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Running a successful restaurant requires a well-coordinated team of professionals, each playing a different role in creating an exceptional dining experience for guests. From management and front-of-house to back-of-house positions, every staff member contributes to the smooth operation and overall success of the establishment.
In this blog, we will explore the essential restaurant positions, detailing the responsibilities and average salaries for each role. Whether you're looking to build a strong team for your restaurant or simply curious about the inner workings of restaurant positions, this guide will provide valuable insights into the diverse and dynamic restaurant roles that exist.
Management Restaurant Roles
General Manager
The General Manager (GM) is the backbone of any restaurant, ensuring the smooth operation of the entire establishment. They oversee all aspects of the restaurant's operations, from staffing and budgeting to customer service and compliance with health and safety regulations. The restaurant GM is responsible for creating a positive work environment and ensuring that both staff and customers are satisfied.
Role responsibilities:
- Overseeing daily operations of the restaurant
- Managing budgets and financial plans
- Hiring, training, and supervising staff
- Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations
- Handling customer complaints and feedback
- Developing and implementing marketing strategies
- Monitoring inventory and ordering supplies
- Conducting performance evaluations and setting goals for staff
Average base salary:
Assistant Manager
The Assistant Manager supports the General Manager in the overall management and operation of the restaurant. This role involves a mix of administrative duties and hands-on work, ensuring that all aspects of the restaurant run smoothly. The Assistant Manager helps to maintain high standards of food, service, health, and safety.
Role responsibilities:
- Assisting the General Manager with daily operations
- Supervising and training staff
- Managing shift schedules and staff rotations
- Handling customer inquiries and resolving issues
- Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations
- Assisting with inventory management and ordering supplies
- Overseeing opening and closing procedures
- Supporting marketing and promotional activities
Average base salary:
Food and Beverage Manager
The Food and Beverage Manager oversees the restaurant's food and beverage operations, ensuring high standards of quality, service, and profitability. This role involves managing both the kitchen and front-of-house teams, coordinating menus, and maintaining inventory. The Food and Beverage Manager is pivotal in enhancing the dining experience and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Role responsibilities:
- Overseeing food and beverage operations, including menu planning and pricing
- Managing kitchen and front-of-house staff
- Ensuring compliance with health, safety, and hygiene standards
- Monitoring inventory levels and ordering supplies
- Coordinating with suppliers and vendors
- Implementing cost control measures to maximize profitability
- Handling customer feedback and resolving complaints
- Conducting staff training and development programs
- Analyzing sales and performance metrics to make informed decisions
Average base salary:
Bar Manager
The Bar Manager is responsible for the efficient operation of the bar area, ensuring a high standard of service and quality. This role involves managing bar staff, maintaining inventory, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for customers. The Bar Manager plays a key role in enhancing the guest experience through exceptional beverage service and hospitality.
Role responsibilities:
- Overseeing daily bar operations and ensuring smooth service
- Hiring, training, and supervising bartenders and barbacks
- Developing and maintaining the beverage menu, including cocktails, wines, and beers
- Managing inventory and ordering supplies to ensure stock levels are adequate
- Ensuring compliance with health, safety, and liquor regulations
- Handling customer inquiries and resolving any issues promptly
- Implementing cost control measures and managing budgets
- Organizing and promoting special events or promotions
- Maintaining cleanliness and organization of the bar area
Average base salary:
Kitchen Manager
The Kitchen Manager is responsible for the overall operation of the kitchen, ensuring that all food is prepared to the highest standards of quality and safety. This role involves managing kitchen staff, overseeing food preparation, and maintaining inventory. The Kitchen Manager ensures that the kitchen operates efficiently and meets all health and safety regulations.
Role responsibilities:
- Overseeing daily kitchen operations and ensuring food quality
- Hiring, training, and supervising kitchen staff, including chefs and cooks
- Planning and updating menus in collaboration with the executive chef
- Managing inventory and ordering supplies to maintain adequate stock levels
- Ensuring compliance with health, safety, and sanitation regulations
- Monitoring food costs and implementing cost control measures
- Coordinating with front-of-house staff to ensure timely and accurate food delivery
- Conducting regular inspections and maintaining kitchen equipment
- Handling customer feedback and resolving any kitchen-related issues
Average base salary:
Shift Leader
The Shift Leader is responsible for managing the restaurant during their designated shifts, ensuring smooth operations and excellent customer service. This role involves overseeing restaurant staff, handling customer inquiries, and maintaining the overall efficiency of the restaurant. The Shift Leader acts as the point of contact for any issues that arise during their shift.
