What Is a Back Server In a Restaurant?

If you’re an aspiring restaurant owner looking for information on what is a back server in a restaurant you’ve come to the correct spot. This article will go into great depth on that question. So, What is a back server in a restaurant? Let’s take a look.

What is a back server in a restaurant? Back servers in a restaurant are individuals responsible for performing specific tasks, such as clearing away empty plates, restocking tableware, ensuring that food is served promptly, and attending to special requests. 

One of the most satisfying yet challenging occupations in food service is serving customers. You need to be a good server and hospitable, approachable, calm, and an expert multitasker. In the sections below, we’ll discuss all there is to be a back server, so if you’re one or contemplating one. This article is for you. 

A back server ensures the restaurant is spotlessly clean and ready for clients. They aid in keeping operations running smoothly. When necessary, they quickly walk around the dining areas removing tables and assisting the other servers in serving the meals to customers. Occasionally, they perform strenuous labor, such as extending hospitable services to visitors to make their days a little bit better. 

What Is a Back Server In a Restaurant?

Is The Back Server’s Job The Most Stressful In a Restaurant?

The majority of people who worked as food servers will attest to the fact that it is a highly stressful job. Anyone who has worked for a wider audience, whether in a restaurant, a store, etc., will undoubtedly agree. Dealing with people can be difficult. Yes, that is accurate. The difficulties of waiting tables go beyond just having to cope with unpleasant clients.

Concerning the pay, a server’s job is one with one low salary and a lot of stress, which is a terrible mix. The tension is increased when the work is physically and emotionally draining. 

Servers are under constant pressure from the culinary crew, hosts/hostesses, management, and other staff members. The directions and complaints will start to fly, especially when things get crowded and frequently come straight to the waitstaff. It’s awful to get screamed at for stuff you can’t change. Additionally, maintaining composure and control in such hectic settings adds to the demanding aspect of the job. 

Is It Better To Say Waiter or Server?

You could ask which is better to say between a waiter and a server. Since both can be used as gender-neutral expressions and are just acceptable, they are linguistically neutral. Due to the historical link of the profession with men, being a waiter hasn’t been viewed as gender-neutral, but those worries have long been gone. 

The term “server” became frequently used in restaurants, perhaps due to confusion or the persistent stereotype that waiters were men. Many believed the terms “waiter” and “waitress” were derogatory or offensive to servers. This doesn’t make much sense because the word server isn’t all that different. Still, many linguistic changes occur without the general public fully comprehending their causes.

Is Being a Back Server In The Restaurant Hard?

The restaurant industry is known for being competitive. While their employees put in a lot of overtime for little pay, the owners themselves deal with low-profit margins and a high chance of failure. For instance, a back server, in particular, earns some of the lowest earnings in the industry despite being physically and psychologically demanding.

Due to the demands of the position, the unfavorable working conditions, and the low compensation, being a back server can be a particularly challenging line of work and can even lead to server burnout.

Even when they are not harassed, servers have challenging working conditions. Only a few servers have health insurance or other working benefits, making it difficult to take time off when sick.

Do Back Servers Get Tips?

Yes, back serves actually do get tips. The tip given is always shared, so the number of tips given depends on the worker’s position. The back waiter gains four points while the leading servers, the captains, earn five. However, many back servers frequently pocket their tips and fail to record their earnings. 

In some cases, after tipping, the hosts, bussers, and bartenders serve to keep the cash tips they received. However, the IRS forces the server to declare their tips and deduct them from the cost of their payments. So, servers don’t get to keep all of their tips, only a percentage.

What Is a Captain Waiter?

A waiter captain, who can also be called a chief waiter, is responsible for managing the restaurant’s wait staff and food delivery. They are extraordinarily seasoned and highly skilled and are hired for the senior position by high-end restaurants or those with a large crew. The duties of the captain waiter include managing the team, hiring new employees, and providing customer service as necessary.

A waiter captain’s primary responsibility is ensuring diners receive excellent service. Daily responsibilities include:

• Teaching all levels of servers.
• Monitoring the proper flow of dishes.
• Advising the workforce of specials and sold-out items.
• Maintaining the dining areas’ cleanliness and organization.

