What does a food server do?
A Food Server specializes in helping customers attain a pleasant dining experience while ensuring to meet all food handling and health regulation standards. Most of the responsibilities revolve around greeting customers and directing them to comfortable seats, responding to their inquires and taking their orders, and courteously suggesting options. Aside from serving meals, Food Servers must also accept payments, organize order receipts, replenish stocks in food containers and drinking stations, and clean tables for the new customers.
Food server responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real food server resumes:
- Manage expediter window paying close attention to garnishes and presentation.
- Provide outstanding customer service by communicating clearly and effectively while maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the restaurant.
- Serve tables in a busy caf /bar environment.
- Handle all transactions, both in person and by headset in drive-thru.
- Work the Drive-Thru counter assisting numerous customers at a fast and friendly pace.
- Prepare and serve delicious espresso, coffee drinks, and smoothies according to memorize recipes.
- Operate large-volume cooking equipment such as deep-fat fryers, gas stoves, and pizza ovens.
- Provide full service dining, prepare savory and sweet crepes and hot espresso beverages at a high-volume caf /restaurant
- Perform accurate mixing measures for a wide range of different tea drinks' recipes, smoothies and desserts.
- Enter orders utilizing computerize POS program.
- Perform full bartending preparation and service.
- Perform serving and bartending tasks in fast pace environment
- Operate computer POS system/cash register and enthusiastically accept payments from customers.
- Specialize in innovative Californian cuisine with very extensive and eclectic wine list.
- Describe menu items and daily specials in detail and provide recommendations including wine pairing options.
Food server skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Food Servers are proficient in Beverage Orders, Wine, and Cleanliness. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Food Servers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Beverage Orders, 10%
Obtained specific food and beverage orders from customers * Computer data entry of orders * Financial responsibilities and multiple payment transactions
- Wine, 9%
Described menu items and daily specials in detail and provided recommendations including wine pairing options.
- Cleanliness, 9%
Maintained food edibility and cleanliness of the facility according to state regulation and business policies.
- Customer Service, 9%
Delivered excellent customer service by recognizing and assisting each customer and resolved complaints with grace and a positive attitude.
- Guest Service, 6%
Worked in coordination with other departments to ensure customer satisfaction and excellent guest service.
- Cash Handling, 5%
Motivated teamwork in a high volume environment.-Cash handling-Food safety-Title IV liquor laws-Menu knowledge-Teamwork
Most food servers use their skills in "beverage orders," "wine," and "cleanliness" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential food server responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a food server to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "food and beverage serving and related workers must listen to customers’ orders and relay them correctly to the kitchen staff so that the orders are prepared as requested." Food servers often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "utilized strong communications skills to develop relationship with customers *successfully trained two new employees *prepared food to customer expectations *maintained shop cleanliness"
Customer-service skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling food server duties is customer-service skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "food service establishments rely on good food and customer service to keep customers and succeed in a competitive industry." According to a food server resume, here's how food servers can utilize customer-service skills in their job responsibilities: "assume 100% responsibility for quality guest experience. "
Physical stamina. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of food servers is physical stamina. This skill is critical to many everyday food server duties, as "food and beverage serving and related workers spend most of their shift doing physical tasks such as standing, carrying trays, and cleaning work areas." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "fast-paced, busy, high volume and maintain physical stamina. "
Physical strength. food server responsibilities often require "physical strength." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "food and beverage serving and related workers need to be able to lift and carry stock and equipment that can weigh up to 50 pounds." This resume example shows what food servers do with physical strength on a typical day: "create pleasant dining experience for customers* strengthened customer service skills* made sure guest had a satisfying meal"
The three companies that hire the most food servers are:
- Sunrise Senior Living Management Inc105 food servers jobs
- Caesars Entertainment51 food servers jobs
- Hilton50 food servers jobs
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Compare different food servers
Food server vs. Assistant manager/server
A server and hostess is an employee who plays the dual role of both a hostess and a server. As implied by this, a server and hostess is in-charge of welcoming guests as they enter the restaurant, ensuring that the guests' tables are ready before leading them to their assigned tables, handing over the menu, and waiting for the guests to finalize their order. Once the guests are ready to order, the server and hostess takes on the server role by bringing the guests' order to the kitchen, waiting for the food to be ready, and bringing the food to the guests' table.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between food servers and assistant manager/server. For instance, food server responsibilities require skills such as "wine," "cleanliness," "cash handling," and "beverage service." Whereas a assistant manager/server is skilled in "genuine hospitality," "payroll," "food service," and "bank deposits." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Assistant managers/server tend to reach similar levels of education than food servers. In fact, assistant managers/server are 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Food server vs. Server and hostess
A server/barista is someone who makes and serves beverages and foods, such as coffee, tea, and sandwiches or baked goods. He/She or she should be able to explain menu items to customers to ensure customer satisfaction. Other responsibilities include knowing food and beverage quality controls and updating displays to attract customers. The core skills that a server/barista should possess include excellent listening and communication skills and the ability to cope up with a physically demanding work environment. A candidate with a high school diploma or equivalent could qualify for the position.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real food server resumes. While food server responsibilities can utilize skills like "wine," "cleanliness," "guest service," and "cash handling," server and hostesses use skills like "seat guests," "food service," "greeting guests," and "telephone calls."
On average, server and hostesses earn a higher salary than food servers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, server and hostesses earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $26,585. Whereas food servers have higher pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $27,445.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Server and hostesses tend to reach similar levels of education than food servers. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Food server vs. Server/barista
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a food server is likely to be skilled in "guest service," "cash handling," "beverage service," and "kitchen utensils," while a typical server/barista is skilled in "multitasking," "presentation standards," "bistro," and "caf."
Server/baristas typically earn similar educational levels compared to food servers. Specifically, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Food server vs. Caterer/server
Types of food server
Updated January 8, 2025
