Food Runner Job Description Template
Use this template to post a Food Runner job in minutes on Job Today! Learn more about the responsibilities, skills and requirements to include in a job description for a Food Runner position.
What is a Food Runner?
A food runner works alongside waiters/waitresses and bartenders, by bringing dishes from the kitchen and drinks from the bar to customers. This job helps the daily operations of cafes, restaurants or bars by speeding up the delivery of meals to the customers. They are also responsible for taking additional orders, collecting feedback, and setting the tables.
Food Runner Job Description Template
Sample Company owns a chain of first-class catering establishments. Thanks to the professionalism of our employees, we offer our clients the best level of service in the industry. Due to business expansion, we are looking for an active and outgoing food runner. The runner will need to deliver dishes and drinks to a customer, take away dirty silverware and other used items, set the table, advise guests, and take orders. No experience is needed as we will provide training. Night shifts will pay higher wages. If you are interested in starting a career in hospitality, please send your resume to our email.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Quickly bring dishes from the kitchen and drinks from the bar to diners.
- Set the table (bring clean silverware, cutlery, napkins, and a welcome beverage).
- Maintain friendly communication with clients, answer their questions, and take additional orders.
- Ability to work shifts at night or on weekends.
- Accept customer reviews and pass them on to the restaurant management.
- Follow the hygiene requirements and safety instructions.
Skills and qualifications
- Experience as a food runner or busser for 1 year, would be appreciated.
- Politeness and emotional control.
- Multitasking and endurance.
- Knowledge of hygiene and food safety rules.
- An excellent addition would be higher education in the field of hospitality.
Additional position options
- Free lunches during the shift.
- Discounts for staff in all catering establishments of the company.
- Opportunity to work more for additional wages.
- Sponsored training courses for workers.
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Duties and Responsibilities
The main task of the food runner is to take cooked meals from the chef and bring them to the diners. Beverages also must be delivered to the guest from the bar. The worker must prepare clean dishes and cutlery, fresh water, clean napkins, welcome snacks, etc. for new customers. During the performance of the duties, the food runner must comply with the principles of sanitation, remove dirty dinnerware from the table, and bring additional cutlery to visitors at their request. Tasks include:
- Confirm orders and report them to the chef with all the details (e.g. food allergies).
- Refill water and other drinks for guests and ensure that they have clean cutlery.
- Assist the server, barista, and other restaurant staff, quickly deliver orders to diners, and maintain cleanliness.
- Answer guests' questions, give recommendations and advise on the ingredients of dishes.
- Prepare a children's menu and tableware if needed.
- Get feedback and complaints from customers to report them to the manager.
- Maintain polite and friendly communication with guests.
Skills and qualifications
The more experience a food runner has, the more likely they are to become part of the restaurant. In addition to a diploma in secondary education, higher education in the field of the hotel or restaurant business will be a big advantage. A food runner needs to know the rules of hygiene and safety. The worker should be able to behave calmly in a stressful environment and listen carefully to the order of the guest. It is necessary to thoroughly study the menu of the restaurant to be able to answer any question of the client, voice the ingredients of the dish, recommend a special drink according to the requirements of the guest, etc. Other skills and qualities of a food runner include:
- Good physical fitness and stamina to lift heavy objects and be active throughout the shift.
- Be prepared to work night shifts, holidays, and weekends.
- Quickly switch between different tasks.
- Be able to optimise the time and quality of work.
- Maintain a well-groomed appearance and wear a uniform consistent with the image of the restaurant.
- Be able to carry several plates, drinks, or trays at a time.
- Communicate calmly and friendly.
Experience requirements
Even though experience as a food runner is not required, a few years of experience in this area of the restaurant business can come in very handy. On the other hand, the employer highly values customer communication skills, as well as physical endurance, to quickly and accurately deliver dishes to guests. Experience as a food runner will help an employee climb the career ladder. In addition, the more often a job seeker is willing to work, the more they will earn.
Education requirements
Sample Company would like to hire a food runner with secondary education. A more specialised education will help you integrate into the system and climb the career ladder faster. Additional benefits may include certificates of completion of courses related to food safety/hygiene, customer service, and the development of communication skills.
FAQ
A food runner is a restaurant assistant. Their task is to deliver dishes from the kitchen to guests. The work requires speed and dexterity since food needs to be delivered quickly. The runner’’s job is very important for the stable and high-quality service of the business. They also help to organise and optimise other processes, such as maintaining cleanliness, processing orders, taking feedback, etc.
A food runner delivers cooked dishes and drinks from the chef or bar to the customer. The list of tasks also includes table setting (ensuring tables are set with cutlery, dishes, tablecloths, and napkins), compliance with the Restaurant Service Standards, and additional customer service. The client should always be satisfied with the speed and quality of service.
In accordance with the working conditions, the employee must quickly complete the assigned tasks, have enough stamina to work the entire shift and be able to establish polite communication with clients and colleagues. To increase efficiency, a food runner should learn to quickly multi-task and display a high level of communication skills when talking to a guest. A candidate for this position can learn from more experienced bussers.
This work is intended for the hospitality industry. Food runners most often work in restaurants, bars, cafes, and similar places. Commonly, this work implies helping the waiter or waitress, dishwasher, and the rest of the service staff, by transferring the order to the chef and discussing customer reviews with the manager.