Role responsibilities:
- Overseeing restaurant operations during assigned shifts
- Supervising and supporting staff, including servers, hosts, and kitchen personnel
- Ensuring high levels of customer service and satisfaction
- Handling customer inquiries, complaints, and special requests
- Managing shift schedules and staff rotations
- Monitoring inventory levels and assisting with restocking
- Enforcing health, safety, and hygiene standards
- Conducting briefings and debriefings with staff at the beginning and end of shifts
- Reporting any issues or incidents to the General Manager or Assistant Manager
Average base salary:
Entertainment Manager
The Entertainment Manager is responsible for planning and coordinating entertainment activities and events within the restaurant. This role involves managing live performances, special events, and themed nights to enhance the dining experience and attract customers. The Entertainment Manager ensures that all entertainment activities align with the restaurant's brand and appeal to its target audience.
Role responsibilities:
- Planning and scheduling entertainment activities, including live music, performances, and themed events
- Coordinating with performers, bands, DJs, and other entertainment providers
- Managing the entertainment budget and negotiating contracts with performers
- Ensuring all entertainment activities comply with health, safety, and legal regulations
- Promoting events through social media, advertising, and in-house marketing materials
- Collaborating with the kitchen and front-of-house staff to ensure seamless event execution
- Handling customer inquiries and feedback related to entertainment
- Monitoring the success of events and making adjustments for future activities
- Maintaining equipment and ensuring the setup and breakdown of entertainment areas
Average base salary:
Front of House Restaurant Roles
Host/Hostess
The Host/Hostess is the first point of contact for guests entering the restaurant, responsible for creating a welcoming atmosphere and managing the seating arrangements. This role involves greeting guests, managing reservations, and ensuring a smooth flow of customers in and out of the dining area.
Role responsibilities:
- Greeting guests warmly and escorting them to their tables
- Managing reservations and waitlists efficiently
- Providing guests with menus and information about daily specials
- Coordinating with servers and kitchen staff to ensure timely seating
- Handling customer inquiries and accommodating special requests
- Maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the entrance and waiting area
- Assisting with phone calls and taking reservations over the phone
- Monitoring dining area capacity and managing table turnover
- Handling guest complaints and escalating issues to management when necessary
Average base salary:
Server
The Server is responsible for providing excellent customer service by taking orders, serving food and beverages, and ensuring guests have an enjoyable dining experience. This role involves interacting with customers, managing multiple tables, and working closely with kitchen staff to ensure timely and accurate food delivery.
Role responsibilities:
- Greeting guests and presenting menus
- Taking food and beverage orders accurately
- Entering orders into the POS system and coordinating with kitchen staff
- Serving food and drinks to guests in a timely manner
- Checking on guests throughout their meal to ensure satisfaction
- Handling special requests and dietary restrictions
- Processing payments and issuing receipts
- Clearing and resetting tables for the next guests
- Assisting with opening and closing duties, such as setting up and breaking down stations
- Providing exceptional customer service and addressing any issues promptly
Average base salary:
Bartender
The Bartender is responsible for preparing and serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to guests, providing excellent customer service, and maintaining a clean and well-stocked bar. This role involves mixing drinks, managing bar inventory, and ensuring a pleasant experience for customers.
Role responsibilities:
- Preparing and serving a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Mixing cocktails according to recipes and guest preferences
- Greeting guests and taking drink orders promptly
- Managing bar inventory and restocking supplies as needed
- Ensuring the bar area is clean and organized
- Handling cash and card transactions accurately
- Checking identification to verify legal drinking age
- Interacting with guests to create a welcoming atmosphere
- Monitoring guest consumption of alcohol and maintaining a safe environment
- Assisting with opening and closing duties, such as setting up and breaking down the bar
Average base salary:
Barback
The Barback is responsible for supporting the bartenders by maintaining a well-stocked and clean bar area. This role involves ensuring that bartenders have everything they need to serve guests efficiently, including replenishing supplies, cleaning, and organizing the bar.
Role responsibilities:
- Restocking and replenishing bar inventory, including liquor, beer, wine, and garnishes
- Cleaning and sanitizing glassware, utensils, and bar surfaces
- Assisting bartenders with preparing drink garnishes and setting up the bar
- Maintaining cleanliness and organization of the bar area and storage spaces
- Removing empty bottles and trash from the bar area
- Assisting with keg changes and managing the draft beer system
- Ensuring that ice bins are filled and stocked throughout the shift
- Helping to set up and break down the bar at the beginning and end of shifts
- Running errands to replenish supplies as needed
- Supporting bartenders with any additional tasks to ensure efficient service
Average base salary:
Busser
The Busser is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the dining area, ensuring that tables are promptly cleared, cleaned, and reset for new guests. This role is crucial in supporting servers and ensuring a smooth and efficient dining experience for all customers.
