If you enjoy working with people, food, and drinks, you might be interested in becoming a dining room server. A dining room server is a professional who provides friendly and efficient service to customers in a restaurant, café, or other food and beverage establishment. In this article, you will learn about the main duties, skills, and challenges of a dining room server.
A dining room server is often the first point of contact for customers, so they need to make a good impression. They greet customers warmly, inform them about the specials and promotions, and guide them to their tables. They also check the reservations, manage the waiting list, and arrange the seating according to the customers' preferences and the restaurant's capacity.
A dining room server plays a pivotal role in the dining experience. It's the second person you typically come into contact with beyond the host/ hostess stand. A warm greeting and smile goes a long way to welcome your Guests to the table and make them feel comfortable. The main AOR (area of responsibility) is to ensure your Guests have an outstanding meal, the food is great and the service goes above and beyond their expectations. That's ultimately how you keep customers coming back for more. Topped with a sincere Goodbye and "Thank you for dining with us!"
A dining room server is responsible for taking customers' orders accurately and politely. They need to know the menu well, answer any questions, and make recommendations based on the customers' needs and preferences. They also need to communicate the orders clearly to the kitchen staff and ensure that they are prepared and delivered on time. They serve the food and drinks with care and attention, and check on the customers' satisfaction regularly.
A dining room server is responsible for taking Guests orders and making suggestions for any specials the restaurant may be running. Add a personal touch to share your favorite menu items/ cocktails. Menu knowledge is key to open conversation and answer questions. Recommend frequently ordered items or up-sell signature appetizers and dishes. Reading back the order creates minimal room for error to ensure they're getting exactly what they want. Using "special instructions" or "notes" on the POS is helpful for any allergies / special requests that need to be communicated to the kitchen. Serve drinks promptly from the time your table is seated to keep them engaged and comfortable. Check on Guests throughout their visit with table touches.
Dining room server is the male or female worker in the restaurant whose responsibility is to ensure customers are satisfactorily attended to by politely directing the incoming guest/s to a comfortable seat, in a welcoming manner greet and ask of their choice of meal as in the menu list , take the order and ensure it is promptly processed in the kitchen and delivered to the guest table with out delays. In some cases you have a guest room attendant who stands between the guest and kitchen workers, whose role is to direct Kitchen staff whose order is to be delivered and stands around to take complaints and extra intrusions from guest.
A dining room server is also in charge of handling the payments and tips from the customers. They need to present the bill, process the payment, and thank the customers for their visit. They also need to count and report their tips accurately and fairly, and share them with other staff members if required. They need to follow the restaurant's policies and procedures for cash handling, credit cards, vouchers, and coupons.
Dining servers are responsible for finalizing the transaction between the restaurant and the Guest. Present the bill once the Guests have completed their meal/ beverages. Kindly thank them for visiting. Remember a Smile is the best part of your uniform!! With a great overall experience, Guests are more inclined to tip appropriately (18%-20%). Exceptional food and service may yield higher results into the 25% range. Servers are held accountable to report their tips and cash due to the restaurant accurately. If other team members earn a portion of the tips (i.e tipping your Host/ Bartender/ Bussers) you're expected to if required. Following restaurant Food Safety Handling and proper cash handling procedures all fall into this role.
A dining room server is expected to keep the dining area clean and tidy. They need to clear the plates, utensils, glasses, and napkins from the tables after the customers leave, and sanitize them properly. They also need to reset the tables with fresh linens, cutlery, and condiments, and replenish the supplies as needed. They need to follow the health and safety standards and regulations for food handling and hygiene.
Seeing how your servers clean and reset tables is one of my favourite ways to see who really wants to be there. Who is getting their tables turned and asking for the next reservation in their section, who wants those tips and who is looking to provide the best possible service they can. And it all starts with getting the tables turned and looking immaculate again. Sure, there are nuances to it - every restaurant I've ever been in sets their tables slightly differently, so the 'how to' aspect is taken care of by SOPs. You might consider using bussers for this task, but you do miss out on a valuable piece of information regarding your service and their pro-activeness.
A dining room server will expedite the bussing of the table by doing consistent tale touches. Clear any dirty dishes or glasses once the Guest is finished with them to make more room and less mess at the end of their meal. Sanitize tables following each Customers visit to ensure it's clean and ready to serve for the next Guest. Some servers are responsible for folding silverware or side-work. Restocking condiments, linens, cleaning beverage machines etc. Follow food safety guidelines and regulations for safe food handling.
A dining room server is not only limited to serving customers, but also to assisting with other tasks in the restaurant. They need to help with stocking, inventory, and ordering of food and beverages, as well as cleaning and maintaining the equipment and facilities. They also need to cooperate with other staff members, such as hosts, bartenders, cooks, and managers, and support them as needed. They need to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs and demands of the restaurant.
Dining room servers wear many hats. Their duties may go beyond serving Guests at the table. If the host/ hostess needs assistance seating tables, in some cases servers assist in this area. Running food or drinks for other Servers can be very helpful and shows you're a true team player! Cleaning your work station or completing side work during down time can make your shift run more smoothly.
A dining room server is constantly learning and improving their skills and knowledge. They need to stay updated on the latest trends, products, and techniques in the food and beverage industry, as well as the customer expectations and feedback. They also need to participate in training sessions, workshops, and courses to enhance their service quality, professionalism, and career development. They need to be motivated and passionate about their work and their customers.
A server's duty first and foremost, is to make the guest feel comfortable and also gain his trust. That's the first step to achieving excellent service. The reason is that once you ve broken the ice , the guest will be much more open to your suggestions ( which you should only give because you know the product is good , not because its expensive or the kitchen needs to get rid of it). That way when the guest will like the dish, you as a server will have contributed to his great gastronomic experience as it was your food suggestion. Appart from that as a server you should be attentive and care about the guest, being a server is first about being inlove with people and genuinely wanting to create smiles and moments for them.