Waiter vs Server: Difference and Comparison

Restaurants and hotels are places of employment for waiters and servers but is there a difference between a waiter and a server (waiter vs server)?

Waiters and servers are employees who work in a restaurant, bar, café, or hotel. Their job is to provide good customer service in establishments where they are employed.

These two job positions involve meeting with customers and taking orders from tables as well as serving food and drinks. But one of these job positions involves more of serving customers and the other is more of waiting and answering questions about dishes on the menu.

There are some differences between a waiter and a server, which we have discussed in this guide.

What Is a Waiter?

A waiter is a male or sometimes a female attendant whose job is to serve customers in a restaurant, café or similar. It’s a job position that is similar to a server since they both attend to customers.

Waiters and servers interact with customers once they are seated and ready to order food or drinks. Customers sometimes use server and waiter interchangeably but the roles of these two employees are identified by different names on their uniform.

The job of a waiter or waitress requires providing top-notch customer service. Waiters do not only work in a restaurant or café, it’s a job position in hotels and bars as well.

Being a waiter or waitress requires excellent communication skills and math skills to help take customers’ orders. It also requires patience because it’s not a guarantee every customer coming into a bar, restaurant, café or hotel will be nice.

They welcome guests, provide exceptional service and take orders. They also make sure that the food and drinks are delivered to the guest’s table on time.

A waiter is an employee who is likely the first to interact with a customer once they enter the bar, restaurant, or café. It’s a job position that requires the employee to have a polite manner to approach customers.

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What Is a Server?

A server is an employee who works at a restaurant or hotel and provides good customer care service. A server’s job includes serving food, attending to customers coming to the restaurant or hotel, taking care of a customer’s needs, etc.

Their job requires meeting and greeting customers coming into the restaurant, setting the table, and also serving a customer’s order.

A server’s role may depend on factors such as place of employment, location, and clientele. Servers and waiters both work in places where they interact with customers to get their orders to the table.

Working in a restaurant as a server is a type of job that requires good communication skills, math skills, and patience. It’s a job that involves interacting with people, and customers as they are often referred to.

Some of the customers coming to a restaurant or hotel to make an order may be annoying and rude to employees of the establishment, especially to the servers and waiters.

Nevertheless, the job of a server is to serve the customers by taking their orders, setting the table, and serving food on time. They take care of customers’ needs with a high level of care. Their services in restaurants and hotels are one of the factors considered by customers for good reviews.

Additionally, servers are also familiar with the establishment’s safety, sanitation and alcohol policies.

Waiter vs Server: What are the Duties of a Waiter and a Server?

Waiters and servers are employees tasked with providing good customer service. Their duty may rely on factors such as place of employment, location, restaurant, bar, or hotel policies.

Server

The duties of a server may include the following:

Taking food to customer’s table and presenting it orderly
Submitting orders taken from customers to the kitchen
Sanitizing and keeping tables cleaned
Refilling drinks and checking on other refillable items
Checking on every table in their section to ensure customers are satisfied with the service
Greeting customers and also working with other staff to ensure all is in place
Answering customers’ questions about menu items and options
Following the establishment’s policy about selling alcoholic beverage
Helping the kitchen staff to get the food ready

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Waiter

Greet and direct customers to their table
Present customers with the menu and provide answers to detailed information when questions are asked
Prepare the table for guest, setting up silverware, glasses, and linen
Take accurate orders for food and drinks
Check customer identification to make sure alcohol is not sold to minors
Check the setting up of the table if it’s in order for customers to sit
Clear and clean the table once the customer is done with their food or drink
Serve food and drinks ordered
Provide check and collect payment

Waiter vs Server: Key Differences between Waiter and Server

Waiter	Server
A waiter is a male or sometimes a female attendant whose job is to serve customers in a restaurant, café or similar.	A server is an employee who works at a restaurant or hotel and provides good customer service.
A waiter or waitress takes care of every table in their section.	Servers are tasked with taking care of other tables in that particular area.
Waiters or waitresses receive minimum wages.	Servers receive hourly wages.

Waiter vs Server: Waiter and Server Skills

Being a waiter, waitress or server requires some set of skills. It’s a job that involves customers ordering for one or a variety of food and drinks.

Business owners running eateries employ waiters and servers because they have a certain set skills. Some of these skills include communication, basic math, teamwork, and customer service.

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Basic Math

This is a job position that requires basic math skills because it involves taking many orders from customers. It’s a job that requires quick multiplication, addition, and subtraction.

A waiter or a server should be good at basic math to easily calculate a customer’s total food order and bill.

Communication Skills

A water or server should also have good communication skills. The job involves writing, speaking, and listening to customers.

A server or waiter should be able to speak clearly, listen to customers while they make their orders, and accurately take note of each food and drink ordered.

Customer service

Employers will be happy to hire a waiter or server with exceptional customer service skills.

Waiters and servers should be able to meet and welcome customers politely. A waiter and a server need to show good character and answer questions politely.

Showing good customer service also include addressing complaints from customer and paying attention to important details. How a waiter or server acts towards a customer may influence their review of the place.

Teamwork skills

Both waiters and servers need to possess great teamwork skills.

A lot can be achieved when employees work together. Teamwork effort will help to solve problems and build a better working environment.

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Attention to Detail

Generally, a lot of customers make specific orders, and some are complex. It’s the job of a waiter and server to clearly remember what the customer’s order- like food allergies, garnish preference, and spice.

This is why it’s essential to pay attention to every detail when a customer is ordering food or drinks. A waiter or server who pays attention to every food-specific detail is good at his or her job and customers will be proud of it.

Conclusion

Waiters and servers are employees who work in restaurants, bars, hotels, or café. They are often the first to interact with customers, taking orders for food and drinks and serving customers.

These job positions require certain skills such as communication skills, basic math, customer service, and teamwork skills.

We hope this article on the difference between waiter vs server was helpful.

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References

Indeed: Server vs. Waiter: What’s the Difference? (With Definition)
Home.binwise: 2 Key Similarities and Differences Between Server and Waiter
Differsfrom.com: Difference Between Server and Waiter
Difference.guru: Difference Between Server and Waiter or Waitress
CMA-quebec: Server vs Waiter: The Differences Explained

Waiter vs Server: Difference and Comparison

What Is a Waiter?

What Is a Server?