Role responsibilities:
- Clearing and cleaning tables after guests have finished dining
- Resetting tables with clean linens, silverware, and glassware
- Assisting servers with delivering food and beverages to tables
- Ensuring that the dining area and surrounding areas are clean and organized
- Removing trash and emptying garbage bins
- Refilling water glasses and non-alcoholic beverages as needed
- Assisting with opening and closing duties, such as setting up and breaking down dining areas
- Communicating with servers and kitchen staff to ensure timely service
- Handling special cleaning tasks as assigned
- Providing support to servers and other front-of-house staff as needed
Average base salary:
Food Runner
The Food Runner is responsible for delivering food orders from the kitchen to the guests' tables quickly and accurately. This role ensures that the dining experience is seamless by coordinating with the kitchen and front-of-house staff to provide timely and efficient service.
Role responsibilities:
- Delivering food orders from the kitchen to the appropriate tables
- Ensuring accuracy and presentation of dishes before serving
- Assisting servers by providing additional table service as needed
- Communicating with kitchen staff to ensure timely preparation of orders
- Addressing any guest inquiries or concerns about their orders
- Clearing and cleaning tables when necessary
- Assisting with food preparation tasks as needed
- Maintaining cleanliness and organization in the service areas
- Supporting the kitchen and front-of-house staff during busy periods
- Helping with opening and closing duties, such as setting up and breaking down service stations
Average base salary:
Sommelier
The Sommelier is a wine expert responsible for creating and managing the wine list, advising guests on wine pairings, and ensuring an exceptional wine service. This role involves extensive knowledge of wines, proper storage and handling, and providing an elevated dining experience through expert recommendations.
Role responsibilities:
- Curating and managing the restaurant's wine list
- Advising guests on wine pairings based on their meal choices and preferences
- Conducting wine tastings and staff training sessions
- Ensuring proper storage and handling of wines
- Collaborating with the kitchen to create wine and food pairings
- Ordering and maintaining wine inventory
- Serving wine to guests following proper service techniques
- Educating guests about different wines, regions, and vintages
- Handling guest inquiries and resolving any issues related to wine service
- Keeping up-to-date with wine industry trends and new releases
Average base salary:
Cashier
The Cashier is responsible for handling financial transactions in the restaurant, ensuring accurate processing of orders, and providing excellent customer service. This role involves managing the cash register, processing payments, and assisting guests with any inquiries they may have.
Role responsibilities:
- Greeting guests as they arrive and providing a welcoming atmosphere
- Accurately taking and processing orders through the POS system
- Handling cash, credit, and debit transactions, and issuing receipts
- Managing the cash register and ensuring correct cash handling procedures
- Balancing the cash drawer at the beginning and end of each shift
- Assisting with phone orders and online orders, if applicable
- Answering guest inquiries and resolving any issues or complaints
- Maintaining cleanliness and organization of the cashier station
- Assisting with packaging take-out orders and ensuring order accuracy
- Collaborating with front-of-house and back-of-house staff to ensure smooth operations
Average base salary:
Barista
The Barista is responsible for preparing and serving a variety of coffee and tea beverages, ensuring high quality and consistency. This role involves interacting with customers, maintaining a clean workspace, and providing exceptional customer service.
Role responsibilities:
- Preparing and serving coffee, tea, and specialty beverages according to recipes and customer preferences
- Operating and maintaining coffee equipment, including espresso machines and grinders
- Greeting customers, taking orders, and processing payments
- Ensuring accuracy and consistency in beverage preparation
- Maintaining a clean and organized workspace, including the counter, equipment, and seating areas
- Restocking supplies and ingredients as needed
- Providing information about the menu and making recommendations
- Handling customer inquiries and resolving complaints promptly
- Assisting with opening and closing duties, such as setting up and breaking down equipment
Average base salary:
Back of House Restaurant Roles
Executive Chef
The Executive Chef is the head of the kitchen, responsible for overseeing all culinary operations and ensuring the highest standards of food quality and presentation. This role involves menu planning, managing kitchen staff, and maintaining inventory, all while ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
Role responsibilities:
- Creating and updating menus to reflect seasonal ingredients and culinary trends
- Overseeing food preparation and presentation to ensure high quality
- Managing kitchen staff, including hiring, training, and scheduling
- Conducting regular performance evaluations and providing feedback
- Ensuring compliance with health, safety, and sanitation standards
- Managing food costs and inventory to maximize profitability
- Collaborating with suppliers to source the best ingredients
- Handling special dietary requests and accommodating food allergies
- Developing and implementing new recipes and cooking techniques
- Coordinating with front-of-house staff to ensure seamless service
Average base salary:
Sous Chef
The Sous Chef is the second-in-command in the kitchen, assisting the Executive Chef with overseeing food preparation and kitchen operations. This role involves supervising kitchen staff, managing inventory, and ensuring that dishes are prepared to the highest standards.
