What is a busser?

A busser, also known as a dining room attendant or server assistant, plays a crucial support role in the smooth operation of a restaurant. Their primary responsibility is to maintain the cleanliness and order of the dining area.

• Clearing and resetting tables: A key task is promptly clearing tables after guests have finished their meals. This involves removing dishes, silverware, glassware, and linens. They then reset the tables with fresh linens, silverware, and glassware, preparing them for the next guests. See also: Clearing%20Tables and Table%20Setting.

• Assisting servers: Bussers assist servers by refilling water glasses, bringing bread or condiments to tables, and running food from the kitchen. This allows servers to focus on taking orders and providing excellent customer service. See also: Customer%20Service.

• Maintaining cleanliness: They are responsible for keeping the dining area clean and tidy, including sweeping floors, wiping up spills, and cleaning up broken dishes or glassware. See also: Restaurant%20Hygiene.

• Stocking supplies: Bussers ensure that server stations are adequately stocked with clean dishes, silverware, glassware, napkins, and other necessary supplies. See also: Inventory%20Management.

• Supporting kitchen staff: Bussers may also assist the kitchen staff by taking dirty dishes to the dishwashing area or performing other tasks as needed.

• Communication: Bussers need to communicate effectively with servers, kitchen staff, and sometimes guests. See also: Workplace%20Communication.

The role of a busser is physically demanding and often requires long hours on their feet. However, it's a valuable entry-level position in the restaurant industry that can lead to other opportunities, such as becoming a server or bartender.