In establishments that serve formal dining, the head waiter frequently serves as the host or hostess and seats patrons when they arrive.

What Are The Responsibilities Of The Back Server?

A back server’s responsibility involves:

• Taking orders.
• Responding to inquiries about the menu and food.
• Selling the restaurant food and drinks.
• Collecting payments.
• Relaying orders to the kitchen staff seating.
• Seat customers and assist with cleaning. 

A back server should accurately and cheerfully take guests’ orders for food and drink. Orders should be written down on the order slips, memorized, or can be to computers and sent to the culinary staff.

Another responsibility of a back server is interacting with customers in a friendly way; they should be familiar with the menu and be able to recommend an excellent menu or dish combination to guests. They should ensure that everyone is having no difficulty at the table; their duty is to make them comfortable. If any tip is dropped on the table, the server will carry it. 

Creation of checks that include the amount of the meal and any applicable sales taxes should be made. Once again, when compulsory, they should assist the other employees in preparing meals. 

PROs AND CONs of Being a Back Server In a Restaurant?

Pros 

• A back server tends to meet and network with people of different races. 
• They earn a decent amount of tips. 
• A back server is an excellent choice for a side hustle or second job.
• Due to the exercise of long hours of working and walking, they usually turn out to be physically fit.
• Working in a restaurant, especially as a back server, is very profitable during the holidays 
• The job role or application is readily accepted. You get a job quickly as a back server for a restaurant. 
• Since you work there, you may pay little or nothing for food. 
• You get to exchange shifts from your colleague to be able to attend to some other matters. 
• Once you’re closed for work or done for the day, that’s it; you won’t get called again for any purpose. 
• As a server, you can choose the position or place you want to work. It’s that flexible.
• You don’t have to sit in an office all day as a server. 
• You also get educated on how they handle difficult people, which is a great social skill and will help them run a business. 
• Due to how busy you would get, work hours run by quickly, and before you know it, that day is over. 
• You get to save time and money for the gym. 

Cons 

• The overall salary of a back server is nothing to write home about 
• You get to meet and interact with different characters; you meet the hard-to-please guests, the rude, and so on.
• As a back server, you don’t go on vacations or rest during holidays because you’d be working. 
• You won’t even be able to sleep well, cause at the time, you get to work deep into the night.
• The shifts can be so exhausting. 
• Being a back server is undoubtedly mind challenging. 
• A back saver even has to work during the weekend; they must cancel the weekend’s rest off their calendar most times. 
• Only a few back severs get some benefit; many don’t. 
• Due to how demanding the job is, many are quick to quit. 
• As a back server, you can be replaced so easily. 
• They have, sadly, a fixed income.
• You will get some colleagues who will try to be lazy. This can be so frustrating. 
• They often have to worry about money because the salary paid is not just enough. 
• You could get stuck in the job, not because of how great it is, but for some reason, you can’t help unless you take action. 

What Is a Server Position At a Restaurant?

A server position at a restaurant is on the guest’s left-hand side. The best etiquette is to take the plate from the nearest point; neither you nor your staff should ever stretch across a guest to reach the table; it’s the best way to get the plates from the nearest point. 

Servers should check up with the diners occasionally, clear the table of any leftovers, and wipe the table as needed. Always check for further orders once the dinner is over before bringing the bill.

What Is The Difference Between a Server and a Back Server?

Servers 

 They greet and welcome the clients. 

• They should accept reservations over the phone or in person, as they are always available. 
• A server locates a seat and directs guests to their table. 
• They update clients on the progress of orders or bookings.
•  A server address a customer’s concerns 
• They ensure the neatness and cleanliness of the restaurant. 
• Lastly, they collect cash from clients as they depart. 

Back servers 

• They greet the clients and wish them to enjoy their meal 
• They provide the menu responses to whatever questions they have
• They recommend meals and wine pairings, which they know more about. 
• They also take orders
• They serve and refill food and drinks to the table of the customer 
• Then they clear the table. 
• Lastly, they make and process transactions. 

