Restaurant staff vocabulary

A person who attends to customers by supplying them with food and drinks. They follow the rules and guidelines given by the manager.

Someone who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue (money that the restaurant makes) and the employees.

A person who works in the restaurant and catering industry. They help clear the tables, take dirty dishes, set tables, and assist the servers.

A chef who is second in command of a kitchen. The sous-chef is below the head chef. They help manage the members of the kitchen when the head chef is busy.

These people help greet the customers and take them to the table. They also give menus and help the customers with any questions about the restaurant (waiting list, reservations etc.)

Someone who leads the kitchen. They create the dishes on the menu and ensure the quality of the food items. The head chef also hires and trains the staff.

A person who creates and serves alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks from behind a bar. The restaurant/nightclub requires a license in order to have this service. Bartenders also maintain the supplies and inventory.

A cook plans, prepares, and cooks food while making sure that it is of the highest quality. They must also do this in a safe and fresh way. *Cook and chef are not the same!*

A person who handles the cash register. Their main job is to take the payment from the customer. This can be found in restaurants, bars, cafes, and grocery stories.

A fast-food cook is responsible for preparing and cooking food in a quick-service restaurant. They must be able to follow recipes and cook food to order.

The dishwasher maintains a clean kitchen, properly washes and sorts dirty dishes, and prepares food if the staff needs it.

A specific kind of chef who is skilled in making pastries, desserts, breads, and other baked goods. They work in hotels, bistros, restaurants, bakeries, and cafes.

A person who works for a coffee shop that prepares and serves espresso-based coffee drinks.

This is the bartender's assistant. They are responsible for keeping the bar area clean and organized.  In general, they make sure the bartender has all of their supplies.