Beverage and food servicing works are the front line of customer services in coffee shops, restaurants, and other food service establishments. The job of these workers is to greet customers, guide them to seat, hand over menus, take drink and food orders, and serve beverages and foods.
Job Description
The job of beverage serving workers is to answer questions, explain specials and menu items, keep dining and tables clean and set for new dinners. They have to work in a team, help coworkers, provide good customer service, and improve workflow.
The work of waitresses and waiters take customers order, serve beverages and food, accept payment, and prepare itemized checks. Their responsibilities may vary significantly depending upon the nature of work and type of establishment. The workers who serve in a coffee shop prepare soups, salads, and sandwiches. They offer courteous service to customers.
In some dining restaurants, more complicated meals are prepared and served over various courses. In such establishments, waiters and waitresses offer more formal service laying emphasis upon attentive treatment, personal, and more leisurely pace. These workers may explain how items are prepared, recommend certain dishes, and notify ingredients. Some of the workers prepare desserts, salads, and other menu items. In addition, servers may interact with chefs and managers to prepare menu, specials, new items, examine ingredients for potential food allergies, discuss any food safety concerns, and maintain coordination between dining room and kitchen.
Generally, servers check the identification of patrons to make sure they meet the least age requirement for the purchase of tobacco and alcohol products where those items are sold. Sometimes, waiters and waitresses have to perform the duties of other beverages and food service workers. These works may include serving customers, directing guests to tables, cleaning up tables, and operating cash register.
The work of bartenders is to fill drink orders that is either taken through waitresses and waiters or from patrons at the bar. Bartenders ensure the identification of customers to know whether they meet the minimum age requirement for the purchase of tobacco and alcohol products. They serve draught or bottled beer, prepare mixed drinks, and pour wine. A bartender should know different drink recipes and be capable to mix drinks accurately and quickly.
Apart from serving and mixing drinks, bartenders stock and create garnish for drinks, provide glasses, ice, and other bar supplies, and keep the bar area neat and clean for the customers. They may operate the cash register, collect payment, wash utensils and glassware, and serve food to customers. Generally, bartenders are responsible for maintaining and ordering an inventory of liquor and other beverages. These workers have to carry out following responsibilities.
Responsibilities
The work of hosts and hostesses is to welcome customers and keep reservation or waiting lists. These workers direct patrons to restrooms and boardrooms. Hosts and hostesses provide customers menus and escort them to their seats. They may arrange parties, schedule dining reservations, and provide other services which are required. In some of the restaurants, they serve as cashiers.
Training and Educational Qualification
Many beverages and food service jobs required no previous experience. Many employers offer on-the-job training. Candidates who have completed a high school graduation are preferred for bartender, host, hostess, waiter, and waitresses positions. It must be noted that completion of high school is not required for counter attendants, dining room attendants, fast food workers, dishwashers, and bartender helpers.
There are many individuals who get into food and beverage services for the sake of immediate income. College or high school students get into this field as it is one of the major sources of part-time employment for them.
Advancement
There are limited opportunities for these workers as food and beverage serving establishments are relatively small in size. However, after gaining extensive experience in this field, cafeteria attendants, bartender attendant, and dining room attendants may advance to waitresses, waiters, and bartender jobs. Sometimes, it is very difficult to find a job in busier or more expensive restaurants where prospect for tip earnings are better as compare to small establishments.