Server

Fine Dining Server Job Description

Fine Dining Servers are waiters and waitresses in upscale restaurants. Patrons at these places expect a high level of service because of the prices they are paying for the eating experience. Fine Dining Servers work to provide exceptional levels of customer satisfaction. Hours for Fine Dining Servers vary according to when the establishment is open, and evening and weekend schedules are common. Like any waiter or waitress, Fine Dining Servers should expect to spend a great deal of time on their feet. They also need to be coordinated and sufficiently strong to move seamlessly around the area and carry items without incident. Fine Dining Servers responsibilities include speaking with customers, taking drink and food orders, making recommendations, processing payments, and ensuring that customers’ needs are met, and they have an excellent time. You should be a skilled multi-tasker with a passion for customer satisfaction and knowledge of wines, beer, and cocktails. To succeed as a Fine Dining Server, you should be friendly, proactive, and efficient. Fine Dining Servers should also be passionate about the food and drinks they serve and creating a fun, enjoyable experience for every customer.

Fine Dining Server Duties and Responsibilities

To accomplish their goal of providing diners with an outstanding experience, Fine Dining Servers take on a variety of duties. Based on our analysis of several job postings, these are some of the most common Fine Dining Server duties.

Learning the Menu

Fine Dining Servers must be experts on a restaurant’s offerings. When patrons inquire about food choices, Fine Dining Servers should be able to explain ingredients, preparation techniques and available substitutions. They know about daily specials or seasonal offerings not on the menu and convey information about these additional choices to the dining party. Fine Dining Servers also may offer suggestions to enhance the experience, such as which wine pairs well with a given entrée.

Handling Orders

Fine Dining Servers take food and beverage orders from customers, deliver written requests to the kitchen for preparation, carry items to the table in the proper order, help the bus staff as needed with the removal of finished plates, refill drinks and collect payment when the meal is over.

Providing Customer Service

Whether a food item isn’t up to satisfaction, a guest drops his fork and needs another one or the air conditioning is too cold, Fine Dining Servers rectify the problem.

Following Procedures

Upscale restaurants often have strict guidelines to keep operations flowing and service consistent. Fine Dining Servers are aware of these instructions and act accordingly. They also pay close attention to safety measures so that food does not inadvertently become contaminated or someone gets burned by a hot plate.

Training Others

Seasoned Fine Dining Servers often assume the responsibility of getting new hires up to speed.

Other Important Responsibilities:

Interacting with customers by taking their orders, making recommendations, providing them with accurate bills, serving them food and drinks, processing payments, and supplying them with whatever they need in a timely manner.

Handling multiple tables and tasks in an efficient manner.

Cleaning and clearing tables.

Assisting with opening and closing duties, such as preparing ingredients and restocking items, such as straws, napkins, etc.

Learning about food and beverages, such as wine, beer, and cocktails.

Taking inventory of supplies and ingredients.

Checking identification to ensure customers are the proper age to purchase alcoholic beverages.

Standing, walking, and carrying heavy trays of food and drinks.

Fine Dining Server Requirements:

High School Diploma or equivalent.

Experience may be preferred, especially if serving beverages in a fine dining establishment.

Ability to walk, stand, and carry heavy trays.

A friendly, attentive attitude.

Knowledge of cocktails, beer, wine, and food.

Must be the minimum age to serve alcohol.

A passion for providing customers with high-quality service.

Compliance with all local, state, and federal liquor laws.

Willingness to work at peak hours, which may include evenings, holidays, and weekends.

Fine Dining Server Skills

Good Fine Dining Servers embrace their role. They know their appearance, attitude and actions play a large part in creating a pleasant atmosphere. Thus, hiring managers search for candidates with these capabilities:

Looking well-groomed and neatly dressed consistently to reflect positively on the employer

Paying attention to detail, such as placing orders exactly to customer specifications

Listening carefully to determine the desires of patrons and act accordingly, such as figuring out the right level of pinkness for a steak

Maintaining politeness and positivity, especially when dealing with rude or disgruntled patrons

Multitasking to serve the needs of various diners at the same time

Interacting sufficiently with customers to build goodwill and attend to their needs, but also being sensitive about giving people their space

Fine Dining Server Education and Training

Though no formal education is required, most Fine Dining Servers possess at least a high school diploma. A culinary or college degree, however, can impress hiring managers at upscale restaurants and increase the chance of landing a position. Employers also look at experience, so servers sometimes work at less prestigious restaurants first in order to build their resumes. All Fine Dining Servers can expect plenty of on-the-job training to ensure they know exactly what to do to best represent the restaurant and provide a quality experience for diners.

Fine Dining Server Salary