from the moment they sit down: presenting menus, taking orders accurately, serving food and drinks, checking in during the meal, and settling the bill. Great service turns a good kitchen into a great restaurant.
The role demands stamina and coordination: carrying plates through a packed floor, remembering modifications, timing courses with the kitchen, and keeping several tables happy at once. Product knowledge matters too; servers who can describe dishes and suggest pairings raise both satisfaction and check size.
In your posting, describe your service style, whether casual, family, or fine dining, the shift patterns, and how tips work. These are the first things experienced servers want to know.
Waiter/Waitress job description template
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Job brief
Our dining room runs on servers who make every table feel like the only one in the house. On a typical shift you will greet arriving guests, guide them through the menu with real product knowledge, fire orders to the kitchen without errors, and keep courses landing on time while three other tables need something too. Attentive without hovering, quick without rushing anyone: that is the standard.
Experience helps, but what we care about most is how you carry a busy section: calm under pressure, warm with guests, and generous with teammates. If a packed Friday night energizes you rather than drains you, we should talk.
Responsibilities
- Welcome arriving guests, walk them to their table, and hand over menus with a warm start to the visit
- Know the menu well enough to describe dishes, flag allergens, and answer ingredient questions with confidence
- Share the day's specials and suggest dishes, drinks, or add-ons that fit what the table wants
- Capture food and beverage orders precisely, including modifications, and key them into the POS
- Relay special requests and dietary notes to the kitchen so nothing gets lost between floor and pass
- Time each course with the kitchen and check back with guests to make sure everything landed right
- Bus, clean, and reset tables quickly so the floor keeps turning during busy periods
- Present the check, handle cash and card payments accurately, and send guests off well
- Work as one team with hosts, fellow servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff throughout service
- Uphold food safety and hygiene standards on every shift
Requirements and skills
- Previous serving experience, or the energy and coachability to learn fast in a busy venue
- Comfort using a POS terminal or cash register, or the aptitude to pick one up quickly
- Genuine patience and attentiveness with guests, including the demanding ones
- A polished, friendly manner and clear communication at the table
- The ability to juggle several tables at different stages of the meal without dropping details
- Stamina for full shifts on your feet, carrying trays and plates through a crowded floor
- Availability across evenings, weekends, and holidays as the schedule requires
- Current food safety training, or willingness to complete it where required
Nice to have
- Experience in your service style, such as high-volume or fine dining
- Wine, cocktail, or coffee knowledge
- A second language common among your guests
- Experience mentoring new servers or leading sections
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