The success of a hospitality business mainly relies on seamless teamwork, and food runner are one of the key players in this hierarchy. Rarely discussed, food runner are the unsung heroes — they execute the seamless flow of cuisine from the kitchen to the front of house, playing a crucial role in upholding the food integrity, timing and flow that emphasizes the difference between a good restaurant and an unforgettable meal. From Michelin-starred venues to quaint neighborhood bistro, these tips can help you employ the right food runner and improve service quality and customer satisfaction.
This guide will help you discover everything you need to know when it comes to hiring the best food runner for your business, from writing a great food runner job description to grasping the differences of a food runner vs server or waiter.
What is a Food Runner in a Restaurant?
Define the Role of a Food Runner Before You Hire Food runners deliver dishes from the kitchen to the dining room and ensure that the correct meals are sent to the correct guests at the correct time. Unlike servers or waiters, food runner generally do not take orders or interact much with customers. However, their mission predominantly revolves around being fast, accurate, and ensuring that food remains unchanged while bringing it to your door.
Food runner are the connection between the kitchen and the dining floor. They make sure that hot dishes are served hot and cold dishes are served cold, and that every plate looks as enticing as the chef had in mind. It is a special critical role during peak hours because how efficiently they work is the key to keeping the guests happy.
How to Write a Food Runner Job Description?
Writing a great food runner job description is still the first step to finding the right candidates. Here’s what you need to write about:
Key Responsibilities:
- Service: Bring food from the kitchen to the proper tables in a timely fashion.
- Confirming the Accuracy: Make sure to check if the order has been processed with the proper dishwasher before handing it out.
- Maintaining Food Quality: Ensure that food is presented correctly and that garnishes or sauces are added as needed.
- Assisting Servers: Help servers by filling water glasses, clearing plates or retrieving items from guests.
- Kitchen Liaison: Communicate any special requests or issues back and forth between the kitchen and front of house staff.
- Keeping Things Clean: Help keep the dining area clean and organized.
Required Skills:
- Attention to detail
- Strong time management
- Capable of working within a fast-paced environment
- Team player mentality
- Abilites to retain balance while serving food
Qualifications:
- Experience in a related role preferred, but not required
- Food safety standards knowledge (preferred)
Setting these responsibilities and qualifications will help find candidates who are well aware of the scope of the role and the responsibilities involved.
Are You a Food Runner or a Server?
One of the most common questions in the hospitality industry has to do with the difference between a food runner vs server or waiter. Both roles are vital, but they each have different functions:
- Food Runner: The food runner is responsible for delivering food quickly and accurately. They work behind the scenes and have limited interaction with guests.
- Server/Waiter: Takes orders, communicates and interacts with the guests and properly executes the dining experience. They front the restaurant and deal with the customers directly.
This distinction is a key one to understand in hiring. In high-traffic venues, food runners can lighten the load for servers, freeing them to concentrate on keeping guests happy.
Steps to Hire a Food Runner for Top Quality
Now that you know what a food runner does, let’s get into how to hire the best food runner for your hospitality business:
1. Create a Job Posting That Is Clear and Engaging
So Write a Job Listing: You can start by creating a job posting outlining the key roles, skills and qualifications. If you are trying to rank your post higher on search engines use primary keywords like food runner and food runner jobs near me or hospitality staffing as secondary keywords. You can also reach your target audience through platforms such as TrueGigs Food Runner.
2. Look for Relevant Experience
Formal education isn’t always a requirement, and industry experience is a plus. Those with experience as food service workers or similar roles will probably acclimate to the job’s requirements quickly.
3. Assess Key Skills
The perfect Food Runner has:
- Attention to Detail: Checking orders for correctness and preparing plates for presentation.
- Time Management: For busy schedules, it is important that work is done on time.
- Teamwork: Working with the kitchen staff and servers.
- Physical Stamina: Servers are usually required to stand for long periods and to lift heavy trays.
4. Conduct Thorough Interviews
Ask questions during the interview process that give insight into the candidate’s work ethic, problem-solving abilities, and attitude. For example:
- What do you do when things get really intense?
- Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a coworker.
5. Check References
Once you reach out to former employers to confirm the candidate’s experience and dependability. This is especially critical for positions that require trust and camaraderie.
6. Pay Well
Make sure that your pay and benefits are competitive to attract top talent. Promote things such as flexible schedules, employee discounts, or career advancement opportunities.
7. Provide Training and Support
Even veteran food runners will need to get used to your restaurant’s particular protocols. Provide thorough training to enable them to succeed.
How to Find Food Runner Jobs Near You
If you’re having a hard time locating qualified candidates, think about utilizing niche platforms like TrueGigs Food Runner or hospitality staffing agencies. These resources will help you find trained food service workers who are available for food runner positions. Moreover, you can also post to job boards, social media and local community groups.
Importance of Making the Right choice when Hiring Food Runners
A great food service staffing can help you run your restaurant more efficiently, make your guests happier, and ease your restaurant operations. They guarantee timely and 100% accurate meal delivery so servers can spend more time delivering best-in-class customer support. Surround yourself with the right team members for your business.
Final Thoughts
The importance of hiring the right food runner (or any role for that matter) and how to go about it will be explored today. With so much emphasis on the right skills and experience to ensure that you make the right choice, your people will ensure exceptional service keeping your guests wanting to come back for more. So whether you are posting food runner jobs near me or a food runner jobs with TrueGigs Food Runner, investing time in this process will save you a headache in the future.
