Waiter
Career information and advice on being a Waiter

Waiters serve customers by taking orders, serving food and preparing tables. An important part of the work is to make customers feel welcome and comfortable during their meal. You are likely to work shifts including evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Restaurants and kitchens can be hot, humid, noisy and especially busy at key meal times. You will need a smart appearance and would usually be provided with a uniform.

Your Functions May include

As a Waiter your main duties would include:

• greeting customers as they arrive and showing them to their table
• handing out menus and taking orders for food and drink
• serving food and drinks
• dealing with bill payments
• ensuring tables are clean and tidy

In formal restaurants your work may include silver service (providing the main part of the dish separately to the vegetables or accompaniments). You would usually work in a team under the supervision of a Head Waiter known as the 'Maitre d’.

In some restaurants you would be responsible for a specific area of tables and would also give advice to diners on menu choice. You could also be involved in supervising food being cooked at the table, known as 'gueridon' service. You could choose to specialise as a Sommelier and act as an expert in wine and other alcoholic beverages.