Food and beverages businesses deliver food and beverages to their large number of customers at the same location such as hotels, restaurants, food stalls, or at the customer’s location. Food and beverage service is the process of serving food and beverages by restaurants, hotels and food stalls etc. to their customers.

Food and beverage serving and related workers typically do the following:

• Greet customers and answer their questions about menu items and specials
• Take food or drink orders from customers
• Prepare food and drink orders, such as sandwiches, salads, and coffee
• Relay customers’ orders to other kitchen staff
• Serve food and drinks to customers at a counter, at a stand, or in a hotel room
• Clean assigned work areas, dining tables, or serving counters
• Replenish and stock service stations, cabinets, and tables
• Set tables or prepare food trays for new customers

Food and beverage serving and related workers are the front lines of customer service in restaurants, cafeterias, and other foodservice establishments. Depending on the establishment, they take customers’ food and drink orders and serve food and beverages.

Most work as part of a team, helping coworkers to improve workflow and customer service.

The job titles of food and beverage serving and related workers vary with where they work and what they do.

The following are examples of types of food and beverage serving and related workers: 

Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food, are employed primarily by fast-food restaurants. They take food and beverage orders, prepare or retrieve items when ready, fill cups with beverages, and accept customers’ payments. They also heat food items and make salads and sandwiches.

Counter attendants take orders and serve food over a counter in snack bars, cafeterias, movie theatres, and coffee shops. They fill cups with coffee, soda, and other beverages, and may prepare fountain specialities, such as milkshakes and ice cream sundaes. Counter attendants take carryout orders from diners and wrap or place items in containers. They clean counters, prepare itemized bills and accept customers’ payments.

Food servers, nonrestaurant, serve food to customers outside of a restaurant environment. Many deliver room service meals in hotels or meals to hospital rooms. Some act as carhops, bringing orders to customers in parked cars.