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Food and Beverage Server |
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Description Restaurants employ all different types of workers from kitchen staff such as dishwashers and chefs, to hosts and bartenders. Next to the host, food and beverage servers are the front line staff in restaurants. Depending on the establishment in which they work, food and beverage servers perform various tasks. Nevertheless, for all of them, their main job is to serve food and drinks in some capacity. This usually takes place in a very fast-paced environment. In fact, serving is actually quite a good workout, requiring them to be on their feet for the entire day. The food and beverage server takes the customers' orders and in fine dining restaurants they may suggest daily specials or good wines to accompany a steak, fish or a pasta, perhaps. In certain theme restaurants, servers might have to also play an entertaining role or dress up in a particular costume, for example in a 1950s diner style restaurant. They usually bring patrons drinks first and when the food is ready, they serve it to the tables and bring any garnishes or sauces needed, like ketchup. After the meal, they help clear the table and then bill the customers. Most restaurants these days run on a computer system like SQUIRREL, so servers do not have to tabulate the bills on their own. In whatever type of establishment the server works, one with experience can answer any of the customers' questions about ingredients, preparation of the food, suggest wines or beers and even entrees. They can time out a meal properly and make sure that any special food requests or allergies be attended to. They are in tune with the customers wants and can read a table well. Also, food and beverage servers must deal with difficult customers. Since the nature of the job is customer service oriented, servers must maintain a level of diplomacy and learn to deal with these customers in an effective manner. Furthermore, some servers have additional side duties to perform before, during and after one's shift. This involves opening up and closing down the restaurant, making coffee, bringing out clean plates, escorting guests to tables, clearing and re-setting tables, and many other duties. |
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Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2002, http://www.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_nat.htm |
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