327:; offering cocktails, specialty drinks, wine, beer, or other beverages; recommending food options; requesting the chef to make changes in how food is prepared; pre-clearing the tables; and serving food and beverages to customers. In some higher-end restaurants, servers have a good knowledge of the wine list and can recommend food–wine pairings. At more expensive restaurants, servers memorize the ingredients of the dishes and the manner in which the food is prepared; for example, if the menu lists marinated beef, the customer might ask what the beef is marinated in, for how long, and what cut of beef is used in the dish.
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than the minimum wage employers are required to pay for most other forms of labor to account for the tips, which form a significant portion of the server's income. If wages and tips do not equal the federal minimum wage of $ 7.25 per hour during any week, the employer is required to increase cash wages to compensate for the difference.
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In the United States, a tip paid in addition to the amount presented on the bill for food and drinks is customary. At most sit-down restaurants, servers expect a tip after a patron has paid the check. The minimum legally-required hourly wage paid to waiters and waitresses in many U.S. states is lower
385:
Restaurant serving positions require on-the-job training that would be held by an upper-level server in the restaurant. The server will be trained to provide good customer service, learn food items and drinks, and maintain a neat and tidy appearance. Working in a role such as captain in a top rated
122:
and sometimes in private homes, attending to customers by supplying them with food and drink as requested. Waiting staff follow rules and guidelines determined by the manager. Waiting staff carry out many different tasks, such as taking orders, food-running, polishing dishes and silverware, helping
331:
staff are specially trained to serve at banquets or high-end restaurants. These servers follow specific rules and service guidelines, which makes this a skilled job. They generally wear black and white with a long, white apron (extending from the waist to the ankles). At expensive restaurants,
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In the United States, some states require individuals employed to handle food and beverages to obtain a food handler's card or permit. In those states, servers that do not have a permit or handler's card can not serve. The server can achieve a permit or handler's card online.
348:
The head server is in charge of the waiting staff and is also frequently responsible for assigning seating. The head server must insure that all staff do their duties accordingly. The functions of a head server can overlap to some degree with that of the
253:
Expeditor, or "Expo", responsible for ensuring accuracy and completeness of orders. The expeditor is also often responsible for preparing the tray for the servers so they can bring all of the plates of that course to all of the table guests at the same
322:
Such duties of typical waiters include the following: preparing a section of tables before guests sit down (e.g., changing the tablecloth, putting out new utensils, cleaning chairs, etc.), although typically this is a responsibility of
332:
waiting staff also keep blacklists of rude customers. Some waiting staff, are trained to deal with aggressive customers and how to restrain them, until security or police arrive. Also they are trained at first aid, specifically the
302:
337:
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No food certification requirements are needed in Canada. However, to serve alcoholic beverages in Canada, servers must undergo their province's online training course within a month of being hired.
289:
for wine service, and occasionally a maître fromager for the cheese service. A host or hostess may be responsible for seating diners if there is not a maître d'hôtel.
338:
https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/on-the-line/how-to-train-restaurant-upselling-techniques#:~:text=It's%20the%20most%20cliché%20phrase,margin%20items%20and%20add%2Dons.
336:
staff. Owners require servers to actively “upsell” to increase sales; bringing higher check averages and increased commission for the server.
841:
1079:
1021:"U.S. Department of Labor - Wage and Hour Division - U.S. Department of Labor-Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act"
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In such restaurants, the captain is typically responsible for interacting with the diners and overseeing waiters.
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are generally used only within their historical context, and are generally seen as rude in the modern vocabulary.
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950:
922:
Seymour, Diane (2000-06-30). "Emotional labour: a comparison between fast food and traditional service work".
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494:
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bus tables, entertaining patrons, restocking working stations with needed supplies, and handing out the bill.
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247:, responsible for dining room as a whole, greets guests; sometimes acts as headwaiter and/or supervisor
135:
141:
Many restaurants choose a specific uniform for their waiting staff to wear. Waiting staff may receive
1218:
1065:
35:
966:...as captains or servers or sommeliers, our job wasn't just serving food, it was playing a part....
240:
In large luxury establishments, there are often multiple ranks of waiting staff in the dining room:
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31:
20:
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estimates that, as of May 2008, there are over 2.2 million people employed as servers in the U.S.
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as a minor or major part of their earnings, with customs varying widely from country to country.
27:
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https://www.tablecheck.com/en/blog/restaurant-upselling-strategies-tactics-dos-and-donts/
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996:
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Hall, E. J. (1993). "WAITERING/WAITRESSING:: Engendering the Work of Table
Servers".
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557:
532:
353:. Restaurants in North America employ an additional level of waiting staff, known as
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restaurant requires disciplined role-playing comparable to a theater performance.
1187:
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886:
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Frank J. Prial, "Restaurant
Tipping: The Captain, the Waiter, The Sommelier...",
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is often required of waiting staff, particularly at many high-class restaurants.
75:
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Bar back, who helps a bartender by bussing, and restocking glassware and alcohol
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371:, to clear dirty dishes, set tables, and otherwise assist the waiting staff.
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1197:
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685:
654:"Waitperson – Definition and More from the Free Merriam–Webster Dictionary"
1161:
429:
63:
57:
45:
871:
The
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
637:
The
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
212:. The last two terms are gender neutral but rarely used, and the terms
111:
41:
26:"Waiter", "Waiters", and "Waitress" redirect here. For other uses, see
1171:
1115:
1100:
533:
U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor
Statistics (24 May 2006).
434:
286:
1057:
643:, 2004, via dictionary.com website. Retrieved on 17 September 2007.