What Is The Difference Between a Front Waiter And a Back waiter?

Back waiter

A back waiter fills the water glasses, clears empty dishes, and carries out other minor duties to help the front waiters. In some places, this occupation is also called commis waiter. Many people began their careers in the food service industry as back waiters while learning the trade. Back waiters are paired with professional servers who instruct them in the art of providing courteous service. Each back waiter at some major restaurants focuses solely on one service aspect, such as clearing dishes or delivering food. While there are many roles available, he will explore them later.

Front waiter 

The front waiter serves as an intermediary between the waiter and the chef. The front waiter also helps the waiter or captain “mark” or set the table before each meal and aids with wine and drink service. 

What Does Back Waiter Mean?

The back waiter is an individual who helps with tasks like clearing tables, bringing plates, cutlery, and drinkware to the kitchen for washing, filling clients’ water glasses, and setting tables for the following service: waiters and bussers. They might also assist waiters and waitresses with bringing food to tables, restocking napkins, silverware, and other dining room necessities.

They are involved in cleaning and dressing tables, setting decorations, condiments, candles, napkins, serving plates, and utensils, all part of setting up the dining room for customers. They follow sanitation and safety regulations to protect the business and its customers. Maintaining the menu’s appearance by changing worn or damaged pages, cleaning the chalkboards, and writing specials on them, they maintain the table setting by clearing dishes as they are finished, replacing utensils, and restocking water.

They also have to be watchful for spills or other different demands from customers. It is their role to set up and restock condiment stands, trash can liners, and bus stops to assist wait staff. They have to close the restaurant by cleaning the seats and tables, sweeping and/or vacuuming the floors, and removing the trash and recyclables. Lastly, they participate in staff training opportunities to update their job knowledge and carry out other tasks as directed.

Is a Back Server a Hospitality Job?

Yes, a back server is a hospitality job. Another vital element is that many professions in this sector require engaging with clients directly. Make sure you are a people person if you decide you want to work in hotels or restaurants. Of course, there are also professions in the food industry that are done behind the scenes, such as sales, marketing, and accounting. But there is one thing that all jobs have in common: serving clients when they have free time and giving them anything they might require or want.

Do Barbacks or Servers Make More?

Servers and bartenders are the two categories of the restaurant staff most commonly recognized. Yet, many people are curious as to which category earns more money. As it turns out, bartenders frequently command higher wages. However, there may be some businesses where this general rule is not always valid. It’s crucial to remember that each field of work has unique obligations and responsibilities while comparing the two. Both bartenders and servers have distinct occupations with their own qualifications.

The typical server will look after a table from the start of their meal to the conclusion. This often entails a server greeting their table, taking their order, delivering their food, and then making several checks throughout the dinner to verify their satisfaction.

After the meal, the server will often present the bill, and they will be tipped on that amount, often hoping for a 20% tip. A server may wait at a table for as little as 20 minutes or as long as an hour. Compare that to the responsibilities of a bartender, who usually only manages the preparation of alcoholic beverages.

Conclusion

As a Back Server It is normal not to know how to accomplish everything in such a fast-paced, dynamic work atmosphere or not have the best method to explain every dish. Ask a coworker or manager to talk things through with you or give advice if you are unsure about something. This demonstrates your commitment to your profession and gives you self-assurance as you work. Give yourself time and also be patient. 

Your serving skills may be improved with practice and dedication, just like any other skill. After every shift:

1. Give yourself time to reflect and consider what worked and didn’t.
2. Review your notes, become familiar with the menu, and make inquiries.
3. Try not to personally take feedback from managers, coworkers, or customers; this is crucial. 

Jeff Smith is a Restaurant Consultant with over 20 years of hospitality experience ranging from server to owner and general manager.  He focuses on Restaurant POS technology as well as restaurant marketing.  Make sure to check out our world famous restaurant resources resources page for a comprehensive offering of hand picked resources and tools to help your business.  You can also check out some of our other restaurant business articles.