Role responsibilities:
- Assisting the Executive Chef in daily kitchen operations and food preparation
- Supervising and training kitchen staff, including line cooks and prep cooks
- Ensuring that all food is prepared according to recipes and quality standards
- Monitoring food inventory and ordering supplies as needed
- Overseeing kitchen equipment maintenance and cleanliness
- Enforcing health, safety, and sanitation regulations
- Managing kitchen staff schedules and ensuring efficient workflow
- Assisting in menu planning and development of new recipes
- Handling special dietary requests and ensuring food allergies are accommodated
- Stepping in to fill any role in the kitchen as needed to maintain smooth operations
Average base salary:
Line Cook
The Line Cook is responsible for preparing and cooking food according to the restaurant's recipes and standards. This role involves working in various stations in the kitchen, maintaining a clean workspace, and ensuring that dishes are prepared efficiently and correctly.
Role responsibilities:
- Preparing and cooking menu items according to recipes and specifications
- Setting up and stocking stations with all necessary supplies
- Ensuring that food is cooked to the correct temperature and presented attractively
- Following health, safety, and sanitation guidelines
- Assisting with inventory management and reporting low stock levels
- Cleaning and maintaining kitchen equipment and work areas
- Collaborating with other kitchen staff to ensure timely and efficient service
- Handling special requests and dietary accommodations
- Assisting with food preparation tasks during peak times
- Participating in kitchen training and development programs
Average base salary:
Prep Cook
The Prep Cook is responsible for preparing ingredients and assisting with the initial stages of food preparation in the kitchen. This role involves chopping vegetables, measuring ingredients, and ensuring that all necessary components are ready for the line cooks and chefs.
Role responsibilities:
- Preparing ingredients by washing, peeling, chopping, and slicing vegetables and fruits
- Measuring and portioning ingredients for recipes
- Preparing basic components of dishes, such as sauces, dressings, and marinades
- Ensuring that all prep work is completed according to recipes and specifications
- Maintaining a clean and organized prep station and kitchen area
- Following health, safety, and sanitation guidelines
- Assisting with inventory management and reporting low stock levels
- Supporting line cooks and chefs during busy service periods
- Cleaning and sanitizing work surfaces, equipment, and utensils
- Participating in kitchen training and development programs
Average base salary:
Pastry Chef
The Pastry Chef is responsible for creating and preparing desserts, pastries, and other baked goods. This role involves developing recipes, ensuring consistent quality, and maintaining the bakery section of the kitchen. The Pastry Chef plays a key role in adding a sweet touch to the dining experience.
Role responsibilities:
- Developing and updating dessert and pastry menus
- Preparing a variety of baked goods, including cakes, pastries, cookies, and bread
- Ensuring consistent quality and presentation of all baked items
- Managing inventory and ordering baking supplies and ingredients
- Maintaining cleanliness and organization in the pastry section of the kitchen
- Ensuring compliance with health, safety, and sanitation regulations
- Supervising and training junior pastry chefs and kitchen staff
- Coordinating with other kitchen staff to ensure timely preparation of desserts
- Handling special orders and dietary requests for desserts and pastries
Average base salary:
Dishwasher
The Dishwasher is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of all kitchen utensils, dishes, and cooking equipment. This role involves ensuring that the kitchen has a steady supply of clean items and that all sanitation standards are met.
Role responsibilities:
- Washing dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, and pans using both commercial dishwashers and manual methods
- Ensuring all cleaned items are stored properly in their designated locations
- Maintaining cleanliness and organization in the dishwashing area
- Ensuring compliance with health, safety, and sanitation regulations
- Disposing of kitchen waste and recycling appropriately
- Assisting with basic kitchen tasks as needed, such as food prep or moving supplies
- Reporting any maintenance or repair needs for dishwashing equipment
- Assisting with opening and closing duties, such as setting up or breaking down the dishwashing station
- Monitoring and replenishing dishwashing supplies
- Supporting other kitchen staff to ensure a smooth and efficient operation
Average base salary:
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