402:
312:
266:
Back waiter, who helps waiters refill water, replenish bread, etc.
1166:
316:
1105:
355:
324:
275:
688:, via dictionary.com website. Retrieved on 17 September 2007.
115:
535:"Occupational Employment and Wages - Waiters and Waitresses"
1136:
896:, Inc., via dictionary.com. Retrieved on 19 September 2007.
220:
are increasingly used for women too. Archaic terms such as
341:://www.thewaitersacademy.com/2021/12/upselling-techniques/
554:
741:
Allan, Keith (2007). "The pragmatics of connotation".
877:, via dictionary.com. Retrieved on 19 September 2007.
854:"How to get on a restaurant's hit list - Macleans.ca"
816:
Pascale le
Draoulec, "Who's who in the dining room",
559:
Tips on
Tipping: A Global Guide to Gratuity Etiquette
495:"What is the politically correct term for waitress?"
658:
Dictionary and
Thesaurus – Merriam–Westbster Online
979:"Food Safety and Food Handlers State Requirements"
769:
556:
401:Customs vary regionally regarding the payment of
1210:
907:"Uh, no offense, but do you still say 'busboy'?"
804:"The American Heritage Dictionary entry: Waiter"
924:International Journal of Hospitality Management
776:Siegal, Allan M.; Connolly, William G. (1999).
548:
775:
1073:
130:and among the most common occupations in the
19:"Waited" redirects here. For other uses, see
948:
779:The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage
1080:
1066:
272:Runner, who brings cooked dishes to diners
1048:USA Today article on wait staff treatment
734:
563:. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. viii–ix.
942:
691:
470:"WAITING English Definition and Meaning"
296:
62:
51:
40:
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509:"SERVER English Definition and Meaning"
257:Captain, responsible for several tables
1211:
1053:Why is service still so bad in the UK?
285:There are also specialists, notably a
84:
1061:
740:
585:"WAIT English Definition and Meaning"
421:, about organization of kitchen staff
98:
1087:
697:
315:, lit on fire, served by waiters in
828:
782:. Three Rivers Press. p. 354.
13:
555:Reg Butler; Carole French (2011).
14:
1235:
1041:
912:. Retrieved on 19 September 2007.
905:Schmich, Mary. (24 August 2007.)
890:Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
682:Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
126:Waiting on tables is part of the
949:Edward Frame (August 22, 2015).
1013:
989:
983:www.foodsafetyonlineclasses.com
971:
915:
899:
880:
860:
846:
810:
796:
672:
660:. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
380:
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363:, increasingly referred to as
148:
110:(AmE) are those who work at a
1:
936:10.1016/S0278-4319(00)00009-8
455:
396:
173: is commonly called a
755:10.1016/j.pragma.2006.08.004
587:. Lexico.com. Archived from
511:. Lexico.com. Archived from
472:. Lexico.com. Archived from
278:, clears tables, sets tables
7:
910:Chicago Tribune Web Edition
412:
10:
1240:
712:10.1177/089124393007003002
136:Bureau of Labor Statistics
25:
18:
1224:Food services occupations
1180:
1129:
1093:
292:
36:Waitress (disambiguation)
875:Houghton Mifflin Company
641:Houghton Mifflin Company
537:. US Department of Labor
235:
191:member of the wait staff
67:A Swedish waitress, 2012
32:Waiters (disambiguation)
56:A waitress in a hotel,
28:Waiter (disambiguation)
951:"Dinner and Deception"
319:
68:
60:
49:
1193:Restaurant management
743:Journal of Pragmatics
311:
66:
55:
44:
700:Gender & Society
425:Chamberlain (office)
955:The New York Times
840:, March 12, 1979,
614:Collins Dictionary
419:Brigade de cuisine
320:
69:
61:
50:
16:Service occupation
1206:
1205:
1094:Dining area staff
819:Los Angeles Times
789:978-0-8129-6389-2
570:978-1-84162-210-1
369:server assistants
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163:waiting at tables
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997:"Why do we tip?"
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450:Flight attendant
375:Emotional labour
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591:on May 15, 2020
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334:Silver service
329:Silver service
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276:Busser, busboy
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153:An individual
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1198:Restaurateur
1120:
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1001:PBS NewsHour
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634:"Waitstaff."
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589:the original
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381:Requirements
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1162:Pastry chef
1025:www.dol.gov
664:22 December
430:Hospitality
230:serving lad
171:waitressing
149:Terminology
58:North Korea
46:Miami Beach
1213:Categories
1157:Dishwasher
1030:2017-04-26
1006:2016-10-27
960:August 23,
887:"Busgirl."
679:"Waitron."
595:2022-08-24
541:2006-12-31
519:2022-08-24
480:2022-08-24
456:References
403:gratuities
397:Gratuities
206:waitperson
159:waiting on
112:restaurant
94:waitresses
1172:Sous-chef
1116:Sommelier
1101:Bartender
868:"Busboy."
763:0378-2166
728:144249565
720:0891-2432
435:Soda jerk
287:sommelier
195:waitstaff
167:waitering
1181:See also
866:(2004.)
413:See also
361:busgirls
313:Saganaki
187:waitress
1167:Saucier
365:bussers
356:busboys
325:bussers
317:Chicago
210:waitron
118:, or a
108:servers
80:waiters
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1121:Server
1106:Busser
842:p. B13
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293:Duties
260:Waiter
218:server
214:waiter
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179:server
175:waiter
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236:Roles
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1152:Cook
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962:2015
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759:ISSN
716:ISSN
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254:time
216:and
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