Restaurant and café roles: who do you need?

When the rush comes, the first question is: who exactly do you need? Asking for “someone to help” gets you someone who doesn’t know where to stand.

This guide sets out restaurant and café roles as they appear on Saiiy, and when each one is asked for.

1 The short answer

Ask for the role where the pressure actually is: the bar, the floor, the kitchen, or the till. If the pressure is in more than one place, list each role with how many you need.

2 The floor and the bar

• Barista. Drinks at the bar.
• Waiter. Table service: taking orders, serving, and the bill.
• Food runner. Carries plates from the kitchen to the tables, so the waiter stays with the guests.
• Host / hostess. Welcomes guests at the door, and seats them at tables.

3 The kitchen

• Kitchen assistant. Prep, chopping and helping the cook, not the cooking itself.
• Dishwasher / kitchen steward. Plates, utensils and keeping the kitchen clean. In a rush, this is who keeps the kitchen moving.

4 The till

• Cashier (food & beverage). Orders and payment at the till.

5 Who to ask for in a rush

Look at where the queue is: at the bar? Ask for a barista. Tables waiting? A waiter or a food runner. Plates piling up? A dishwasher.

To know when the pressure comes: Getting ready for rush hours